i changed my timin belt 1 week ago, but i am not sure about one small part. i got the vtec engine. when i opened the cover, i noted that the tensioner arm wasnt bolted.

then, we decided to bolt it. what it supposed to be ? bolted or not bolted if is not supposed to be bolted, will it affect my engine ?

number 17 I added the a 10mm bolt on the arm.

 

Are you talking about bolt #A-5? if so, thats no big deal. that just holds the tensioner to the engine. bolt 24 is the important one. if it wasnt there, then you would have major poblems

 

I am talking about #17 there isnt a bolt shown on the diagram but it would be on the left side of #17 where that little arm piece is(the little oval piece on the end).

 

o, ok. thats no biggie if its not installed. all that does is limit the play in loosening/tightening the tensoner. once, bolt 24 is tightened onto 21, have no worries cause the tensioner arm isn’t going anywhere. other than that, just make sure that the timming belt has the correct amount of tension on it.

 

how do you know if it has enough tension?

 

no, you dont need a bolt there, a honda tech once told me it was there to help set the tension during the engine assembly process. if you did install a bolt there,i would remove it. as the belts seat, the bearing cannot adjust itsself to the slack introduced and the belt will be loose. i would remove the bolt just to be safe.
the timing belt doesnt take as much tension as an external belt, just snug with no slack or vibration with the engine running is usually enough.