honda man wrote:
> Just replaced the timing belt on my 93 accord. Used OEM belts, seals,
> and a GMB water pump. Car has 215k and is the second timing belt. All
> seems well except for a rapid ticking sound which seems to be coming
> from within the timing belt upper cover. Ticking noise goes away when
> the car is warm, and returns when the car is started cold. Wonder if
> it might be the belt too loose? Tighened everything like the service
> manual suggested, (three teeth counter clockwise, tighten tension bolt)
> Seems to run just fine, but am wondering what the ticking noise is.
> Kind of sounds like maybe slack in the belt is hitting the upper cover,
> but if it were that loose, I thought it would jump a tooth. I do not
> believe it is valve noise. Any suggestions?
> Thanks.
>
safe thing is to recheck tension. it's a pita, but it has to be done.
belts don't always jump when loose because when rotating, they're held
tight on the one pulley run that matters - cam to crank. my own civic
belt had been so loose [unknown to me] that when i finally got around to
replacing it, i took the top cover off, turned the pulley wheel
backwards to get the pulley holder aligned right, and watched the belt
skip right before my eyes! it had done over 10k of redlines under my
heavy boot since purchase in that condition - i was incredibly lucky.

other sources of tick include slight belt misalignment, wrong placement
of the dished sliders on the crank pulley, loose auxiliary belts, a/c
tensioner bearings... need to get in there with the stethoscope [stick
of wood against the ear].