🔧 Accord - Timing Chain Replacement

Your Accord’s 2.4L engine uses a timing chain (not a timing belt). Replacing the chain is a big job because you must remove the crank pulley, engine mount, and timing cover, then correctly line up timing marks so the engine runs safely.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 6-10 hours

Assumption: Stock 2.4L (timing chain design).

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support the car with jack stands on a solid, level surface (never rely on a jack).
• 🔥 Work on a cool engine; hot coolant and exhaust parts can burn you.
• ⚡ Disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent accidental starts/shorts.
• 🧰 Support the engine before removing the right-side engine mount (the engine can drop if unsupported).
• 🧼 Keep RTV and debris out of the engine; cover open areas with clean rags.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Metric socket set 8mm-22mm (3/8" drive)
• Metric socket set 10mm-22mm (1/2" drive)
• Ratchet (3/8" drive)
• Breaker bar (1/2" drive)
• Torque wrench 10-80 Nm (3/8" drive)
• Torque wrench up to 250 Nm (1/2" drive)
• Serpentine belt tool 14mm
• Honda crank pulley holding tool (specialty)
• Harmonic balancer puller kit (specialty)
• Engine support bar (specialty)
• Trim clip remover
• Flathead screwdriver
• Pry bar
• Gasket scraper
• Plastic razor blades
• Drain pan (at least 8-quart)
• Funnel
• Shop rags
• Paint marker

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Timing chain - Qty: 1
• Timing chain tensioner - Qty: 1
• Timing chain guide set - Qty: 1
• Front crankshaft oil seal - Qty: 1
• Valve cover gasket set - Qty: 1
• RTV sealant (HondaBond equivalent) - Qty: 1
• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic) - Qty: 5 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Coolant (Honda Type 2 equivalent) - Qty: 1 gallon
• Serpentine belt - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Disconnect the negative battery cable using a 10mm socket.
• Raise the front of the car with a floor jack and support with jack stands.
• Remove the lower engine splash shield using a trim clip remover and 10mm socket.
• Drain coolant into a drain pan. Also plan for an oil change after resealing the timing cover.
• Tip: Take photos before every unplug/removal.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove intake ducting and access covers

• Remove the intake snorkel/air duct using a flathead screwdriver and 10mm socket.
• Remove any top plastic covers using a 10mm socket.

Step 2: Remove right front wheel and inner splash shield

• Loosen lug nuts with a 19mm socket, then remove the wheel.
• Remove the fender liner/splash shield using a trim clip remover and 10mm socket.

Step 3: Remove the serpentine belt

• Rotate the belt tensioner with a serpentine belt tool 14mm and slide the belt off.
• Tip: Draw the belt routing first.

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

• Install an engine support bar (it holds the engine from above so the mount can come off safely).
• Remove the right engine mount fasteners using a 14mm socket and 17mm socket.

Step 5: Remove the valve cover

• Unplug coils and remove coil hold-down bolts with a 10mm socket; lift coils out.
• Remove valve cover nuts/bolts with a 10mm socket, then lift the cover off.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Set cylinder #1 to Top Dead Center (TDC) on compression

• Turn the crankshaft clockwise using a 19mm socket and breaker bar.
• Line up the timing marks on the cam sprockets and crank sprocket (use a paint marker to highlight them).
• Tip: Only rotate clockwise to avoid slack errors.

Step 7: Remove the crank pulley (harmonic balancer)

• Install the Honda crank pulley holding tool (specialty) to hold the pulley.
• Remove the crank bolt using a 19mm impact socket and breaker bar.
• If needed, use a harmonic balancer puller kit (specialty) to pull the pulley off.
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 245 Nm (181 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Remove the timing (front) cover

• Remove all timing cover bolts using a 10mm socket (note different lengths; lay them out in order).
• Carefully break the seal with a plastic razor blade and pry bar (do not gouge the aluminum).
• On reassembly for small cover bolts: Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Remove timing chain, guides, and tensioner

• Remove the tensioner bolts with a 10mm socket, then remove the tensioner.
• Remove chain guides with a 10mm socket.
• Slip the timing chain off the sprockets carefully.
• On reinstalling tensioner/guide fasteners: Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Install new guides and timing chain (align timing marks)

• Install new chain guides using a 10mm socket. Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs).
• Install the new chain so the colored links align with the timing marks on the cam sprockets and crank sprocket.
• Reset/install the new tensioner (it is spring-loaded; it pushes on the chain guide to remove slack).
• Tip: Double-check marks before pulling the pin.

Step 11: Verify timing by hand-rotating the engine

• Rotate the engine clockwise two full turns using a 19mm socket and breaker bar.
• Re-check timing marks line up correctly.
• If marks don’t line up, stop and correct before proceeding.

Step 12: Reseal and reinstall the timing cover

• Clean mating surfaces with a gasket scraper and plastic razor blades.
• Apply a continuous bead of RTV sealant (HondaBond equivalent) per the factory seam locations, then install the cover.
• Tighten cover bolts evenly with a 10mm socket. Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Reinstall crank pulley, valve cover, mount, belt, and wheel

• Reinstall the crank pulley and crank bolt using the Honda crank pulley holding tool (specialty) and a torque wrench up to 250 Nm. Torque to 245 Nm (181 ft-lbs).
• Install the valve cover with a new gasket using a 10mm socket. Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs).
• Reinstall the right engine mount using a 14mm socket and 17mm socket, then remove the engine support bar.
• Reinstall the serpentine belt using a serpentine belt tool 14mm.
• Reinstall splash shield and wheel using a 19mm socket.

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✅ After Repair

• Refill engine oil (and replace the oil filter) using a drain pan and funnel.
• Refill coolant and bleed air by running the engine with the heater on high; top off as needed.
• Start the engine and listen: no rattling/slapping noises should be present.
• Check for oil leaks around the timing cover and valve cover.
• Test drive gently, then recheck oil/coolant levels after the engine cools.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $1,400-$2,600 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $750-$2,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 6-10 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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