2008 Honda Accord Timing chain marks not lining up
Timing chain marks not lining up
What is your question?
Made sure crank was at TDC before any removal we replaced intake and exhaust cam sprockets and made sure the marks on the sprockets lined up before removing them. Put the new sprockets on and now the timing chain marks won’t line up with the cam sprockets. I tried to manually turn the camshafts, but they spring back into the original position. If I get all the marks lined up by turning the camshafts manually, the sprockets marks don’t line up in the middle. The crankshaft is at top dead center and the camshaft sprockets markings lineup in the middle so the chain should just sit on the marks without any issue, but it seems as if one camshafts is three teeth off the mark on the chain, but the crankshaft and other camshaft sprocket all fit on the marks on the chain and it’s interchangeable meaning if I put the timing chain mark on one camshaft. The other side is off by three teeth and vice versa.
What makes this problem better or worse?
Nothing
How long has your 2008 Honda Accord had this problem?
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Hi, this is Bo, an auto expert on RepairPal's Car Genius team!
It sounds like you’re dealing with one of those head-scratchers when it comes to timing chains. If your camshafts are springing back, it’s likely due to valve spring pressure, which is normal. However, the fact that one camshaft seems off by three teeth suggests that the timing might not be set correctly. The key here is to ensure that the crankshaft is precisely at TDC on the compression stroke for cylinder 1 and that the camshafts are in the correct position for their respective marks. Sometimes, it helps to recheck the timing marks and gently turn the crankshaft a bit backward and then forward to relieve tension before lining up the marks.
If the chain won’t sit correctly on the marks, you might need to reset everything and try again. Double-check the service manual for your specific engine to ensure you're following the right procedure. A second set of hands or a tool to hold the camshafts in place might also be helpful to keep everything aligned.
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