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The Honda Accord is a mid-size car that has been in production since 1976. The 2001 model belongs to the sixth generation of this series, which includes Accords made from 1998 to 2002. The 2001 Honda Accord typically has a four-cylinder 2.3-liter engine with multi-point fuel injection. This engine uses a timing belt to keep the camshaft synchronized with the crankshaft. The procedure for replacing the timing belt requires you to set the crankshaft to the top dead center (TDC) position several times.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the valve cover and upper covers for the timing belt with a socket wrench. Remove any additional components needed to access the crankshaft. Turn the crankshaft clockwise by hand to align the white mark on the crankshaft sprocket with the pointer on the lower cover of for the timing belt. The word "UP" on the camshaft sprocket must also be in the 12 oclock position.

2

Remove the lower timing belt cover with a socket wrench. Fasten one of the mounting bolts for the lower timing cover to the adjuster arm of the timing belt tensioner. This will hold the timing belt adjuster in position.

3

Loosen the lock bolt and adjusting nut on the timing belt tensioner with a socket wrench, and push the tensioner away from the timing belt to relieve the tension on the timing belt. Tighten the adjuster nut on the timing belt, and pull the timing belt off its sprockets.

4

Turn the crankshaft clockwise by hand to align the pointer on the crankshaft sprocket with the pointer on the oil pump. The word "UP" on the camshaft sprocket must also be in the 12 oclock position.

5

Mount the new timing belt to the crankshaft sprocket, timing belt tensioner sprocket, water pump sprocket and camshaft sprocket in that order. Loosen the adjusting nut on the timing belt tensioner with a socket wrench, then tighten it again to apply tension to the timing belt.

6

Install the lower timing belt cover with a socket wrench, and rotate the crankshaft sprocket five to six complete turns clockwise to seat the timing belt on the sprockets. Make sure the timing mark on the crankshaft sprocket aligns with the timing mark on the lower timing cover. The word "UP" on the camshaft sprocket must also be in the 12 oclock position.

7

Turn the adjusting nut on the timing belt tensioner counterclockwise by one turn. Turn the crankshaft counterclockwise to move the camshaft sprocket back by three teeth, and tighten the adjusting nut on the timing belt. Turn the crankshaft clockwise to align the timing marks once again.

8

Install the upper timing belt cover with a socket wrench. Connect all additional components you removed to access the crankshaft. Replace the valve cover.

Internal combustion engines produce power by igniting fuel inside of an airtight cylinder and forcing a piston out of the cylinder at high speed. This process can be fueled by a number of substances, but the vast majority of engines use gasoline or diesel fuel. There are four distinct stages in the functioning of an internal combustion engine.

Intake

In the intake step, the piston is drawn down the cylinder while the valve is open. This draws air into the cylinder, where it is mixed with fuel. The piston and the valves are connected through a series of parts in this order: piston, connecting rod, crankshaft, camshaft, lifter and valve. This allows the valve to open and close at precisely the right time in relation to the motion of the piston.

Compression

When the piston reaches the lowest point in its back-and-forth motion, it moves from intake to compression. A protrusion on the rotating camshaft pushes the lifter against the valve, forcing the valve to close. At the same time the piston moves back up the cylinder, compressing the mixture of fuel and air that is now trapped in the cylinder.

Power

When the piston reaches the top of the cylinder and the fuel and air mixture is at maximum pressure, the spark plug creates a spark and the mixture is ignited. Gasoline is a highly explosive fuel, so this event creates a great deal of power. The explosion drives the piston back down the cylinder. Through the connections mentioned above, this movement is translated from linear to circular motion and transferred to the transmission of the vehicle, where it moves an axle that is attached to wheels, powering the vehicle.

Exhaust

As soon as the piston reaches the bottom of the cylinder, the valve opens, the piston goes back up the cylinder and the exhaust from the ignited fuel is forced out of the cylinder. The cycle then begins again. All of this happens with great frequency, creating an even flow of power to the wheels of the vehicle.