How to Change the Timing Belt in Vehicles

This is a determination based on the service history of the Vehicles. It has been found to stretch to its limit shortly after this interval. The engine is also considered an interference engine in which engine damage is very likely in the event that the timing belt fails with the engine running. If the belt fails, the pistons are very likely to hit the valves and cause them to bend or the connecting rods or pistons to be damaged.

Under The Hood:

• How to Change the Timing Belt on a 1995 Through 1997 1.5 Hyundai Accent
• How to Change the Timing Belt on a 1995 Through 1997 2.0 Ford Contour
• How to Change the Timing Belt on a 1995 Through 1997 2.7 Honda Accord

 How to Change the Timing Belt on a 1995 Through 1997 1.5 Hyundai Accent

Remove the accessory drive belts. Remove the water pump pulley. Remove the crankshaft pulley bolt and the crankshaft pulley. Remove the timing belt covers. Turn the crankshaft sprocket clockwise until the timing marks on the sprocket are aligned with the mark on the block at the 1 o'clock position. Make sure that the camshaft sprocket is aligned through the use of the small hole in the sprocket. The small hole should be straight up and you should see the mark on the cam bearing through the hole.

Loosen the bolt in the belt tensioner and move it away from the belt and tighten the bolt enough to keep the tensioner from moving. Remove the timing belt.

Install the new timing belt from the right crank sprocket up and on the inside of the idler pulley, over the cam sprocket and down through the inside of the tensioner. Keep all the tension on the side away from the tensioner. Use your left hand to keep tension on the belt as it is being installed so it does not skip a tooth. Loosen the tensioner bolt and its pivot bolt so it can swivel. Allow the tensioner to apply tension to the belt. Tighten the inside tensioner bolt first with the groove in the bracket and then tighten the outer pivot bolt.

Check the timing marks again and make sure they are still lined up. If so then turn the engine clockwise two revolutions and check the timing marks to make sure they are still lined up. If the timing marks are not lined up, remove the belt, line up the marks as outlined in Step 1, then repeat the process.

Replace all parts in the reverse of removal. Torque the crankshaft bolt to 110 foot pounds.

 How to Change the Timing Belt on a 1995 Through 1997 2.0 Ford Contour

Remove the accessory drive belt. Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands. Remove the right front wheel and inner fender splash shield. Turn the crankshaft clockwise until the Number 1 cylinder is on top dead center and the timing marks on the crankshaft pulley are aligned at about the 5 o'clock position with the marker on the block.

Support the engine with the floor jack and remove the right-hand motor mount and the valve cover. Remove the crankshaft pulley bolt and the pulley. Remove the water pump pulley and the timing-belt covers. Install the camshaft alignment tool in the slots of the camshafts.

Loosen the tensioner bolts; using a suitable allen wrench, turn the tensioner away from the belt and lightly tighten the bolt. Remove the timing belt. Temporarily install the crankshaft pulley and make sure the timing marks line up.

Remove the crank pulley and install the new timing belt in a counterclockwise direction, starting at the crankshaft sprocket, then over the top of the camshaft. Keep the tension on the right side. Install the lower timing-belt cover and install the crankshaft pulley. Install the crankshaft bolt and torque to 89 foot-pounds.

Loosen the tensioner bolt and allow the tensioner to operate. Remove the camshaft alignment tool. Turn the crankshaft slowly two turns, and make sure the timing marks align. Torque the tensioner bolt to 30 foot-pounds of torque.

With the crankshaft alignment marks lined up, make sure that the camshaft alignment tool can be inserted into the cams. If slots are not aligned, use the sprocket holding tool to hold the sprockets and loosen the bolts. Tap each camshaft sprocket gently to loosen from taper. Turn the camshaft sprockets just slightly until the cam alignment tool can be inserted into the slots in the camshaft.

Make sure the crankshaft marks are aligned and torque the camshaft sprocket bolts to 53 foot-pounds of torque. Turn the crankshaft two more turns and make sure the camshaft tool can be inserted into the slots of the cams. Install all components in reverse order of removal.

 How to Change the Timing Belt on a 1995 Through 1997 2.7 Honda Accord

Raise and support the car on jack stands. Remove the right side wheel and splash shield. Turn the crankshaft and line the marks on the crankshaft pulley to the O mark on the timing cover. Use the floor jack and support the motor. Remove the three motor mount arm bolts and rotate the arm upright out of the way.

Remove the accessory belts and the dipstick tube. Remove the crankshaft bolt and pulley. Remove the timing upper and lower covers. Loosen the tensioner bolt and push it away from belt and loosely tighten the bolt to hold the tensioner out of the way.

Check the timing marks. The crank sprocket should have the keyway straight up and a mark on the back of the sprocket will line up with the mark on the block. Both the camshaft sprockets have grooves on the teeth and they both line up to marks at 2 o'clock on the head.

Install the new timing belt starting on the right side away from the tensioner and go from the crank to the right cam to the water pump to the left cam and around the tensioner. Make sure all the tension is on the right side away from the tensioner. Loosen the tensioner and allow it to apply tension to the belt and then tighten the bolt.

Check the timing marks to be sure they are still dead on and then rotate the engine two turns and align the timing marks one more time. If they are still lined up then loosen the tensioner to let the tensioner take up the last bit of slack and then tighten the tensioner bolt to 31 foot pounds of torque.

Install all components in reverse order of removal and tighten the crankshaft bolt to 181 foot pounds of torque.