Valve adjustment on cars of the eighth and ninth families should be carried out once every 30 thousand kilometers. But the trouble is that the gaps between the camshaft cam and the valve can only decrease during operation. Consequently, you cannot hear by ear the need to adjust the valves.
The valves on the nine engine are adjusted at intervals of 30 thousand kilometers. So it says in the service book for the car. But you can check the gaps a little more often. The design of the gas distribution mechanism on engines of the ninth and eighth families is such that the gap between the camshaft cam and the valve does not increase, but decreases. In other words, you cannot expect the same symptoms as in the classics.
One valve can be tapped slightly, maximum two. But it will be a barely noticeable knock, which cannot always be detected. Removing the cover and checking the clearances will be much more effective. This is the only way to detect displaced or burst washers and reduced clearances. Indeed, when the distance between the camshaft cam and the valve is changed, the entire motor is disrupted, which causes the power to drop.
Preparing for adjustment
Before starting repairs, make it a habit to disconnect the battery. It is possible to accidentally hook on a power wire that is energized. And the result of this is the melting of the wires and the possibility of a fire. Place the car on the handbrake and put the gearshift lever in neutral. Valve adjustments should be done with the engine cold. First, it's safe. Secondly, it is so required by technology.
Remove the protective plastic cover that covers the timing belt. It is attached with three bolts to the brackets. Two on the back and one on the side. Then disconnect the pipes that fit the valve cover. And remove the bracket that secures the throttle and choke cables (if the engine is carbureted). The valve cover is attached to the head with two nuts, which should be unscrewed with a 10 spanner. Try to replace the gasket under the cover with a new one afterwards. Now remove the plugs from all cylinders.
Adjustment of valves
Remove oil from the top of the head using a syringe or syringe. Now you need to align the labels. This is not an easy exercise, since it sometimes happens that the timing belt slips one or two teeth, so check the position of the belt before adjusting the valves. There is a mark on the camshaft pulley that must be aligned with the plate on the engine block. After installing the marks, open the rubber plug that is in the clutch block. In the viewing window, you will be able to see a triangular slotted plate that should line up with the mark on the flywheel.
Take a square piece of paper with a side of 8 centimeters. You will put it on the bolt that secures the camshaft pulley. Align one corner of your square with the bar. Using a marker, make small marks on the pulley housing. The angle between two adjacent ones should be 90 degrees. And then you have to scroll the crankshaft and measure the clearances. The crankshaft can be rotated with a 19 key, or you can raise the right side on a jack and turn the wheel at fourth speed.
The clearance for the intake valves should be 0.2 mm, and for the exhaust valves 0.35 mm. To calculate the thickness of the new washer, you need to use a simple formula. The thickness of the washer is considered equal to the sum of the thickness of the old washer, measured and the nominal clearances. There is also a tolerance of 0.05 mm, so be sure to take this into account when selecting washers. With the help of a special device for recessed valves, you loosen the pressure on the washer, it is much easier to remove it from the seat.
