Every part on a car wears out over time. This also applies to the timing chain. Of course, the chain will last a little longer than the belt, but still, it will fail at some point. A worn belt can break, but with a chain the situation is somewhat different; it stretches. At first, its stretching will not be very noticeable, but over time it will be seriously felt. And then it will have to be replaced with a new one. Here we will talk about replacing the timing chain on a Chevrolet Niva yourself.
Terms for maintenance and replacement
It is quite possible to carry out this procedure yourself. Of course, you will have to try to do this, but it is worth it, because replacing the chain drive yourself is not only saving money, it is also an experience gained. There are no specific recommendations regarding the timing of replacing a chain on a Chevrolet Niva. Simply, after 100,000 km, it is necessary to carry out diagnostic procedures in relation to this unit, during which the degree of wear of the consumables will be revealed. The characteristic grinding sound of the motor will indicate chain wear. Problems with chain stretching are indicated when it can no longer be tensioned in the usual way and when it is pulled back by half a tooth. If this happens to your car’s chain, it’s time to replace it with a new one. The chain will have to be changed even if chips and cracks are found on it, if the marks on the crankshaft pulley and the timing cover do not match.
When the chain stretches, the pitch between its links increases and the engine will no longer run smoothly, even when the compression is normal. Low tension will be indicated by the chain falling between the teeth. A loose drive will oscillate, and this will certainly lead to damage to the dampers. The chain will simply break them. But the worst thing will happen when the chain falls off the teeth. This incident can only be compared to a broken belt; the consequences will be exactly the same: the valves will hit the pistons and their deformation will occur. The cylinders will also suffer from this. Therefore, as soon as it becomes clear that the chain can no longer be tensioned, it must be changed. This article is for those who want to do it themselves.
What will it take?
It must be said right away that along with the chain, the gears will also have to be replaced. The timing mechanism wears out more if it uses a chain as a drive. If in the case of a belt drive the rollers do not always have to be replaced, then the sprockets wear out very much from the chain. Of course, before changing them, you need to visually assess their condition. It is quite possible that they will still be able to serve. But if the sprockets wear out, they will also wear out the new chain drive. Along with the sprockets, the oil seals and other consumables that need it also need to be replaced. Don't skimp, buy everything you need so you don't have to disassemble the mechanism again.
First of all, we buy a chain. It's better to do this in stores. And when buying on the market, you need to know how to check the consumables. You can check it this way: lay the chain flat and hold it suspended. A sagging of more than 1 cm will indicate that they are trying to slip you a used consumable.
Here's what else you'll have to buy along with the chain:
- gears, if they are worn out;
- tensioner;
- sedatives;
- oil seals;
- gaskets
Dismantling
- First, the air filter is dismantled and a plug is placed on the carburetor neck.
- Disconnect all the hoses and the choke cable and move them to the side.
- Now it’s the turn of the generator belt and pump pulley. Let's take them off.
- Remove the engine boot and clean the engine cover.
- We put the car on the brakes and put chocks under the wheels. We proceed to further disassembly by putting the car in 4th gear.
- To loosen the ratchet nut, you need to put a wrench on it and hit it with a hammer. It’s stuck, and you can’t just turn it away.
- Remove the valve cover.
- Now the crankshaft pulley needs to be turned. This is done so that the marks on it align with the marks located on the motor casing. The mark on the bearing housing must be aligned with the mark on the camshaft sprocket.
- Remove the crankshaft pulley.
- We remove the casing from the engine, unscrew and dismantle the dampers.
- We remove the hydraulic chain tensioner by unscrewing all the necessary nuts.
- We remove the camshaft sprocket and limiter. After loosening the chain, remove the small star.
- Remove the chain along with the oil pump gear.
Installation
Be sure to replace the crankshaft front seal. Before installing it, you should clean the seat. The new oil seal is lubricated and installed using a mandrel. Use a hammer to hammer the fastening bolt located on the shoe. The bolt is tightened until it stops, and no backlash is allowed. All new gears should be installed so that all marks coincide.
Let's start putting on the chain. First, it should be lubricated and then put on the crankshaft sprocket. Then come the camshaft and oil pump gears. When tensioning the chain, you need to make sure that the shafts are located according to the marks. We install the tensioner and rotate the crankshaft, checking the alignment of the marks.
We install the timing case in its place. We clean the seat and apply sealant. Install the pulley and tighten the cover fastening until it stops. In 4th gear, tighten the pump pulley nut. We install all the other parts in place and check the operation of the motor.
Video instruction
You will need: a screwdriver, keys “8”, “10”, “13”, a special key for turning the crankshaft.
Setting the piston of the fourth cylinder to the TDC position of the compression stroke
The piston of the 4th cylinder is set to the TDC (top dead center) position of the compression stroke so that when carrying out work related to removing the camshaft drive chain, the valve timing is not disrupted.
If the valve timing is incorrect, the engine will not operate normally.
Set TDC according to the mark on the camshaft sprocket (when installed according to the marks on the crankshaft pulley and on the front cover of the camshaft drive chain, the piston of either the 1st or 4th cylinder may be in this position).
After this, make sure that the marks on the crankshaft pulley and the cover match.
If the shaft marks do not coincide, it means that the valve timing is incorrect (the piston of the 4th cylinder is not installed at TDC).
In this case, it is necessary to remove the camshaft drive chain from the camshaft sprocket and rotate the crankshaft until the marks align.
You can rotate the crankshaft in the following ways.
Purchase a special wrench for turning the crankshaft by the pulley nut.
This wrench can also turn the crankshaft from above the engine compartment.
Engage 4th gear and slowly roll the car in the desired direction until the mark on the camshaft sprocket matches the mark on the camshaft bearing housing.
Engage 4th gear and lift one of the rear wheels.
Then turn the hanging wheel in the desired direction until the mark on the camshaft sprocket matches the mark on the camshaft bearing housing.
Location of TDC marks
The marks are located on the camshaft sprocket (hole “a”) and on the camshaft bearing housing (protrusion “b”).
The cylinder head cover has been removed.
In addition, marks are applied in the casting on the camshaft drive chain cover (protrusion “a”) and on the ring gear of the crankshaft pulley (hole “b” on the edge of the rim)
Remove the cylinder head cover (see “How to replace the Niva Chevrolet cylinder head cover gasket”).
Rotate the crankshaft, align the marks on the camshaft sprocket and its bearing housing.
If the chain is installed correctly, the mark on the crankshaft pulley should align with the long mark on the camshaft chain cover.
If the marks do not match, straighten the lock washer tabs of the camshaft sprocket bolt.
Engage first gear to prevent the crankshaft from turning, remove the bolt and...
The lock and thrust washers are not fixed to the bolt in any way and can be easily removed from it.
Be careful not to drop them into the engine pan.
Remove the chain tensioner (see “Replacing the Niva Chevrolet hydraulic chain tensioner”).
If you have the necessary skills, the hydraulic tensioner does not need to be removed.
It is enough to press out the hydraulic tensioner plunger with a large screwdriver or mounting spatula.
Remove the sprocket and chain, remove the chain from the sprocket and then reinstall it on the sprocket, changing the position of the chain on the sprocket teeth in the desired direction.
Place the sprocket and chain onto the camshaft flange, tensioning the drive chain.
Since when the position of the chain on the sprocket changes, the hole in the sprocket no longer coincides with the alignment pin in the flange, turn the crankshaft slightly in the desired direction until the hole and pin coincide.
Install the sprocket mounting bolt along with the thrust and lock washers and tighten it until it stops, without completely tightening it.
After turning the crankshaft two turns, repeat checking the position of the marks as you did before.
If the marks match, tighten the bolt and bend the tab of the lock washer onto the edge of its head.
If the marks do not match, repeat setting the valve timing.
Install all previously removed parts in reverse order. To prevent oil leakage, replace the cylinder head cover gasket.
Timing marks on Niva Chevrolet
Niva Chevrolet from the jeep family is equipped with a chain drive in the timing mechanism. The performance characteristics of a chain are even greater than those of a belt drive. The chain also has the best technical performance, which affects the transmission torque. If a loose belt causes the pulley teeth to slip, a weakened chain does not allow this to happen. But with the operation of the car, the gas distribution chain also tends to wear out, stretch, explode and become unusable, which requires its replacement. At the step of replacing the chain, it is important to carry out the installation observing the marks. This article will tell you what tags are, their purpose and how to place them on a VAZ-2123.
What are tags and their purpose in the Shnivy mechanism
Marks in the timing system on a Chevrolet Niva car are special types of notches and holes that are located on the gas distributor pulleys. The photo shows pulleys with marks along which the timing chain is aligned.
Aligning the chain with marks is done so that it is better fixed and holds the gas distribution mechanism itself. If you install the chain without following the marks, then the operation of the pulleys will be uncoordinated and will then lead to their rapid wear. Therefore, it is important, whenever replacing a chain or parts of a gas distribution mechanism, to install them in accordance with the marks. There may be a malfunction of the timing system when the chain tension is loosened or it is stretched. In order to correctly set the timing mechanism according to special marks, we will look at the procedure for installing the gas distributor phases on the VAZ-2123.
Read also:
Setting the timing of the gas distribution mechanism using special marks
So, setting the phases in the timing system according to special marks on a Chevrolet Niva car includes the following sequence of actions:
- First, we make sure that we have the necessary tools: a screwdriver and wrenches 8 13 and 10. You will also need a special tool with which you will need to turn the crankshaft.
- The VAZ-2123 car is installed on the inspection hole and the wheels are secured using the handbrake. You can put shoes under the wheels.
- We open the hood on the Chevrolet Niva and remove the following elements: the fan is removed; The radiator mounts are unscrewed and it is moved to the side. There is no need to remove the pipes and drain the liquid; the air duct pipe is removed.
- Having reached the valve cover, you need to unscrew its fasteners and carefully remove it to prevent dirt and other objects from getting inside.
Timing marks VAZ(LADA) 21214 NIVA
Installation timing marks for VAZ(LADA) 21214 NIVA. Sorry about the quality. The camera died.
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Part 2. Valve piston = repair Niva Chevrolet NIVA Chevrolet 44
Overhaul of the Chevrolet NIVA engine.
After repair work, it is recommended to replace the cover gasket.
Under the valve cover
Important! When unscrewing the bolt, it is necessary to control its position, because it is not fixed by anything and can freely fall into the engine sump. It is recommended that when loosening the tightening, unscrew it by hand or with a deep-head wrench.
When assembling, do not forget to replace the gasket on the cover!
The work carried out does not require much time, but is the key to the successful operation of the parts of the gas distribution mechanism of the Niva Chevrolet car. Drawing a conclusion, I would like to note the importance of setting the timing chain according to special marks. If for some reason you forgot to align the pulleys with the marks, then it is better not to start this process and make the adjustment again. This will extend the life of the timing system and all its components. When carrying out vehicle maintenance, you can’t do without changing the oil. If you decide to change the oil yourself, then you need to stock up on some tools; we will need a hex wrench to unscrew the plug through which the used oil is connected, excellent if you have a garage with an inspection hole or a lift. Clearly, I can’t avoid it...
Do you still think that diagnosing a car is difficult?
If you are reading these lines, it means you have an interest in doing something yourself in the car and really save money, because you already know that:
- Service stations charge a lot of money for simple computer diagnostics
- To find out the error you need to go to specialists
- The services use simple impact wrenches, but you can’t find a good specialist
And of course you are tired of throwing money down the drain, and driving around the service station all the time is out of the question, then you need a simple CAR SCANNER ELM327, which connects to any car and through a regular smartphone you will always find the problem, turn off CHECK and save a lot of money.
We ourselves tested this scanner on different machines and it showed excellent results, Now we recommend it to EVERYONE! To prevent you from falling for a Chinese counterfeit, we publish here a link to the official website of Autoscanner.
More and more our site is “sliding” towards diagnostics. This is not surprising - chip tuning of a faulty car is unacceptable. And the client, as a rule, comes for a “reflash” with a whole bunch of malfunctions, in the hope of curing a depressed car.
Therefore, let us consider a seemingly simple procedure for monitoring the timing of the timing phases, which is necessary when monitoring and replacing a timing belt or chain.
2108 , 2111
The mark on the crankshaft pulley should be opposite the triangular mark on the engine (photo 1). In this case, the mark on the flywheel should be opposite the triangular mark on the casing. These marks will be visible if you remove the rubber plug on the gearbox (photo 2). The mark on the camshaft pulley should be opposite the L-shaped mark on the rear cover of the timing belt (photo 3).
2112
On 2112 engines, the mark on the crankshaft pulley should be opposite the triangular mark on the engine (photo 4). You can still control it from above. The U-shaped protrusion on the gear should be exactly in the middle of the triangular mark on the engine. On the camshaft gears, the marks should be opposite the triangular marks on the rear cover of the timing belt (photo 5).
When replacing the timing belt on new 16-valve engines, there is no traditional triangle mark. The mark can be seen in the clutch housing window by removing the rubber plug, which is not entirely convenient. You can make it easier by aligning the mark on the crankshaft toothed pulley with the casting on the oil pump housing, as shown in photo 5 a.
2121 (2104 –2107 )
On Niva 21214 engines (and classics 2104–2107), the mark located on the master disk should be opposite the mark on the front engine cover (photo 6). The mark on the camshaft pulley should be opposite the ebb on the bearing housing (photo 7).
On Chevrolet Niva engines, the mark located on the master disk should be located exactly in the middle of the DPKV (photo 8). The mark on the camshaft pulley should be opposite the ebb on the bearing housing (photo 7).
21106, OPEL engine
On these engines, setting the timing marks is intuitive, just like on the 2112, that is, 2 marks on the camshaft drive gears and one on the crankshaft pulley. In the photo, all marks are indicated by arrows.
Here we will talk about independently replacing the timing chain drive on a Niva 21214. The timing belt affects the operation of the entire car, so the importance of this unit should not be underestimated. Replacing a chain drive is a rather complicated process, which, however, can be done by any car enthusiast, provided that he follows the instructions and shows a little diligence.
A chain has significant advantages over a belt drive. These include, first of all, its reliability. While a belt can break, this rarely happens with a chain. Usually it just stretches. It lasts much longer than the belt, which means it needs to be changed less often. But still, the chain does not last forever, and after a while it also has to be replaced with a new one. When replacing the chain yourself, it is very important to set the marks correctly and follow safety precautions.
When to change the timing chain?
The manufacturer does not give clear recommendations regarding the timing of replacing the timing chain on the Niva. Experts assure that the need for replacement may arise no earlier than after 100,000 km. But it is very important to periodically carry out diagnostic procedures for chain transmission. It may well happen that the chain weakens. This will be noticeable by the characteristic sound that the running engine will make. First you need to try to tighten the chain. If this cannot be done in the usual way, replacement becomes necessary. In this case, you can contact a service center, where this repair will be carried out by professionals, or you can try to change the chain yourself. The latter option is preferable in terms of savings and gaining the necessary experience.
If the mark on the camshaft gear does not match the mark on the bearing housing, it's time to take action. The chain drive also needs to be replaced if chips or cracks appear on it. All this suggests that your chain has served its intended life and it is time to replace it.
So, you have decided that you will make the replacement yourself. What do you need to do next? First of all, go to the store and buy a new chain there. You can check the quality of the chain you are purchasing. We take the chain and place it flat on our palms. If its sagging exceeds 1 cm, you better look for consumables elsewhere. In addition to the chain itself, you will also have to buy a set of oil seals, a tensioner, dampers, and a set of gaskets. Then we prepare the tools that will be useful in the work and begin the repair.
Replacing the chain drive
- Place the car on a level surface. Open the hood. Disconnect the battery. Remove the air filter.
- The choke cable should be disconnected and moved away. It is also necessary to disconnect all electrical drives and pipes.
- Remove the fan, generator belt and pump roller. The belt should be thoroughly examined. If deep cracks or other damage is found on it, it must be replaced with a new one. Remove the tray protection and thoroughly clean its lid.
- Remove the valve plug. Unscrew the camshaft sprocket screw.
- Take a wrench and unscrew the ratchet nut.
- Now we begin to rotate the crankshaft until the marks on it and on the engine casing completely coincide. Make sure that the marks also match on the bearing housing and camshaft sprockets.
7. Then remove the casing covering the motor. To do this you will have to remove several bolts. We remove the sedative. Unscrew the screw securing the oil supply pump. There is no need to remove the screw. It should only be loosened and left in place.
8. We begin to remove the tension element mechanism. We remove the MM line, remove the pressure sensor, after which you can remove the tensioner itself.
9. Remove the screw on the camshaft gear. We remove the gear. After this, remove the timing chain. At this point, the parsing process can be considered complete. Now let's assemble the mechanism.
10. We take the purchased oil seals and begin to install them in place of the old ones. First of all, we change the crankshaft oil seal. After removing the old component, clean the installation location and install a new oil seal. First, it is recommended to lubricate the new oil seal with engine fluid, for example.
11. Now we take the chain in our hands and also begin to lubricate it. After this, we put the drive on the crankshaft gear, the oil pump and then the camshaft. This sequence must be followed. When tensioning the chain, you need to ensure that the alignment of the marks is not disrupted.
12. Install the tensioner and carefully tighten the nuts securing it. We tighten the screws on the sprockets and check the alignment of the marks again. To do this, turn the crankshaft to the right again.
13. Replace the alternator belt. If the old belt is in good condition, then it is quite possible not to change it.
14. Lubricate the gasket that we will install on the cylinder head and install it. Don't forget to clean the seat from traces of the old gasket. We put the head in place and carefully tighten all the fasteners. We install all other parts in reverse.
Now let's check the operation of the mechanism. To do this, start the engine and listen to how the engine operates. By hearing it is quite possible to determine whether everything was done correctly or something went wrong. If the sound is familiar, rustling, then everything is done correctly. If there is a characteristic grinding sound, the procedure must be repeated.
Replacement video
