Repair Procedure

1. Make sure you have the audio system anti-theft code, if needed. Write down your customer's radio station presets.

2. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery.

3. Remove the cylinder head cover. Remove the middle cover (DOHC Prelude) or the upper cover (all other affected models).





4. Use a flashlight to look inside the lower cover at the front balancer shaft oil seal. Look for an oil seal retainer above it bolted to the oil pump housing.

^ If you see an oil seal retainer, go to step 23.

^ If you do not see an oil seal retainer, go to step 5.

^ *If the seal is cocked or backed out, replace the seal. Replace the timing belt and balancer belt if they are contaminated with oil (refer to section 6 of the appropriate service manual). Then go to step 14. This repair requires DSM approval.

^ *If the oil seal has backed out, causing internal engine damage from extended driving with a complete loss of oil, contact your DSM.*

5. Loosen the mounting hardware for the power steering pump and the alternator. Then loosen the adjusting bolts 20 turns (this is for reference during reassembly).

6. Remove the power steering pump belt and the alternator belt.

7. DOHC Prelude only: Remove the power steering reservoir and the power steering pump, and set them aside. Do not disconnect any power steering fluid lines.





8. Remove the dipstick and the dipstick tube. Make sure you cover the hole to keep debris out of the oil pan.

9. Raise the vehicle, and remove the left front wheel.

10. Remove the mounting bolts from the driver's side half of the splash shield. Pull back the splash shield, and secure it so you can access the crankshaft pulley.





11. Use the special tools and a wrench to remove the crankshaft pulley bolt, then remove the pulley.





12. Remove the three mounting bolts from the lower cover. Pry the bottom of the cover away from the block about an inch, and use a socket or similar tool to hold it there.





13. Remove the oil pump housing bolt to the left and below the front balancer shaft.

14. Install the oil seal retainer from the kit on the pump housing with the bolt you just removed. Torque the bolt to 12 Nm (8.7 lb-ft).

15. Reinstall the lower cover bolts, making sure the rubber seal seats properly in the cover. Torque the bolts to 12 Nm (8.7 lb-ft).

16. Reinstall the crankshaft pulley. Use the special tools and a torque wrench to torque the pulley bolt to 245 Nm (181 lb-ft). Make sure you use a torque wrench; do not use an impact wrench.

17. Reinstall the splash shield mounting bolts. Torque the bolts to 12 Nm (8.7 lb-ft).

18. Reinstall the left front wheel. Torque the wheel nuts to 108 Nm (80 lb-ft).

19. Reinstall the dipstick tube with the new O-ring from the kit. Torque the bolt to 12 Nm (8.7 lb-ft). Reinstall the dipstick.

20. DOHC Prelude only: Reinstall the power steering reservoir and the power steering pump.

21. Reinstall the alternator belt and the power steering pump belt.

22. Tighten the adjusting bolts for the alternator and the power steering pump 20 turns, then torque the mounting hardware as specified in the appropriate service manual. Use belt tension gauge T/N 07JGG-001010A or TGG-001000A to check for proper belt tension.





NOTE:
An over-tensioned belt will cause crankshaft failure, usually within a few thousand miles. Make sure the belt tension is correct before releasing the vehicle to your customer.

23. Reinstall the upper or middle cover. Torque the bolts to 12 Nm (8.7 lb-ft).

24. Reinstall the cylinder head cover. Torque the mounting hardware sequentially in two or three steps as specified in the appropriate service manual.

25. Reconnect the negative cable to the battery.

26. Enter the audio system anti-theft code, then enter your customer's radio station presets. Set the clock.





27. Center-punch a completion mark above the last character of the engine compartment VIN.