🔧 Passport - Timing Belt Replacement

On your Passport, the timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshafts synchronized. Replacing it on schedule prevents belt failure that can cause severe engine damage. This is a tight-space job that requires locking the crank pulley and carefully aligning timing marks.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a completely cool engine to avoid burns.
• Disconnect the negative battery cable before starting.
• Support the vehicle with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• You must support the engine from below before removing the right-side engine mount.
• Do not rotate the crankshaft/camshafts with the belt removed unless instructed; piston-to-valve contact can occur.
• Keep fingers clear when releasing the hydraulic tensioner; it applies strong force.

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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
• Drain pan (2-gallon minimum)
• Fender cover
• 1/2" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar (24" minimum)
• Torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs)
• Torque wrench (50-250 ft-lbs)
• Socket set (8mm-19mm)
• 10mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 19mm socket
• Serpentine belt tool (14mm) (specialty)
• Honda crank pulley holding tool (specialty)
• 19mm impact-rated socket
• Trim clip remover
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Plastic scraper
• Shop towels
• Funnel

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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
• Honda-type coolant (premix) - Qty: 2 gallons
• Serpentine 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 front-right corner and support it on a jack stand; remove the right-front wheel using a 19mm socket.
• Remove the right-front inner fender/splash shield clips using a trim clip remover to access the crank pulley area.
• Place a floor jack with a wood block under the oil pan area to support the engine (do not lift hard—just support).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Drain coolant (for water pump replacement)

• Place a drain pan under the radiator drain.
• Open the radiator drain per access available and drain coolant; use pliers if a hose clamp must be moved.
• Close the drain when finished.

Step 2: Remove the serpentine belt

• Relieve tension with the serpentine belt tool (14mm) (specialty) and slip the belt off.
• Snap a photo of belt routing first.

Step 3: Support engine and remove the right engine mount

• Confirm the engine is supported from below using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Remove mount fasteners using a 14mm socket and 17mm socket as equipped.
• Lift the mount/bracket out of the way.

Step 4: Remove the crankshaft pulley

• Install the Honda crank pulley holding tool (specialty) to hold the pulley.
• Remove the crank bolt using a 19mm impact-rated socket and a 1/2" drive breaker bar (24" minimum).
• Remove the crank pulley from the crank snout.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 245 Nm (181 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove timing belt covers

• Remove upper and lower timing covers using a 10mm socket.
• Keep bolts organized by cover location/length.

Step 6: Set cylinder #1 to TDC on compression

• Rotate the crankshaft clockwise using a 19mm socket and 1/2" drive ratchet until the timing marks align.
• Confirm the cam pulley timing marks line up with the reference marks on the rear covers/head.
• Do not rotate counterclockwise.

Step 7: Remove the timing belt tensioner and belt

• Remove the timing belt tensioner mounting bolts using a 12mm socket.
• Remove the tensioner and then slide the timing belt off the pulleys.

Step 8: Replace idler pulleys

• Remove the idler pulley bolt(s) using a 14mm socket.
• Install the new pulley(s) and tighten with a torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs).
• Torque to 54 Nm (40 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Replace the water pump

• Place a drain pan under the pump area for remaining coolant.
• Remove water pump bolts using a 10mm socket.
• Remove the pump; clean the mating surface with a plastic scraper and shop towels.
• Install the new gasket/O-ring and water pump.
• Tighten bolts evenly using a torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs): Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Install the new timing belt

• Confirm crank and cam timing marks are still aligned.
• Route the belt in the correct order, keeping the belt tight on the non-tensioned side (usually from crank up and across the cams).
• Install the new hydraulic tensioner using a 12mm socket.
• Tighten tensioner bolts with a torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs): Torque to 44 Nm (33 ft-lbs).
• Pull the tensioner pin to apply tension.

Step 11: Verify timing

• Rotate the crankshaft clockwise two full turns using a 19mm socket and 1/2" drive ratchet.
• Re-check all timing marks. If any mark is off, remove the belt and correct it before proceeding.

Step 12: Reassemble covers, crank pulley, mount, and belt

• Reinstall timing covers using a 10mm socket.
• Reinstall crank pulley and a new crank bolt using the Honda crank pulley holding tool (specialty) and 19mm socket.
• Final tighten crank bolt using a torque wrench (50-250 ft-lbs): Torque to 245 Nm (181 ft-lbs).
• Reinstall the right engine mount/bracket using a 14mm socket and 17mm socket, then tighten with a torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs).
• Install the serpentine belt using the serpentine belt tool (14mm) (specialty).
• Reinstall splash shield using a trim clip remover, and reinstall wheel using a 19mm socket.

Step 13: Refill and bleed coolant

• Refill with Honda-type coolant (premix) using a funnel.
• Reconnect the battery negative cable using a 10mm socket.
• Start the engine and let it reach operating temperature while watching for leaks.
• Top off coolant as needed after the thermostat opens and after a full cool-down.

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✅ After Repair

• Verify smooth idle and no warning lights.
• Listen for abnormal chirping/whining near the timing cover area.
• Check coolant level again after the first test drive and again the next morning.
• Inspect for coolant leaks around the water pump and for oil leaks around the timing covers.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $1,400-$2,200 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $350-$750 (parts only)

You Save: $650-$1,850 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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