So my TCT needed to be replaced. I had the common rattle noise at idle and everything. So I replaced it today with a new one. BTW it was a BREEEZE!! All you have to two is take the two 10mm bolts out and the front maintenance bolt out. Pull the tensioner out without letting the piston drop into the motor. Then install the new tensioner with the pin still set, bolt it in, pull the pin out through the maintenance hole. DONE.


Now on to what I researched and noticed. So after I got the old one out I decided to look into and see what exactly was causing it to go bad and not do its job. Well after taking the piston out, the walls on the inside seemed to be worn pretty bad on one side, as you can see in the pics below. O-rings seemed to be good, ALTHOUGH I did notice before I pulled the old tensioner out the it was leaking a some oil around the tensioner. I also took off the VTEC solenoid while I as working on it, and made sure the screen inside of that was clean, it checked out.

So im thinking the worn walls on the cylinder was causing the piston to not have enough pressure put on it (because I do believe it works off of oil pressure?), causing it not to provide the right tension. Pics are below. Any insight and ideas?


Look at the difference in the wall of the cylinder



Better look at it

 

great pics.... what usually gets worn is the gear but awesome ...im about do mines as soon as i get out of work.............. bought a new one at honda yesterday $140 ouch

 

The current problem with the TCTs is the worm gear gets highly polished over time, and loses it traction inside the piston.

Simply sandblast the worm gear and your old TCT will outlast a new one.

Parts from left to right: TCT housing, large diameter spring, worm gear, small diameter spring, pin, piston

 

$140.00?!?!? Ouch is correct.

I'm going to shop around a bit more. I need to do mine within a couple of days.

Thanks for the write-up. :-)

 

Is this still an all MY issue? Seems like the most ecomical fix is to sandblast as Billman250 suggests.

 

All years.

Sand blast is the way to go. A new one can fail in less than 8k miles.

 

How many miles does the TCT last? I have 52,000 miles on my AP2 and I like to change shit before it goes bad....

 

any particular method to sand blasting the worm gear .? might be a dumb question

 

yes i'd like to know how to sandblast it as well.

 

me too!!!!


There are many TCT issues with Greek forum members who are using Amsoil engine oil. I don't know if it has anything to do with the oil but it seems most of the guys who have TCT failing are using this brand oil , including me