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Autopapyrus · Honda UR-V 2.0 Turbo Gasoline (272 hp) (2025)
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/honda/ur-v/timing-chain-tensioner-replacement/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Honda UR-V 2.0 Turbo Gasoline (272 hp) (2025): Timing Chain Tensioner Replacement

The 2025 Honda UR-V is equipped with the turbocharged K20C engine rated at 272 hp. This is the K20C1/K20C3/K20C4/K20C7 family with a timing chain drive. Replacing the chain tensioner is a difficult job that requires partial disassembly of the front of the engine and precise alignment of the timing marks. A typical sign of a worn tensioner is a distinctive rattle from the front of the engine on a cold start (lasting 1-2 seconds until oil pressure builds), which then goes away. It happens because the tensioner can no longer keep the chain taut when there is no oil pressure.

Difficulty: Hard Time: 4-6 hours Steps: 18 Tools: Socket and wrench set, torque wrench, jack and jack stands, crankshaft pulley puller, chain holding tool (pry bar or special tool), fluid drain pans, thin pin or wire for locking the tensioner

Part

  • 🔩 Honda timing chain tensioner (OE number for K20C: 14510-RPY-G01). Tensioner gasket. Engine oil, 4-5 L (4.2-5.3 qt), for refilling after reassembly

Step by step

18 steps
  1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Raise the front right side of the vehicle with a jack and support it on jack stands. Remove the front right wheel to access the lower part of the engine.
  2. Drain the engine oil through the drain plug in the oil pan. In some cases you will need to drain the coolant as well, if its hoses get in the way of access to the timing cover.
  3. Remove the engine cover (if equipped), the air filter and the air ducts to free up working space.
  4. Turn the crankshaft clockwise (by hand using the crankshaft pulley bolt, or with the starter with the spark plugs removed) until the timing marks are aligned at top dead center of cylinder 1. The marks on the camshaft sprockets must line up with the marks on the timing cover or cylinder head. Lock in this position and mark it with a marker or chalk for reference.
  5. Remove the accessory drive belt (alternator, A/C compressor, power steering pump if equipped). Remove the crankshaft pulley using a puller or an impact wrench. The tightening torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt during reassembly is 180-200 N·m (133-148 lb-ft) (check the manufacturer's specification for your specific K20C variant).
  6. Remove the bolts of the small timing chain cover (usually located on the right side of the engine, above the crankshaft pulley). The tightening torque of the M6 timing cover bolts during reassembly is 12 N·m (9 lb-ft). Remove the cover without damaging the gasket or sealant.
  7. Visually inspect the condition of the chain and guides. If the chain is stretched (slack, signs of wear on the guides) or the guides are worn, we recommend replacing the entire timing chain kit together with the tensioner and guides.
  8. IMPORTANT: Before removing the tensioner, secure the chain against slack. Have a helper carefully insert a pry bar or a wide screwdriver between the chain and the engine housing (on the slack side of the chain) to maintain tension. Alternatively, use a special chain holding tool.
  9. Turn the tensioner counterclockwise a few degrees (relieving the load), then insert a thin pin or wire 1-2 mm in diameter into the service hole in the tensioner body to lock the plunger in the compressed position (if the design allows). Remove the tensioner mounting bolt. Remove the tensioner together with its gasket.
  10. Clean the tensioner mounting surface on the cylinder block of any remaining old gasket and oil. Check the mounting holes for thread damage.
  11. Install the new gasket on the tensioner. Insert the new tensioner into its seat. Tighten the tensioner mounting bolt to 12 N·m (9 lb-ft). Remove the locking pin (if one was used). The tensioner plunger, driven by spring force and oil pressure, will press the shoe against the chain.
  12. Remove the chain holding tool (the pry bar or screwdriver). Turn the crankshaft by hand 2 full revolutions clockwise. Make sure the timing marks line up again at TDC of cylinder 1. If the marks have shifted, repeat the tensioner installation and the mark check.
  13. Install the small timing chain cover with a new gasket or sealant (follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the sealant type). Tighten the cover bolts to 12 N·m (9 lb-ft) evenly in a crisscross pattern.
  14. Install the crankshaft pulley and tighten the pulley bolt to 180-200 N·m (133-148 lb-ft) (exact value per the manufacturer's specification). Install the accessory drive belt and adjust the tension according to the specification.
  15. Reassemble the remaining components in reverse order: air ducts, air filter, engine cover, and the front right wheel (wheel bolt torque 110-130 N·m (81-96 lb-ft)).
  16. Fill with fresh engine oil according to the specification (for the K20C, usually 0W-20 or 5W-30, about 4.5-5 L (4.8-5.3 qt) including the filter). Refill the coolant if it was drained.
  17. Reconnect the negative battery terminal. Start the engine and let it warm up to operating temperature. Listen to it at idle. There should be no knocking or rattling from the timing area. Check for oil leaks from under the timing cover and the tensioner.
  18. Shut off the engine and let it cool for 10-15 minutes. Start it again. If the distinctive cold-start rattle is gone, the replacement was successful.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • Replacing the timing chain tensioner on the turbocharged K20C engine is a critical procedure. A mistake in setting the timing marks, or the chain shifting while the tensioner is removed, can cause the valves to hit the pistons (the K20C is an interference engine) and lead to expensive repairs. If you have any doubt about your skills, contact a specialized repair shop. For the first 300-500 km after replacement, avoid hard acceleration and high rpm to let the new tensioner and chain break in. When replacing the tensioner, we also recommend inspecting the chain guides and the chain itself and replacing them if necessary, especially if the mileage exceeds 100,000 km or there are signs of chain stretch.
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