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Honda Pilot Hydrologic Tensioner Replacement Approaches

22K views 21 replies 6 participants last post by  bassic  
#1 ·
Good Morning Good People

New here. Pretty good with my hands. Owning 3 old Jags and a 86 Porsche 928, doing the work myself and stuff, has taught me a few things...

My sister lives two states away and I'm going to head up! She has a 2009 Honda Pilot that is exhibiting all the signs of a hydraulic Tensioner failure... My question is,,, does everything need to come off to get to the tensioner, lower harmonic balancer, and upper and lower cam and timing covers OR can one get to the 10mm bolts another way? Is half of the tensioner sticking out of the cover where it can be accessed?

I appreciate and support and guidance here! Sharing y'all's wisdom. Deep bow... What do I need to know and be thinking about going in?
 
#4 ·
Hey Man! Thanks.

I understand it was replaced at 88 or 89k... By an on the spot mechanic... Or so I've been told... Not the water pump tho.

I understand the interference engine and things, I warned them... For now, tensioner. I'll inspect on the job.

If the lower cover bolts were loosened up is it possible to wiggle the old tensioner out and placing the new?
 
#7 ·
The guidance I would give is to buy an entire Aisin timing belt water pump kit (TKH002)
134088
and make everything new while your in there. I'm pretty sure that the Crankshaft Pulley must come off to remove lower cover to expose the tensioner.
 
#8 ·
Apparently the tensioner can be replaced without pulling everything by taking off the upper cover, the lower timing cover bolts, and then prying it away:


You can get a better look at it from this angle:

 
owns 2025 Honda Pilot Touring
#10 ·
Ok, yes I see. But if that tensioners been loosen and things have been hammering away in there, that belt is not any good (I didn't say probably). It needs to be replaced. This is a bad idea.
 
#9 ·
Boom, Bam, Boom!

Thank you Boom! That's all I needed to know. Thanks for sticking with the original question and helping me out so so much. Really. Clarity on forums saves the day...

About replacing everything,,, as stated earlier in the post all of that has been considered. A couple of questions had been answered about it. Still,,, thank you MUCH for your concern and sound advice. You all are awesome!!!

BTW,,, I explained to my Sis and he Husband to join! I also will send them this video and MAYBE HE can do this, lol. Or him and a friend...

Peace,,, see y'all on the flip side!
 
#11 ·
The hardest part will be pulling the "grenade" pin.... but I know it can be done because he did it. Probably not fun. It wasnt fun pulling mine when the cover was off and all the other stuff was pulled out of the way. :)
 
owns 2025 Honda Pilot Touring
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#13 ·
One more word of advice? Take your torque wrench seriously! Those two little 10mm bolts only take 8.9 ft-lbs (108 inch lbs). There have been many stories of people using the "elbow torque wrench" and snapping one of these bolts, and that makes a simple job a nightmare.

I actually purchased new bolts for mine since they were cheap:
 
owns 2025 Honda Pilot Touring
#14 ·
OP, search for member @Johnjk . He has replaced the tensioner at least once, maybe more between timing belt changes and he can give you some pretty good real world tips and info.
 
#15 ·
Thank you Cin! Will do!

Anyone have specs on those 2 10mm bolts? A very wise wise suggestion right there - I will pass it on. All are good pointers...

I could start sharing nightmares (daymares) about snapped of bolts on 20 and 30yo cars... Then other stuff... Won't bore ya... Steel on aluminum and aluminum on steel makes for all kinds of swearing cursing and unusual body language, lol

I passed on the info shared by Boom (deep bow) and it looks like I will have time for myself after all this weekend. "He" is going to handle it... Me? I'll be working on my newly acquired 2003 Portfolio Edition XKR Convertible that went for a long swim in a Texas flood... DayMare,,, lol... I love it tho.

You guys are the best!!!

Bolt specs please,,, if you have
 
#16 ·
Bolt specs please,,, if you have
If by bolt specs, you mean the part numbers - they are listed in the link to my DIY above. MOST people just re-use them, but I am a big chicken. ?

95801-06030-07 Bolt Flange (6X30) for tension-er $1.35 (need two)
 
owns 2025 Honda Pilot Touring
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#19 ·
I know that's right, Cin!

I wouldn't go so far as to saying trash with a capital "T" but I know what you mean. At the same time, I run into the same stuff on newer "American" cars,,, in that - it might just be a sign of the times... The 86 Porsche is steal-E too.

I've never even gotten close to breaking or stripping a bolt on the 1990 XJS Convertible (super steal-E car) and from what I hear (wish I knew first hand) same is true for all older Jags. Real,,,, steel. The XJS is like working on a tank...

How it ended up being these Euro cars is a long story and I won't bore you with it. But shoot I'm having fun - even got a Japanese bike that's going to be a racer like this one...

I WOULD LOVE AN OLD IMPALA,,, STEP SIDE PIC UP,,, SS,,, NOVA... I'm with you. Maybe some day.

You BETTER get back at that Impala! If ya know what's good for ya! Jus say'n.

Peace ☮
 
#20 ·
I know that's right, Cin!

I wouldn't go so far as to saying trash with a capital "T" but I know what you mean. At the same time, I run into the same stuff on newer "American" cars,,, in that - it might just be a sign of the times... The 86 Porsche is steal-E too.

I've never even gotten close to breaking or stripping a bolt on the 1990 XJS Convertible (super steal-E car) and from what I hear (wish I knew first hand) same is true for all older Jags. Real,,,, steel. The XJS is like working on a tank...

How it ended up being these Euro cars is a long story and I won't bore you with it. But shoot I'm having fun - even got a Japanese bike that's going to be a racer like this one...

I WOULD LOVE AN OLD IMPALA,,, STEP SIDE PIC UP,,, SS,,, NOVA... I'm with you. Maybe some day.

You BETTER get back at that Impala! If ya know what's good for ya! Jus say'n.

Peace ☮
That bike will be really cool! I can't say Jags would be my first Euro choice but if I could get one of the XJ's with a V12 and a manual (I think Harry Metcalfe has one and has done some videos) I would probably take the dive.

The law of dissimilar metals... they can be separated just long enough to get past the warranty period... beyond that it's a roll of the dice. I try to use penetrating lube whenever possible when the bolts are in aluminum to increase my odds...

My Impala runs and drives, I get it out at least once every week before the kids wake up. It needs things but nothing that prevents me from spending an hour plus in it each weekend. No major projects that take it off the road for extended periods until the kids are older and I have the time.
 
#21 ·
A MANUAL XJS...! Yes yes yes... A few guys have done it on the "Jaguar Forum XJS" but not a lot... Lots of people TALK about doing it...

I have a loóooooong ways to go on that bike. It's a Honda,,, so maybe I'll check back in when I get going on it... BTW - you can start in on one for cheap money. Way under 2 grand for the old base bike,,, then tear her down. I like to plant seeds. Stuff like this keeps the old guys from aging toooo quick.

Anywho! Off to the races!

You guys saved me from a trip to Connecticut working on someone ELSE'S car, lol...

Oh and,,, the folks up there thank you too! No doubt.
 
#22 ·
Did you ever change the tensioner? It can be done without removing the lower cover (and without removing the crank pulley). I did it on mine. I think I had 90K miles when it started chattering until warmed up. I removed the rear cam cover and loosened the back bolts of the lower timing cover enough to pry the cover back and get enough space to work.

I did one little trick that I want to beleive helped me a little. When removing the grenade pin, there's a small chance that you drop it down in the timing cover. I tied a long shoelace to the big ring on the pin and tied the other end of the shoelace to a bracket so if I dropped the pin I could pull it out.