Honda Car Forum

Hi all,

This is the second timing belt change on my 96 Civic. This time it went
much smoother than it was 100k miles ago, BUT...

When I went to start the car, it went straight up to 4000rpm, then continued
onto 4500rpm at a slightly slower rate. It remained there until I shut off
the engine (about 15 sec later), since I knew it was not supposed to do
that.

I checked the obvious like a wrench got struck on the throttle arm or a
kinked throttle cable. But none of that.

I did a preliminary Google search and it seems to point toward the idle air
speed control or a vacuum leak. I don't see any disconnected hoses. Is
there an area I should concentrate on? Could the IAC be the cause?

I have the factory service manuel, but I need to know where else to look.

Thanks in advance

Fri, 02 May 2008 22:03:54 -0700, jeffdown239:

> Hi all,
>
> This is the second timing belt change on my 96 Civic. This time it went
> much smoother than it was 100k miles ago, BUT...
>
> When I went to start the car, it went straight up to 4000rpm, then
> continued onto 4500rpm at a slightly slower rate. It remained there
> until I shut off the engine (about 15 sec later), since I knew it was
> not supposed to do that.
You need to rephase the belt with the strobo light.

Mine was irregular under 2-3k rpm. I went to the mechanics (not Honda one)
3 times after he changed the belt in order to fix it. And he "forgot" to
rephase it.

Jim5/4/08 12:06fvkmv1$q56$1@registered.motzarella.org

> Fri, 02 May 2008 22:03:54 -0700, jeffdown239:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> This is the second timing belt change on my 96 Civic. This time it went
>> much smoother than it was 100k miles ago, BUT...
>>
>> When I went to start the car, it went straight up to 4000rpm, then
>> continued onto 4500rpm at a slightly slower rate. It remained there
>> until I shut off the engine (about 15 sec later), since I knew it was
>> not supposed to do that.
> You need to rephase the belt with the strobo light.
>
> Mine was irregular under 2-3k rpm. I went to the mechanics (not Honda one)
> 3 times after he changed the belt in order to fix it. And he "forgot" to
> rephase it.

Jim, I am not familiar with this term "rephase the timing belt with the
strobe light". Could you explain it a little more? Couldn't come up with any
relevant stuff that I could understand on google. Thanks
--
Pickleman
halfsour@roadyourpantsrunner.com
Please remove "yourpants" to reply
1998 Civic HX MT with 142K
2000 CRV EX MT with 98K

Sun, 04 May 2008 16:52:55 -0400, delbert brecht:

> Jim5/4/08 12:06fvkmv1$q56$1@registered.motzarella.org
>
>> Fri, 02 May 2008 22:03:54 -0700, jeffdown239:
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> This is the second timing belt change on my 96 Civic. This time it
>>> went much smoother than it was 100k miles ago, BUT...
>>>
>>> When I went to start the car, it went straight up to 4000rpm, then
>>> continued onto 4500rpm at a slightly slower rate. It remained there
>>> until I shut off the engine (about 15 sec later), since I knew it was
>>> not supposed to do that.
>> You need to rephase the belt with the strobo light.
>>
>> Mine was irregular under 2-3k rpm. I went to the mechanics (not Honda
>> one) 3 times after he changed the belt in order to fix it. And he
>> "forgot" to rephase it.
>
> Jim, I am not familiar with this term "rephase the timing belt with the
> strobe light". Could you explain it a little more? Couldn't come up with
> any relevant stuff that I could understand on google. Thanks

Neither do I, wish I had. That was the answer of the mechanics...

I just suppose they had to put over the belt again while rotating the
camshafts in the right position! Still, the engine was running fine above,
say 2k rpm. The proof is that I haven't bent the valves even if the engine
was malfunctioning.
That was more than 20M meters ago. My b16 of 1993 is still alive and
kicking, roaring at 8k rpm.

jeffdown239 wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> This is the second timing belt change on my 96 Civic. This time it went
> much smoother than it was 100k miles ago, BUT...
>
> When I went to start the car, it went straight up to 4000rpm, then continued
> onto 4500rpm at a slightly slower rate. It remained there until I shut off
> the engine (about 15 sec later), since I knew it was not supposed to do
> that.
>
> I checked the obvious like a wrench got struck on the throttle arm or a
> kinked throttle cable. But none of that.
>
> I did a preliminary Google search and it seems to point toward the idle air
> speed control or a vacuum leak. I don't see any disconnected hoses. Is
> there an area I should concentrate on? Could the IAC be the cause?
>
> I have the factory service manuel, but I need to know where else to look.
>
> Thanks in advance

-----------------------
You probably need to perform an 'Idle Learn Procedure', but you should
also make sure the shop didn't leave a jumper on your SERVICE CONNECTOR
and look at your distributor to see if they jacked it to the left or the
right of it's adjustment slot to compensate for a timing belt that's out
of time. (you can't do that and have it work correctly).

Make sure your coolant reservoir is at MAX (this is in your owner's
manual) as well, since the engine has now had time to 'burp' by now.


It sounds like you've found another bad mechanic.

'Curly'