Cylinder Head Assembly: Service and Repair

1. On models equipped with radio coded theft protection system, refer to Vehicle Damage Warnings for system disarming and arming procedures. On models equipped with airbag system, refer to Technician Safety Information for system disarming and arming procedures.
2. Disconnect battery ground cable, then drain engine coolant.
3. Relieve fuel pressure as described under Technician Safety Information.
4. Remove air intake duct and breather hose.
5. Remove throttle cable at throttle body.
6. Remove fuel return hose and brake booster vacuum hose.
7. Remove the following connectors:
a. Fuel injector.
b. Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor and Idle Air Control (IAC) valve.
c. Throttle position sensor and ground terminal.
d. Thermoswitch and heated oxygen sensor.
e. Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor.
f. ECT gauge sending unit.
g. VTEC solenoid valve and pressure switch.
8. Remove radiator upper hose and heater hose, then the engine ground cable on cylinder head cover.
9. Remove power steering pump belt and pump, then the power steering lower bracket and heat shield.
10. Remove intake manifold bracket.
11. Remove self-locking nuts, then disconnect exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe.
12. Remove exhaust manifold bracket, then the cylinder head cover.
13. Remove timing belt middle cover, then loosen adjusting bolt 180degrees to release belt tension.
14. Push tensioner to release timing belt tension, then retighten adjusting bolt.
15. Remove belt from camshaft pulleys, then the pulleys.
16. Loosen adjustment screws and camshaft holders, then remove camshafts and rocker arms.

Fig. 17 Cylinder Head Bolt Loosening Sequence:

17. Remove cylinder head bolts in sequence, Fig. 17, 1/3 turn at a time. Repeat until all bolts are loosened.
18. Remove cylinder head from block. If necessary, use an appropriate pry tool.
19. Remove intake manifold and exhaust manifold from cylinder head.

Fig. 20 Cylinder Head Bolt Tightening Sequence:

20. Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
a. Install cylinder head gasket, dowel pins and head oil control orifice on cylinder block.
b. Torque cylinder head bolts in two steps using sequence shown in Fig. 20; first to 22 ft. lbs., then to 61 ft. lbs.
c. Install exhaust manifold and tighten with new self-locking nuts in crisscross pattern in two or three steps, beginning with inner nuts.
21. On models equipped with radio coded theft protection system, refer to Vehicle Damage Warnings for system disarming and arming procedures. On models equipped with airbag system, refer to Technician Safety Information for system disarming and arming procedures.