94 integra - timing belt noise

[B18BSol]

Greetings. Haven't posted on here in a while (sorry) but had a quick question for all the honda fiends :thumpup:
My motor (B18B) has unknown mileage (JDM swap) and the timing belt looks good visually (no cracks or stretch marks) but it's starting to VERY LIGHTLY make a tap/slap noise. I am not sure if it is slapping against the timing belt plastic housing or what it is doing. All other drive belts are 6 months old. I took the top part only of the housing off when changing my valve cover gasket (and broken valve cover bolt, brittle bastards) recently but it is still doing it. It only does it when I start it cold and after a short amount of driving, it stops all together. Just had the valves adjusted as well and the sound was unaffected after the adjustment so I know it's not the valves. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[American Psycho]

contact www.hybridynamics.com

[Traction Issuez]

i would have to say that if your belt has enough play in it to slap any part of anything you need to get it changed.

[B18BSol]

Originally Posted by Traction Issuez

i would have to say that if your belt has enough play in it to slap any part of anything you need to get it changed.

good point...if the belt is in good condition though, could I just have the tensioner adjusted to make it slightly tighter?

[Traction Issuez]

too tight will make noise and cause problems down the road, and you sure it's not the water pump making noise? is there any prestone leaking?look down te side of the motor from underneath and see if the motor or the timming belt cover is wet.

[B18BSol]

Originally Posted by Traction Issuez

too tight will make noise and cause problems down the road, and you sure it's not the water pump making noise? is there any prestone leaking?look down te side of the motor from underneath and see if the motor or the timming belt cover is wet.

I'll have to get back to you...we just had a monsoon...so yeah, EVERYTHING is wet under there but thanks for now

[Turbo AWD]

What your describing sounds more like lifter tap. It's very common for the noise to go away, once the engine comes to temp. Lifter tap, and oil viscosity sometimes go hand and hand. The type of oil you use maybe the source of your problem. You must also remember that most JDM engines haven't seen very many oil changes. Oil ain't cheap, and many japs cant afford timely oil changes. A half way clogged or simply worn lifter will cause such tick. My suggestion would be to add some lucas oil treatment. It may work as a band-aid or it may cure the problem all together.

[B18BSol]

Originally Posted by Turbo AWD

What your describing sounds more like lifter tap. It's very common for the noise to go away, once the engine comes to temp. Lifter tap, and oil viscosity sometimes go hand and hand. The type of oil you use maybe the source of your problem. You must also remember that most JDM engines haven't seen very many oil changes. Oil ain't cheap, and many japs cant afford timely oil changes. A half way clogged or simply worn lifter will cause such tick. My suggestion would be to add some lucas oil treatment. It may work as a band-aid or it may cure the problem all together.

Yeah, my brother (Merciless) suggested that too...might just do that to see if it helps, but the sound is coming from OUTSIDE the cylinder head, where the timing belt is, that is why the timing belt slapping made the most sense to me, but I could be wrong

[StreetSi]

Bad Tensioner? or the wrong Size belt

[B18BSol]

It's the right size belt, and I'm going to get the timing belt replaced along with the tensioner tomorrow and let you know how it turns out.

[B18BSol]

Got the timing belt done today, tensioner was ok, water pump starting to leak, got a new water pump, both pulley-side cam seals leaking, got new seals, crank seal ok...all installed $396.84...and got it done before my lunch hour :thumb: sometimes I'll pay for convenince