2013 Honda Civic 1.8 Eng Rattle Noise / Belt Tensioner Replacement 

have the same rattle noise at cold start and goes away after warm up...took it to the dealer and he said I needed to change my timing chain...lol....will swap out the tensioner...thanks so much for this video!

What’s up hose head! I recently replaced my serpentine belt at 136k Miles. 2 weeks after I started hearing a rattling noise (when and only when) I would accelerate while my car was in gear. If I hit the gas in neutral or even on a cold start , I would not hear the noise. I knew it had to be something with my drive belt system. After research I learned your supposed to change all three things at once. (Belt, belt tensioner, and idler pulley) they even sell it in bundles. I followed your video step by step. I also used gates (with a Goodyear serpentine belt) and I had an extra set of hands to help me. The job went well. Took about an hour an a half including cleaning up and mounting wheel. The noise is also gone. extremely thankful for your helpful video champ .

This was excellent, and thank you for including the torque specs! The hints on the support rod and water pump pulley bolts really helped. I also had a sound that I thought was a bracket or body vibration; it appeared when the A/C compressor was on, the car in drive, and stopped (like right when you start up). It disappeared when I replaced the tensioner; thanks for the tip, I would have just replaced the belt if you hadn't mentioned it. FYI, the Gates kit with belt, tensioner and idler pulley is 90K-39385. Rock Auto sells this. I'd recommend changing the idler pulley at the same time, it's easy when everything is off.

Cant thank you enough and all the ppl who share how to do these repairs. Thanks to you I was able to change my wife’s tensioner and belt in two hrs today! Thank you!

Dude you were right on the money. I was so annoyed by that sound I thought it was a metal piece somewhere under the hood. But after this repair the noise is gone

Thank you so much. This was an excellent video. Bolt torque specs and instructions for priming the tensioner helped tremendously. Noise is gone. I did not have an issue removing the 8mm Allen screw. I put copper antiseize on all bolts when I put them back. I replaced the idler pulley and the belt also since everything was removed. I saw some videos removing the wheel etc. You don't need to do any of that. You can do how hosehead71 it's doing in this video. Much easier. If you are replacing the idler pulley, you need to hold the bolt in the middle with long nose pliers and screw it with your left hand. And I recommend installing and routing the belt for the most part before installing the alternator back on.

Just saw another video where the person takes out the motor mounts and jacks the engine. This seems easier and less complicated!! Thanks for sharing!!

Thanks for the help! Worked for my 2014 Civic LX. When taking off water pump pulley 10mm bolts, make sure you use a decent 6 point or 5 sided flare wrench

Just did that this morning, took me about 4 hours thanks to the small screws of the pulley in the way of the tensioner. Afterwards, it sounded like a brand new car! It’s ready to give me another 150k miles 😂

Fixed my 2015 Civic following your video, it had the same problem. I don’t have to hear that annoying noise every morning anymore. It took me between 3 and 4 hrs to get all done. Thank you so much!

Thanks for the video, just replaced this on my civic. Seemed very difficult but once I started it everything went very well following the video.

This helped me out a lot, thank you! Torque specs were great.

No DIY auto repair is complete without a couple of F BOMBS.,. And with me a couple of busted knuckles to go with it. LOL!! Thanks for the very detailed instructions! I’m gonna give this a try myself.

Thanks for sharing the video, i have the exactly same issue with my 2013 honda civic.

Thank you so much for this video. I feel confident I can do it using the knowledge you have given us! Honda needs to address this, but of course they won't, unless it causes safety issues...

Thanks dude, changed mine out today and solved my house. Appreciate it bro!

Thank you sir for the video, my civic 9th gen just start rattle noise. its called adjuster in my local Pakistani Market ( Cost is Rs.2500 /used part + Rs.500 labour charges)

Great video! So hard to find on YT! ;)

Excellent presentation and help---thanks much !

Nice video just enough information to do the repair. Thanks for doing the video.

Nice raw video 👍

Thank you for this video! I have the same rattling noise. I will be sure to tackle this job!

That’s a relief finally I got the answer. Thanks for sharing this. I have a question that if I delay changing this because I have a very busy schedule for next few weeks. Will it demand engine or what worse could go?

Thank for video i have same problem. I make an attempt to fix tonight i also got a water pump just incase it was that making the noise too lol so ill be doing both while its all open. Then i have this check engine light and ive lost 10mpg on my fuel. Ive read its an evaporator coil near the ac or something need to read more

What happen when you broke the screw in the motor how to get it out

At what mileage did you have the tensioner issue? Keep these videos coming, great details, lighting and explaination. Many thanks.

Feelings by Earth, WInd and Fire at 9 30 into video

You have the best video of doing this 👍

I think its easier from under the vehicle, removing the tire, the splash shield and jacking up the car. Then, get a diagram or take a picture of the serpentine belt to remember to install it correctly. The worst thing to do in this project is to cross thread the bolt holes.

Good vid down too all specs and torque

Hondas are great but some major flaws in parts. This tensioner , engine mount, trans mount, air gap pipe from exhaust header to main out just to name a few. These parts fail way to soon and not fun jobs to do!

Nice video... Is air bleeding tensioner necessary?

Vera good! What program did you use on your computer to see the sequence of the screws?

THANK YOU CHIQUITIN

Thanks bro your VDO really helped me to change mine. Thanks a lot!!

I like the use of the mirror. That’s something I have to get

Hello, Son has the exact car with same problem. I'm pretty good with the tools but I'm very concerned with that pivot 8mm. It would terrible to get that far into the job and fail to break it loose or worse yet damage the Allen head. You didn't video any struggles with it. Many other videos talk about the difficulty of removing it , but all seem to get it out. How was it coming out for you? Did you spray it first? Thank you sir!

Being 4 yrs now how’s the bando belt and goodyear tensioner holding up

What software or information system were you using that had this information? I've got a Haynes repair manual and it's nowhere near this detailed...

I get a ticking rattling sound when cold start then it stops after 10 seconds or so unless real cold out. Sounds like the timing chain or a pulley because its coming from the passanger side of the motor. Ive only seen 1 video with the rattle that sounds like mine and its the belt tensioner pulley

This is the third time that I am installing a tensioner. It keeps coming off. 😢 the bottom screw broke inside the engine last time and had to extract it at the mechanic.

Tensioner bolt remove clock twice or anti clock twice

Hey did the rattle happen when you were driving too?

Thank you.

gracias

Mines isn't the tensioner it's the bolt that hold my tensioner on the timing cover the threading in my cover is damaged so it's causing the bolt to rattle loosen .

great video, where did you source the diagrams with the torq specs?

Brother were you get the service manual i try to find on internet but can’t found please answer thanks

Is it possible to change just the tensioner pulley?

How do you guys know its not just the belt? Anyone tried to do just the belt alone?...... i will update after i do belt alone.

Mine had the same noise. I replaced the belt and the noise is gone. I’ll see how long it stays that way. Mine is a 2013 with 83K miles.

Do you put any lock tight on the screws of the belt tensioner?

Thanks

Why my seperatine belt is pulling half out from power steering pump when i start the engine..mechanic fitted correctly when engine is off in all pulleys it is perfectly fit but when i start engine my half belt came out from power steering pump working well but half belt is out of power steering pulley what is the reason..

My 2015 Honda Civic has a tingy rattle when I put in Reverse and Drive.... Some say its the muffler... Unfortunately I can't find any videos that I can hear this same rattling as my car has... So not sure. :(

I’m having such a difficult time being able to seat the belt tensioner I’ve spent and hour and a half trying and I can’t get it to seat flush what’s the best way to get it seated

Great video! I am going to swap the idler assembly as well however, ALL THREE bolts that hold the water pump pulley are stripped! Any advice on removing those?

What vehicle technical data website/software are you using? Thanks

Vid helped a lot ty

Mine has been rattling for 3 years, plenty of tension on the belt I dunno, so these get noisy WAY before they fail, I will comment when it fails.

Hey, what size is the tensioner's mounting bolt?

Does anyone know where I can buy the 8x1.25 bolt or what it’s named officially?

I love Honda's, but this is one reason I stick to Accords lol

What an unnecessary mess honda made out of this. Good video though. Great explanation and good music.

Hi, how long did it take you to replace the tensioner

Would this be the same as the 2013 civic hybrid?

BR here!

Is that gates part still holing up ? Just curious

I hear Van Halen, Women and Children First, in the background.

Changed mines about 3 months ago and now I'm getting the same noise.. do you know what caused it to go bad again that fast? I bought my idler pulley from oreileys.. thanks!!

Where can I buy the torque tool???

3:45 Van Halen Women and Children...for the win!

TRY TO PUT ENGINE CODE IN VIDEO TITLE :) R20A3 R18...

5 hours in and the tensioner still wont line up

Why does the tensioner screw break?

Those fucking rounded bolts

Would have been nice to hear the noise

i recently changed my belt(honda crv 2013 with R20a engine at 90k km++ ) and have the same issue as yours. rattling noise at cold start when ac is on with R or D gear selected. can the tensioner fail so early? normally should last over 100k km?

Where can I get the tensioner to purchase

Great knowledge, but sheesh wish you were a little more direct and informative during the video.

Thanks for the vid but the audio was not the best.

É mais fácil que tirar o motor de arranque do civic

please, send me modul in your laptop

Never ever replace the whole housing! Just replace the PARTS.. Replace the spring 20min work 2 bolts 🔩. Or The wheel bearing.. Never the aluminum housing..

I stripped the #8 head bolt. Not sure what I'm going to do. FML.

audio quality is horrible