How to Remove the Engine Cylinder Head

To remove the engine cylinder head, start by removing the air filter and the valve cover. Then, unscrew and remove the distributor.

Drain the coolant from the radiator. Loosen the bolts of the exhaust manifold without completely removing it for now. On the distributor side, disconnect the connectors and the two lower pipes.

On the opposite side, remove the power steering pump bracket, the pipe, and the timing belt cover. Align the markings on the timing pulleys by turning the crankshaft pulley with a spanner and then remove the timing belt.

Unscrew the support bolts of the exhaust manifold from underneath the engine to detach it as much as possible from the engine. Remove the intake pipe with all its connectors.

Also disconnect the other pipes as shown in the images. Disconnect the wiring harness from the intake manifold.

Now, begin to unscrew the bolts of the camshaft caps. Once removed, store them in precise order without mixing them up, paying attention to the letter and number (E=exhaust, I=intake) marked on each piece.

Once the camshafts are removed, you will have access to the cylinder head bolts. It is good practice to loosen them all by hand about half a turn instead of unscrewing and removing them one by one immediately.

Remove the valve lifters, keeping them in order. Disconnect the throttle cable.

Finally, disconnect the electrical connectors on the intake manifold. Car model: Honda CR-V DOHC Year: 1999