🔧 Odyssey - Timing Belt Replacement

Your Odyssey’s 3.5L V6 uses a timing belt to keep the crankshaft and camshafts perfectly synchronized. Replacing it on schedule helps prevent severe engine damage if the belt breaks or the tensioner fails.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 5-8 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the engine before removing the right-side mount; it can drop suddenly.
• 🛑 Keep hands/tools clear when loosening the crank pulley bolt; it is extremely tight.
• 🛑 Never rotate the engine backward; rotate clockwise only.
• 🛑 Let the engine cool fully before draining coolant.
• 🛑 Battery disconnect is recommended before starting.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Metric socket set (8mm-22mm)
• 19mm impact socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar (24" minimum)
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (up to 250 ft-lbs)
• Serpentine belt tool or 19mm wrench
• Honda crank pulley holding tool (specialty)
• Pry bar
• Trim clip removal tool
• Flathead screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Drain pan (at least 10 quarts)
• Funnel
• Shop rags
• Paint marker

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Timing belt - Qty: 1
• Timing belt tensioner (hydraulic) - Qty: 1
• Timing belt idler pulley - Qty: 1
• Timing belt tensioner pulley - Qty: 1
• Water pump - Qty: 1
• Water pump gasket/O-ring - Qty: 1
• Engine coolant (Honda Type 2 equivalent) - Qty: 2 gallons
• Accessory drive belt - Qty: 1
• Crankshaft pulley bolt - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Disconnect the battery negative cable using a 10mm socket.
• Raise the right-front corner using a floor jack and support with jack stands.
• Remove the right-front wheel using a 19mm socket.
• Pro tip: Take photos before removing brackets/hoses.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the splash shields for access

• Remove the right-side inner fender liner and lower splash shield using a trim clip removal tool and 10mm socket.
• Set all clips/bolts aside by location.

Step 2: Drain coolant (for water pump replacement)

• Place a drain pan under the radiator drain.
• Open the drain and remove the radiator cap to speed draining (use a flathead screwdriver if needed).

Step 3: Remove the accessory drive belt

• Rotate the belt tensioner with a serpentine belt tool or 19mm wrench.
• Slip the belt off and remove it from the engine bay.

Step 4: Support the engine and remove the right engine mount

• Place a floor jack under the oil pan area with a block of wood to spread the load.
• Lift gently until you see the engine weight supported.
• Remove the right-side engine mount and bracket bolts using a 14mm socket and 17mm socket.
• Torque to 64 Nm (47 ft-lbs) for mount fasteners during reassembly.

Step 5: Remove the crankshaft pulley (harmonic balancer)

• Install the Honda crank pulley holding tool (specialty) to hold the pulley still. (This tool locks the pulley so you can safely loosen the bolt.)
• Loosen the crank bolt using a 19mm impact socket with a 1/2" drive breaker bar.
• Remove the pulley; use a pry bar gently only if needed.
• Torque to 245 Nm (181 ft-lbs) for the crank bolt during reassembly.

Step 6: Remove timing covers

• Remove the upper and lower timing belt covers using a 10mm socket.
• Inspect for oil leaks; oil on a timing belt is a problem that should be fixed before reassembly.

Step 7: Set cylinder #1 to Top Dead Center (TDC)

• Turn the crankshaft clockwise using a 19mm socket and 1/2" drive ratchet.
• Align the crank and cam timing marks exactly to their reference marks.
• Use a paint marker to add your own match marks for backup.

Step 8: Remove the timing belt tensioner and belt

• Remove the hydraulic tensioner bolts using a 12mm socket.
• Remove the tensioner pulley and idler pulley using a 14mm socket.
• Slip the old timing belt off the sprockets carefully.
• Torque to 54 Nm (40 ft-lbs) for idler/tensioner pulley bolts during reassembly.

Step 9: Replace the water pump

• Remove the water pump bolts using a 10mm socket.
• Pull the pump off and clean the mating surface with shop rags.
• Install the new pump with a new gasket/O-ring.
• Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs) for water pump bolts.

Step 10: Install new pulleys, tensioner, and timing belt

• Install the new idler and tensioner pulley using a 14mm socket.
• Install the new hydraulic tensioner using a 12mm socket, but do not pull the retaining pin yet.
• Route the new timing belt in the correct direction, keeping the belt tight on the non-tensioned side.
• Double-check all timing marks are still perfectly aligned.

Step 11: Set belt tension and verify timing

• Pull the tensioner retaining pin with needle-nose pliers to apply tension.
• Rotate the engine clockwise two full turns using a 19mm socket and 1/2" drive ratchet.
• Re-check that the timing marks return exactly to their alignment points.
• Pro tip: If marks are off, stop and re-time.

Step 12: Reassemble and refill coolant

• Reinstall timing covers using a 10mm socket.
• Reinstall the crank pulley and a new crank bolt using a 19mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 245 Nm (181 ft-lbs) for the crank bolt.
• Reinstall the engine mount/bracket using a 14mm socket and 17mm socket.
• Torque to 64 Nm (47 ft-lbs) for mount fasteners.
• Install the accessory drive belt using a serpentine belt tool or 19mm wrench.
• Refill coolant using a funnel and the correct coolant.
• Reinstall splash shields using a trim clip removal tool and 10mm socket.
• Reinstall the wheel using a 19mm socket and torque wrench.
• Torque to 127 Nm (94 ft-lbs) for lug nuts.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and listen for abnormal ticking/slapping noises near the timing cover.
• Let it reach operating temperature and confirm the heater blows hot (helps bleed air).
• Check for coolant leaks at the water pump area.
• Top off coolant after the first full heat cycle and cool-down.
• Reset the maintenance reminder (if needed): Steering Wheel Controls > Settings > Vehicle > Maintenance Info > Reset.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $1,200-$2,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $250-$650 (parts only)

You Save: $550-$1,750 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 5-8 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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