Anyone have any experience doing the timing belt and water pump? I have the book, but I would like a couple opinions on how difficult this car is and any tips or advice from the PROs.
Thanks
Ive only done a timing belt and water pump on an escort before. i just paid my honda guy $240 to do it and i had it back the same day. he is awesome with hondas. parts themselves are only like $50-60 but its the labor that kills you. its very time consuming especially if its your first time. good luck
I did a timing belt and water pump job on my b16a sitting in the garage, then a waterpump mounting bolt broke off, then a drill bit broke off halfway thru drilling the bolt out…anyone know what do do about this?
Did you pull off the water pump before trying to drill out the bolt?
yes
Same thing happened to but it was an easy out that broke. I took it to a machine shop, and they took care of it and put ina heli coil and match to size. $103.00 job. Well worth it.
I had to replace my water pump a couple of months ago and the hardest part was FINDING a chain wrench. Now my timing belt broke so now I have to replace that. Water pumps aren’t exactly fun to fix. IMO
ya i paid for both. too much hassle
I replaced my T-Belt and Water Pump last week. The hardest part was getting the crankshaft bolt loose. I have a snapon 1/2" impact from when I used to be a wrenchead, and could not break it loose. It took me and a buddy literally laying on a 5’ homade breaker bar… I also removed the flywheel cover and put one of those little 10mm bolts into one of the holes to keep it from spinning. Other than that drama it was cake =]
do u have to change the water pump??? what will happen if it goes out? thanks
A water pump should last longer than a timing belt but not for the life of two belts they say. So its just easier to replace the pump while your in there doing the belt.
The pump bearings should get noisy before they seize, for a nice warning. Never had a problem, but i’m told it can break the belt upon seize up. There’s also the potential for leaks.
For changing the T-belt, i recommend marking the old belt to the crank and cam sprokets to line up with the new belt. Its too easy to put it off a tooth.
d
ps. i’ve only done about 5 timing belts, but i’ve have some of them on and off 5 times each hehe.
The only way to learn is the hard way sometimes, but if i can offer any advice, make sure you are loosing and not tightening the water pump bolts when you want to take it off. The same goes for any of those 10mm bolts. They are weak little shits, i have broken many when i first started working on hondas. When tightening then, beleive me you do not have to reef them on.
Just make sure they are sufficently tight.
probably use a 1/4" ratchet instead of guessing with a 3/8’s. Standard rule of thumb in mechanics is to not use a ratchet that is bigger than the one required for the job (for putting it on, that is).
d
I just did mine on my 93 LS-S. Parts cost $70 (TB & WP). The hardest part I think most will agree is the harmonic balancer bolt (crank pulley). My friend and I fabricated a tool to hold the pulley. I am done with it, and if someone else needs it I would sell it. 
It made that bolt cake to take off.
i have a 500 foot/lb air impact gun and somtimes i still need to spray oil the bolt up and work at that sucker before it’ll come loose, the little beggar.
Put engine oil on the bolt before putting it back in to help keep it from siezing.