Timing Belt Noise

TopPrelude · Post by **TopPrelude** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 3:43 pm

Hi people,

Normally I have had my timing belt changed by Honda, but on this occasion took it to the trusted friend who helped with the auto manual conversion.

Got the Lude back and noticed a whirring noise, exactly the same as in this video:

I was told this was normal and will go over time, however i have never over the 15 years of ownership and 4 timing belt changes ever experienced this. Should i be worried, or is it slight over tightening that will self remedy??

FYI, cam belt, tensioners, and water pump were all replaced.

Any thoughts, advise?

Thank you in advance, Alex.

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 3:51 pm

it does need tensioning properly if its been replaced it shouldnt be making that noise

Post by **SPYDOR** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 4:19 pm

I would take the rocker cover and upper cam gears cover off then you can see where the belt sits on the cam gears. If it's rubbing then it may be overhanging the edge of the gears and rubbing on one of the covers as it tries to work itself off. You can turn the engine over at the main crank (anti-clockwise only!) a few times to see what the belt sits as its rotating.

I had this problem last year after I was doing some head-work, removed my cams under the false assumption that I had a manual tensioner fitted years ago.

I actually had the auto-tensioner, which then fully tightened, so once I jammed the belt back on the gears it kept trying to work its way off making that annoying noise you are probably hearing now!

I nervously did about 100 miles like that before I was able to get Honda to fit new belts and auto-tensioner, sorting the problem but I wouldn't leave it too long obviously...

Post by **vanzep** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 9:37 pm

I noticed that the belt was very tight when doing the manual tensioner conversion - it does have adjustment on it but at its loosest setting its still tight - like your friend says it should slacken off a bit over time. I do think overall the manual tensioner conversion is a little bit noisier than with the auto tensioner fitted. Thats just my experience. Ive had manual tensioner on for a couple of years now.
If you are concerned about it then do what @SPYDOR suggests ^^^

Post by **Thebusofwoe** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 11:56 pm

Yea my guess is it's too tight. Or as suggested rubbing the cover. Mine makes that noise, in my case it's too tight. Manual tensioner aswell.

TopPrelude · Post by **TopPrelude** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:30 am

Thanks guys for the replies. My lude still has the auto tensioner, i have not swapped it for a manual one.

Nevertheless, something is wrong so will take a look as advised.

TopPrelude · Post by **TopPrelude** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:36 am

One more thing, will i need to replace the new belt if it has been rubbing?

Post by **Vtecmec** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:45 am

The belt will probably be ok but give it a detailed inspection in anycase, I've been in this situation before, as Spydor says it is a little tight and this causes the belt to slide slightly sideways off the cams and touch the cover. You will need to remove and recompress the tensioner to fix it.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 11:59 am

Last 2 cambelts I had changed on H22's (new auto tensioners in both cases) were noisy at first, but then quietened down.

TopPrelude · Post by **TopPrelude** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 4:43 pm

wurlycorner wrote:Last 2 cambelts I had changed on H22's (new auto tensioners in both cases) were noisy at first, but then quietened down.

Hmmm, so hard to diagnose sounds

I spoke to my mechanic and he assured me that the belt is not rubbing on anything as he whipped off the cam belt cover once he had heard the noise in the first instance.