crankshaft pulley does not line up with the TDC mark

[Sam]

Question for someone who knows about Honda engine timing:

While adjusting the valve clearance on my 1996 Honda Civic EX coupe (engine
type D16Y8), I noticed something that has bothered me ever since. While
putting the engine in TDC for checking valve clearance per the service
manual, the crankshaft pulley did not line up with the TDC marks. When the
camshaft pulley marks line up with the pointers on the back cover (TDC), the
crankshaft pulley does not line up with the TDC mark. Instead, the
crankshaft pulley is shifted so the visual guides point between the timing
marks and the TDC mark -- about one tooth away from the TDC mark on the
pulley, when using the viewing marks. I am the original owner, and the
engine has never been worked on (aside from checking the valve clearance per
the maintenance schedule (30K miles) -- when I noticed the problem). Also,
I am using the official Honda 1996 Civic Service Manual (First Edition). I
have been told not to worry, since the engine runs fine (and that it would
not run or run poorly if the crankshaft were even one tooth off). Should
the belt be left in its current position? When the time comes, should the
next belt be placed in the same position or in the proper position? Should
I be worried?

Sam Sander
ssa...@rocketmail.com

[rm]

>not run or run poorly if the crankshaft were even one tooth off). Should
>the belt be left in its current position?

a couple of degrees shouldn't make a whole lot of difference. I would
try to figure out about how many degrees advanced or retarded the cam
timing is. Put the crank at TDC and see how the cam lines up and how
many degrees it's off, and in what direction. It would probably not
be too terribly difficult to remove the upper timing cover, create
slack by loosening the tensioner, and put it on correctly (and
correctly re-tension the tb tensioner.) Be sure to rotate the engine
by-hand a couple of times after re-tensioning to make sure that the
belt is properly aligned/tensioned/installed.

> When the time comes, should the next belt be placed in the same position or in the proper position? Should
>I be worried?

I would not worry (don't forget that people buy adjustable cam gears
to adjust cam timing on purpose). The next tb should be aligned
properly. Adjustable cam gears, btw, are only useful on a sohc engine
if the head has been shaved (to maintain correct cam timing despite
shorter cam/crank distance.) On a dohc engine, it's another story...