5/1/2005
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Shop Line: Timing belts loosening on some Acura 3.2L engines
By Larry Carley
We've had complaints about timing belts loosening on some Acura 3.2L engines. Do you know of any solutions?
The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding a revised timing belt tensioner for 2002-2003 Acura 3.2L engines. This tensioner is part of a product improvement by Acura. Vehicles with the revised tensioner should be identified by a punched mark above the sixth digit of
the engine compartment VIN code as shown above.
The original design timing belt tensioner is filled with oil to dampen oscillation. Due to a manufacturing situation, the tensioner oil can leak. If enough oil is lost, the timing belt loosens and causes engine noise. The worst-case scenario is the belt may lose tension and allow the loss of cam timing. Refer to the chart (Figure 1) to determine which vehicles are affected.
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