1985 Honda Prelude Timing Belt Replacement

Honda recommends that the timing belt on a Prelude be replaced at 60,000-mile intervals. The engine is one that was designed with close tolerances, which causes the engine to be classified as an interference engine. This simply means that it would not fare well in the event of a timing belt failure. The valves would contact the pistons and cause catastrophic damage.

Tools required:
Floor jack
Jack stands
Breaker bar
Ratchet
Set of sockets
Set of wrenches

Step 1: Raise the car with the floor jack and support the car with the jack stands. Remove the left hand or driver's side wheel, using the lug wrench. Remove the inner fenderwell splash shield, using a 10 mm socket. Place the floor jack under the engine oil pan. Loosen the accessory belt tensioners with a wrench and remove the belts.

Step 2: Remove the timing belt cover, using a 10 mm socket. Remove the top engine mount, using a wrench. Remove the valve cover, using a 10 mm socket to remove all the perimeter bolts. Remove the rubber plug in the top of the transmission bell housing.

Step 3: Turn the crankshaft counterclockwise until the mark on the flexplate is aligned with the mark on the outside top of the hole in the bellhousing. A pin could be seen inside the hole in the bellhousing. The flexplate, which is used on an automatic, or the flywheel, used on a manual transmission has two symbols on them--a "T" and a solid line next to it. The proper timing for an automatic is when the pin on the bellhousing is aligned with the straight mark next to the T on the flexplate. The manual transmission timing marks are correct when the pin is pointing to the "T."

Step 4: Check the timing marks on the camshaft sprocket. The letters "UP" should be at 12 o'clock and the two lines should be level with the cylinder head. If they do not match up, turn the crankshaft one more turn and they will line up.

Step 5: Remove the crankshaft pulley bolt using a socket and then pull the pulley off. Loosen the tensioner with the wrench, push it away from the belt and loosely tighten the bolt to keep the tensioner in place. Remove the belt.

Step 6: Install the new timing belt starting on the left side away from the tensioner, keeping the belt tight so all the slack is on the tensioner side. Loosen the timing belt tensioner bolt and allow the tensioner to operate and apply tension to the belt.

Step 7: Install the crankshaft bolt temporarily. Turn the crankshaft counterclockwise two full turns and check the timing marks. Tighten the tensioner bolt securely at this time. Install the rest of the components in reverse order of removal.