**URGENT** SAVE YOUR CB7's LIFE!!!

[mrhonda]

Yeah, Honda issued a recall a while back but it only covered the 94-97s. Alot of the 5th gens were blowing these seals out alomost immediately when they were brand new so Honda issued the recall for the seal retainer. The CB7s on the other hand, their seals seem to just "walk" out over time. So chances are, if this seal has been recently replaced in your car, it will probably be a while before it comes back out, however, if it has never been replaced its probably pretty close to the edge of popping. Unfortunately, there is no way to simply inspect the seal, to see it you must remove all the belts, the crank pulley, and the timing covers. Also, if you take your car in to have a t-belt package done, you have to specifically request to have the seals replaced and to have the retainer installed, if you don't ask then they don't do it.

[ACCORDianate]

On a side note, mrhonda, when we replaced my seals last May we didn't put a clip in there. Will the HondaBond keep it as well as the retainer clips so that I don't have an Act 2 of the seals?

[HondaFan81]

its a brown seal around the front countershaft, pic is below. its the one around the shaft behind the gear in the bottom left corner of the pic, just above the "14521-P14-A00"... the OEM seal retainer is a crescent bracket that bolts to the 10mm oil dipstick bolt, and it holds the seal in place.

ive seen some motors that came with them, some that didnt, so if the car has been dealer serviced, theres a high chance that its been put in. and ive actually seen a motor with the seal partially walked out....

Thanks for the pic Mike. Thanks Corey for the heads up.

[accordme93]

Great something else to add to my worries. Thanks for the heads up. My ride is due for the timing belt replacement in another 10K. It just turned 170K. I bought it with 104K and asked the guy who sold it to me if it had the timing belt replaced. He said the guy who owned it before me replaced it and he helped. I bought it from a very small used car delearship. The previous owner was the mechanic of the delearship. So I felt like was telling the truth.

[phatdoughnut]

im guessing this doesnt include h22s, because i tried to click on the same part on the h22 parts catalog and it wouldnt let me, but i could on the f22a

[HondaFan81]

I just called the Honda Dealer that my family goes to (Ann Arbor, MI) and talked to the service manager there. He's a really nice guy and checked the history of both our 90 EX and 91 SE Accords, which had timing belt changes done back in late 2003-ish. He verified for me that on both jobs, the countershaft/balancer shaft seal retainer was installed. So that gave me piece of mind.

Now, I believe someone on this thread mentioned that if you do not ask for this seal retainer to be installed when your timing belt is being changed, you will most likely/not get it installed. According to the service manager I talked to, he said this is impossible because when Honda found out about these seals walking out over time, they fixed the issue with this seal retainer. Not only this, but they made it a PACKAGE, so if you order the countershaft/balancer seal, it automatically comes with in the same package the seal retainer. This makes sense to me because Honda's mentality would be something like this.

This is what HE said. I would like to know from the Honda Dealer Techs (not non-dealer shops) on this forum if this is true and standard? I know "mrhonda, 93fastAccord" are some guys on here that are....but let me know. I'm curious. I would like confirmation on this matter.

[mrhonda]

im guessing this doesnt include h22s, because i tried to click on the same part on the h22 parts catalog and it wouldnt let me, but i could on the f22a

oooohhhh yes, H22 Preludes were included in the recall as well. If the engine has countershafts, it needs to have a retainer.

[mrhonda]

I just called the Honda Dealer that my family goes to (Ann Arbor, MI) and talked to the service manager there. He's a really nice guy and checked the history of both our 90 EX and 91 SE Accords, which had timing belt changes done back in late 2003-ish. He verified for me that on both jobs, the countershaft/balancer shaft seal retainer was installed. So that gave me piece of mind.

Now, I believe someone on this thread mentioned that if you do not ask for this seal retainer to be installed when your timing belt is being changed, you will most likely/not get it installed. According to the service manager I talked to, he said this is impossible because when Honda found out about these seals walking out over time, they fixed the issue with this seal retainer. Not only this, but they made it a PACKAGE, so if you order the countershaft/balancer seal, it automatically comes with in the same package the seal retainer. This makes sense to me because Honda's mentality would be something like this.

This is what HE said. I would like to know from the Honda Dealer Techs (not non-dealer shops) on this forum if this is true and standard? I know "mrhonda, 93fastAccord" are some guys on here that are....but let me know. I'm curious. I would like confirmation on this matter.

It all depends on the dealership and what their package includes. Some packages come with the t-belt only, some do the t-belt and waterpump, and others include seals. For example, our dealerships package comes with the belts, waterpump, and v/c gasket...thats it. If you want seals you have to ask, if you want a retainer you have to ask, thats just the way THEY do it. When I do a t-belt, I replace all seals and add a retainer if it doesn't already have one wether they ask for it or not just because I think that is the right way to do it, bu the fact is...most other poeple don't. So anyway, just make sure to specify exactly what you want when taking your car in for service, don't assume anything, because like I said before.....everyones different.

[mrhonda]

BTW...if anyone is interested, the part number for the retainer is 06923-POA-306, and it costs about 3 to 4 bucks.

[HondaFan81]

Thanks for your reply mrhonda, so I guess the dealer I go to has good practice like yourself.

[mrhonda]

On a side note, mrhonda, when we replaced my seals last May we didn't put a clip in there. Will the HondaBond keep it as well as the retainer clips so that I don't have an Act 2 of the seals?

Thats true, we didn't, for the same reason we didn't replace your rear countershaft gearset o-ring....remember it was Sunday and all dealers were closed. Its not as good as a retainer, but its better than nothing. If you want, come up to my work sometime and I'll throw it on for you, it only takes about 20 minutes.

[accordaffair]

Is this something one could put on themselves? Or is it a bit too complicated and best left to pro's?

[cp[mike]]

Is this something one could put on themselves? Or is it a bit too complicated and best left to pro's?

if you feel capable enough to pull off the crank pulley, valve cover, timing belt covers, and get down to the timing belt then sure, its something you can do... but usually most people leave timing belt related work to shop people. without an impact gun or proper tool, its really hard to undo the crank pulley bolt.

[MRX]

Thank you mr. honda for the heads up. My engine just "walked" out what i believe is the front balance shaft seal. I may have to get the car towed home but for the most part the engine seems to be saved. My timing belt is uncovered cause i have an AEM cam gear and when i looked down the fucking balance seal was just hanging out on the shaft!!! I just replaced it last year when i did the headgasket. Its not the same as the ones u guys mentioned tho. Right above part# 14521-P14-A00 in the pic cpmike posted (can't post pix i'm at work) is where the seal is. Theres the gear, the shaft and then the seal and the seal was completely out.

[JDM4DOORLX]

Good looking out guys, I need my timing belt replaced soon so I check on the retainer. Only have ~95,000 miles on the engine, still a problem with decent milage? Does the H22a have this problem?