🔧 Accord - Water Pump Replacement

On your Accord 2.4L, the water pump is driven by the timing chain and sits behind the timing chain cover. Replacing it is a bigger job than most water pumps because you’ll remove the right engine mount, crank pulley, and timing cover, then carefully keep the timing chain aligned.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a cold engine; hot coolant can burn you.
• ⚠️ Support the engine from underneath before removing the right engine mount.
• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent accidental cranking.
• ⚠️ Keep the timing chain and sprockets aligned; incorrect timing can cause severe engine damage.
• ⚠️ Use jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.

---

🔧 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
• Drain pan (at least 10 qt)
• Funnel
• Metric socket set 8mm-19mm
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• Extensions (3", 6", 12")
• Torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Torque wrench (up to 200 ft-lbs)
• Serpentine belt tool 14mm
• Flat trim tool
• Pliers
• Hose clamp pliers
• Gasket scraper
• Plastic razor blades
• Shop rags
• Rubber mallet
• Honda/Acura crank pulley holding tool 50mm (specialty)
• Harmonic balancer puller kit (specialty)
• Paint marker
• Zip ties

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Water pump - Qty: 1
• Water pump O-ring / gasket - Qty: 1
• Honda Type 2 coolant (premix) - Qty: 2 gallons
• Timing chain cover RTV sealant (HondaBond-style) - Qty: 1
• Crankshaft pulley bolt - Qty: 1
• Serpentine belt - Qty: 1
• Engine oil - Qty: 5 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• 🧰 Let the engine cool fully (radiator hoses should feel cool).
• 🧰 Disconnect the negative battery cable using a 10mm socket.
• 🧰 Raise the front of the car with a floor jack and support it with jack stands.
• 🧰 Remove the right-front wheel with a 19mm socket and remove the splash shield with a flat trim tool.
• 🧰 Plan for an oil change afterward; timing cover work commonly contaminates oil with coolant/sealant residue.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Drain the coolant

• Place a drain pan under the radiator drain.
• Open the radiator cap, then open the drain using pliers as needed.
• Drain the reservoir tank as well (use pliers for the hose clamp if you remove the hose).

Step 2: Remove the serpentine belt

• Relieve tension using a serpentine belt tool 14mm on the belt tensioner.
• Slip the belt off and remove it from the engine bay.
• Tip: Take a photo of belt routing.

Step 3: Support the engine and remove the right engine mount

• Place a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) under the oil pan with a block of wood to spread the load.
• Lightly support the engine (do not lift the car) with the floor jack.
• Remove the right engine mount and bracket bolts using a metric socket set 8mm-19mm and ratchet.

Step 4: Remove the crank pulley (harmonic balancer)

• Install the Honda/Acura crank pulley holding tool 50mm (specialty) to hold the pulley.
• Loosen the crank bolt using a 1/2" drive breaker bar and 19mm socket.
• Remove the pulley. If it’s stuck, use a harmonic balancer puller kit (specialty).
• When reinstalling later: Torque to 245 Nm (181 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the timing chain cover area components

• Remove any brackets, wiring clips, and the right-side engine accessories blocking the cover using a 10mm socket and 12mm socket.
• Remove the valve cover if needed for timing reference access using a 10mm socket.
• Remove the timing chain cover bolts using a 10mm socket and extensions.
• Gently separate the cover using a flat trim tool and light taps with a rubber mallet (do not pry on sealing surfaces).

Step 6: Set the engine to Top Dead Center (TDC)

• Rotate the crankshaft clockwise using a 19mm socket and breaker bar until timing marks align.
• Mark the chain-to-sprocket positions with a paint marker for extra reference.
• Use zip ties to help keep the timing chain from slipping on the cam sprockets.
• Tip: Never rotate counterclockwise.

Step 7: Release timing chain tension (carefully)

• Remove the timing chain tensioner access components as needed using a 10mm socket.
• Relieve/remove the tensioner per its fasteners using a 10mm socket.
• Keep tension controlled so the chain does not jump teeth.

Step 8: Remove the water pump

• Remove the water pump mounting bolts using a 10mm socket.
• Pull the pump straight out; expect more coolant to drain into the drain pan.
• Clean the mating surface with a gasket scraper and plastic razor blades; wipe clean with shop rags.

Step 9: Install the new water pump

• Install the new O-ring/gasket on the pump.
• Seat the pump squarely and install bolts finger-tight.
• Tighten evenly using a 10mm socket.
• Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Reinstall timing components and timing cover

• Reinstall the chain tensioner using a 10mm socket.
• Confirm your timing marks still align (use the paint marker references).
• Apply a continuous bead of timing chain cover RTV sealant (HondaBond-style) to the cover.
• Reinstall the timing cover and hand-start all bolts using a 10mm socket.
• Tighten the cover bolts evenly in stages using a torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range).
• Torque to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs) for the timing cover bolts.

Step 11: Reinstall crank pulley, mount, and belt

• Reinstall the crank pulley and a new crank bolt using a 19mm socket and Honda/Acura crank pulley holding tool 50mm (specialty).
• Torque to 245 Nm (181 ft-lbs).
• Reinstall the right engine mount and brackets using a metric socket set 8mm-19mm and torque wrench.
• Install the serpentine belt using a serpentine belt tool 14mm.

Step 12: Refill coolant and bleed air

• Close the radiator drain.
• Fill with Honda Type 2 coolant (premix) using a funnel.
• Start the engine and set the heater to HOT; let it reach operating temperature while monitoring the coolant level.
• Top off the radiator and reservoir as the level drops.
• Check for leaks around the timing cover and water pump area.

---

✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Change the engine oil and filter after completion (use a drain pan, metric socket set, and funnel).
• 🧪 Test drive 10-15 minutes, then recheck coolant level after it cools.
• 🧪 Verify no overheating, no coolant smell, and no drips under the right-front side.
• 🧪 Recheck serpentine belt tracking (it should run centered on pulleys).

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $900-$1,600 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$450 (parts only)

You Save: $720-$1,150 by doing it yourself!

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

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.