CRV Bad Timing Belt Change !!?

[augh]

I have a 2000 CRV Sport Auto with about 80K on it.
At the last service at an authorised Kmart service centre I was advised to change the timing belt which I agreed to and they changed the timing belt. The Spark Plugs were also changed along with a few other seals and stuff.

The day after I picked up the car the engine kept cutting out on starting but mainly when it was warm and a couple of times even when stopped at a traffic light. The idling was unsteady and there was a bit of shudder now and then when idling. Since it was the weekend I drove it around and took it back on the Monday. They said the timing was out which they adjusted and the engine does not cut out anymore.

But now I find that there are small but noticeable vibrations in the car when idling and I can sort of hear the engine at highway speeds (>100kph) and it feels like I am pushing the engines while previously it felt much smoother at 110kph. At regular city driving speeds I don't notice any difference from what it was previously but on inclines it seem to kick out of OverDrive much sooner than it used to.

Is this still just a timing related issue or
could the w/end of driving around on the bad timing have caused other damage to the engine? or
maybe its just my imagination after the bad service.

appreciate any advise.

[aaronng]

Should have got it changed at a proper mechanic. Kmart is not that good when doing major servicing.

Do you know the part number of the plugs they used?

[ECU-MAN]

probably used champion plugs :)

[augh]

Yeah, I am kicking myself for not going to a good service centre for this.

looked by the recept and part numbers for the spark plugs are not mentioned but they cost $4.65 each if that's any indication.

one more thing, fuel usage seems to have increased, used to get about 11 now its about 12.

so are you suggesting that it could just be a spark plug thing and not some more serious damage to the engine.

[shadou]

lol Kmart services, many stories bout them and various other chains.

[sitta]

had the same problem with the idling a while ago, the rev is not steady keep going up and down about 500rpm, turn out someting wrong with the valve in one piston.

[aaronng]

They might have put the belt back on offset by 1 tooth.

[ginganggooly]

Not wanting to be a scare monger, but- possibly a bent valve?

[aaronng]

It's an auto, so it wouldn't have been over-revved.

[ginganggooly]

How far out was the timing?
I don't know how much of a margin for error there is in a standard b20, but if there was piston to valve contact it wouldn't really make a difference whether it was an auto or manual...

[aaronng]

How far out was the timing?
I don't know how much of a margin for error there is in a standard b20, but if there was piston to valve contact it wouldn't really make a difference whether it was an auto or manual...

If the valve timing was out by that much to give piston to valve contact, the engine would run very very badly (or not at all).

[vtek]

serves you right for not going to a dealer or mechanic with honda experience.

[AKmotorworks]

sounds like you have a timing belt misaligned. First things first, check your timing value on the TDC mark with a timing gun.

as for bent valves, not likely from what you described.

[aaronng]

serves you right for not going to a dealer or mechanic with honda experience.

Timing belt change is the same for ALL cars across the brands. He doesn't need to go to a Honda specialist to do it. But doing it at Kmart is probably slightly worse than Ultratune....

[panda[cRx]]

Timing belt change is the same for ALL cars across the brands. He doesn't need to go to a Honda specialist to do it. But doing it at Kmart is probably slightly worse than Ultratune....

it's similar but not identical. honda dealers get alot of smaller workshops calling to ask how to change the more difficult cambelts.

[shadou]

like the preludes :D god they were a bag of fun and a half

[aaronng]

;1429336']it's similar but not identical. honda dealers get alot of smaller workshops calling to ask how to change the more difficult cambelts.

Yeah, but in this case of the b20, they managed to take off the old one and put the new one on while screwing up something in between. LOL

[ginganggooly]

I'm surprised that a mechanic can't come to terms with this; changing a b-series timing belt is hardly rocket science. Reminds me of the time BD4's serviced my corolla...

Just go back and kick up a stink.

[vtek]

x2, so I have no sympathy for those who skimp out and go to profix, ultra tune and Kmart.


;1429336']it's similar but not identical. honda dealers get alot of smaller workshops calling to ask how to change the more difficult cambelts.

[augh]

Yes, I do agree it was a bad decision. initially went in for a regular service and they said the belt needed to be changed and I asked them to go ahead.

After the initial change the engine seemed to run ok at higher revs though it was louder than usual. so idling after a cold start (since the revs are higher) it did not cut off. once it settled down to a normal idling rev it would tend to cut off. Also at normal idling there was a noticeable shudder every now and again as the revs slowed down and picked up again.
it was unfortunate that I had the use the car quite a bit that w/end before taking it back as I was helping a friend move. So donno if I did any damage to the engine during that w/end. After taking it back and they re-adjusted the timing (at least thats what they told me) it has not cut out on idling but that the subtle changes I mentioned earlier.

I will be taking it in to a realisable place to get it checked. any recommendation on weather I should take it to a dealer or to Hannys.

if they do find a problem with the kmart job I will put in a formal complaint with kmart.

Thanks for all the help.

[keybanger]

had the same problem with the idling a while ago, the rev is not steady keep going up and down about 500rpm, turn out someting wrong with the valve in one piston.

We had our CRV for about 3 weeks when it started to run like a bastard. Turns out that a relay or sensor or something in the throttle body shat itself. Honda were cool about it, as you had to buy a whole new throttle body. They supplied the TB for free but we paid the labour, which was $100 ish.