Honda 8-97089-717-1 Cylinder Head Assembly

To remove the cylinder heads, first disconnect the negative battery cable and drain the engine coolant. Next, remove the timing belt and the intake manifold, followed by the exhaust manifold(s). In the intake manifold area, unbolt and remove the coolant manifold that connects the cylinder heads, taking care to disconnect the hoses and senders attached to it. It is possible to remove the cylinder heads without taking out the camshafts or rocker shaft assemblies, depending on the work required. Detach the power steering pump from the engine without disconnecting the hoses, and remove the bracket from the cylinder head. Unbolt the oil dipstick tube from the right cylinder head, accessible through the right fenderwell. Loosen the cylinder head bolts in 1/4-turn increments until they can be removed by hand, ensuring to follow the proper numerical sequence. Discard the large head bolts (M11) after removal, as they must be replaced with new ones, while the three small ones at the front of the head can be reused. Lift the head off the block, using a wood block and hammer to dislodge it if necessary, and be cautious not to damage the aluminum head or block. For installation, remove all traces of old gasket material from the cylinder heads and engine block, ensuring the mating surfaces are perfectly clean. Use a gasket scraper and clean the surfaces with lacquer thinner or acetone, taking care to avoid oil contamination. Check the block and head mating surfaces for damage, and if necessary, use a file for slight imperfections or consider machining for excessive damage. Chase the threads in the head bolt holes with a tap of the correct size to ensure clean and dry threaded holes. Position the new gaskets over the dowel pins on the block, carefully place the heads on the block without disturbing the gaskets, lightly oil the threads, and install the bolts finger tight. Follow the recommended sequence to tighten the bolts in three steps to the specified torque. The remaining installation steps are the reverse of removal, and when reinstalling the water manifold and large coolant pipe, use a new O-ring at the connection. Finally, add coolant, change the engine oil and filter, start the engine, and check for any oil and coolant leaks.