To replace the timing belt, KIA SPECTRA owners very often turn to a car service. Meanwhile, you can carry out maintenance yourself, even without having any special devices at hand.
It is most convenient to replace the timing belt by installing the KIA SPECTRA on the inspection pit. You will need a set of open-end and spanner wrenches, a sturdy flat screwdriver, a pry bar, pliers, and a car lamp. Naturally, you first need to purchase a new belt and tensioner pulley.
Access to the repair site
To have access to the work site, you will need to remove the decorative cover and the timing belt cover. It is secured with two upper and two lower bolts, which must be removed and then removed the engine cover mounting brackets. You will also need to remove the oil dipstick mounting bracket. The upper part of the casing can then be removed and the lower part can be accessed for work.
To remove the bottom of the casing, you will need to remove the alternator belt pulley and the GRU pump. The car is installed in fifth gear and parking brake. The pulley is secured with one right-hand threaded bolt, which must be ripped off in one sharp motion. After the pulley has been removed, the bottom of the cover can be removed. Then you should loosen the tension roller mounting bolt and, pulling it away by hand, loosen and remove the belt, after which you can start aligning the pulleys according to the marks.
Aligning marks
The most convenient way to align the marks is to hang out the right front wheel of the car and rotate it. The marks on the intake and exhaust pulleys are shaped like the embossed letters "I" and "E", respectively. They must be aligned with the corresponding marks on the metal cover of the gas distribution mechanism.
In this position, the gas distribution mechanism is set in the ignition phase of the first cylinder, respectively, the cylinder itself should be set to the top dead center of the compression stroke. This can be done according to the marks that are applied to the pulley of additional units and on a special ledge near it. The marks look like small notches.
Installing a new timing belt
The new belt is installed with the exposed marks and the retracted tension roller. You should not turn the timing pulleys; in case of mismatch of the teeth, you can adjust the crankshaft pulley to the desired position. When the belt is installed, you need to give full tension to its leading branch, and remove the slack with a tension roller. To do this, the crankshaft should be turned two turns, turning the suspended wheel: the roller spring will automatically set the required degree of tension.
After all operations, the roller must be tightened, the lower part of the casing, the generator pulley and the GRU, the upper part of the casing and the mounting brackets must be installed.
