For those who have personally changes their timing belts

[atoyota4x4]

For those of you fine folks that have tackled this job yourself, I have a some questions.

1.When draining the antifreeze (when also doing the water pump replacement), did you drain it from the engine block as stated in the factory repair manual. It indicates placing a rubber hose on the end of the bolt and then loosening it.

2.Manual says to remove both front wheels. Shouldn’t just the right side be sufficient?

3.Does anyone recall how much antifreeze they used when doing the refill? Did you do the lengthy process of starting it up with the t-stat on hot running for a period, then setting t-stat to cold and starting and running, etc… as it states after refilling?

4.Did anyone try to remove the crank pulley bolt (using the proper crank tool braced against the frame) and hitting the starter? Did this work? Would anyone not recommend doing this?


Just planning things out right now. I hope to do this next weekend. If I do, I plan to take photos and I’m considering making a DIY DVD for anyone who may want one.

[Layspeed]

Originally posted by atoyota4x4
For those of you fine folks that have tackled this job yourself, I have a some questions.

1.When draining the antifreeze (when also doing the water pump replacement), did you drain it from the engine block as stated in the factory repair manual. It indicates placing a rubber hose on the end of the bolt and then loosening it.

2.Manual says to remove both front wheels. Shouldn’t just the right side be sufficient?

3.Does anyone recall how much antifreeze they used when doing the refill? Did you do the lengthy process of starting it up with the t-stat on hot running for a period, then setting t-stat to cold and starting and running, etc… as it states after refilling?

4.Did anyone try to remove the crank pulley bolt (using the proper crank tool braced against the frame) and hitting the starter? Did this work? Would anyone not recommend doing this?


Just planning things out right now. I hope to do this next weekend. If I do, I plan to take photos and I’m considering making a DIY DVD for anyone who may want one.

1. You can drain the block if you want, I just let the coolant drain out while removing the water pump...it's just a little more messy depending on how you do it.

2. The passenger wheel should be enough...have no idea why they tell you to remove both?

3. It will use 1-2 gallons depending on how you drained it. To refill, I open the bleeder screw (which for the life of me, I cannot remember where it is right now ) Turn IGN ON set TEMP to HOT. Fill until a steady stream comes out of the bleeder. Close off bleeder. Fill to just below the radiator filler neck. Start engine, hold engine at 3000rpm until the radiator fan cycles on and off twice. May take 2-5 minutes. Top off radiator and replace cap. Don't forget to change the coolant in the overflow/reservoir.

4. I've done that on a couple vehicles and luckily the Honda V6's actually spin clockwise. But sometimes that bolt won't budge. I wouldn't really recommend "hitting" it more than a couple times...but it's your car I usually use an impact wrench on and off. Only the really stubborn ones, I use the Honda crank pulley holding tool with a really long (and strong) breaker bar.

Good luck. If you make that DVD, I'm sure it would be a big seller...if not here, then on the other Honda forums V6 owners anyhow.

One tip though. If you get stuck, or impatient, step away and take a break. Then come back and have another stab at it.