93 Honda Civic problem with timing.?

[M. E.]

I am pulling my hair out on this. Anyone experienced with Hondas?

My Honda is an LX with a 1.5L auto-trans and I can't quite get the timing right. This was done "by the book" with the car in drive and the jumper wire across the brown and green/white wire with it fully warmed up (cooling fan cycling).

I just changed the water pump and timing belt, then went to check the timing but found it was too retarded. Double checked and found the cam-to-crank to be one tooth off (with cam pulley "up" the key on the crank was one tooth counter-clockwise). I took it all apart again and reset it so after rotating by hand (of course counterclockwise only!) the marks stayed. Put it back together and now when checking the timing it appears to be too advanced! It is much closer to the mark, but still out of reach.

When it was too retarded the car ran but seemed to have no power when driving. Now with it too advanced, it zooms but with the pedal to the floor I can hear some sparknock.

What am I missing? I am new to Hondas so feel free to enlighten me.

Thank you.
Reply to Sadams2:

Thank you for your input. I would prefer not to take it apart again if I can help it-suspecting something else going on. Before it was too retarded, now that I moved it ONE TOOTH it is too advanced. With each condition, I attempted to move the distributor in both directions to no avail. Both situations did not allow me to even touch one of the timing marks. I don't see how a another belt will fix this.

 

[sadams2_2001]

I have Had the same Trouble years ago, and found that the Factory Timing Belt has marks on it, that align with the gears.

Mark all the gears to the Cover, with a Marks, Cam, Crankshaft, and shafts, according to directions.

Timing lite not needed, that the Dist. Should not be moved and should be in the Center or a little off set. Always look at the mark on the plate and place it there, try never to pull it out. Making sure it is facing number 1 Positon slighty off from the rotor, to the outer edge of Distrurbter.

Placing the piston on the top position is needed if you get lost, placing a screw driver and slowing cranking the crankshaft using a socket or wrench.
Getting the true Top Dead Center.

There will be a Tight slack between the Cam Gear and want to move, when the tighen is applied, always triple check before starting the engine, because you have a problem with binding the valves and hitting the pistons.

Just take your time, Mark, Recheck, and RECHECK all marks, using a Factory Belt, and also make sure there are no movements in the keyways, might show wear and cause movements changing the Alignment.

Good Luck