Replacing the timing belt on a 16-valve Lada Grante with your own hands

A modern car is a technically complex device that can operate in difficult conditions. Unfortunately, technological progress still does not allow making things that last forever, and a car, like other devices, requires periodic maintenance.

This is especially true for its main mechanism – the engine. It has a huge number of moving parts that wear out over time. One of these parts is the timing belt. To replace this part, it is not at all necessary to contact a service center - you can do everything yourself.

Timing belt selection

In order for the belt to last a long time, you should not skimp on it and buy an obvious Chinese fake. It is important to approach the issue of choosing spare parts seriously. Today on the market you can find solutions from domestic and foreign manufacturers.

The list of manufacturers is quite wide, but the most popular models are regularly offered by Contitech, Gates, Bosch and Dayco, which have earned many flattering reviews.

Manufacturers

Perhaps the most reputable manufacturer is Gates. The company is based in Belgium and its activities include the production of various highly specialized equipment, as well as drive belts.

Today Gates supplies its belts to world-famous automakers. As usual, the price in this case corresponds to the quality - Gates solutions are noticeably more expensive than most others.

Contitech, located in Germany, in turn, is famous for its products of “true German quality”. Many parts from this manufacturer are installed by auto giants on their cars during their assembly. In addition to timing belts, this manufacturer also produces air suspensions, drive mechanisms and other parts.

Finally, the Italian Dayco specializes in bearings, rollers and drive belts.

Should I buy an official or unofficial belt?

The safest way to purchase a high-quality timing belt is to purchase from an official service center. As an added bonus, installation will often be done there. Unfortunately, this option turns out to be the most expensive.

Here it is important to know that among official services there is a practice of listing the spare part in the catalog under the brand of the car manufacturer, and not the part itself. Take branded timing belts for Chevrolet and Opel cars as an example.

Regardless of the actual manufacturer of the part, it will be offered under the GM brand, although the spare part will actually be produced at Gates factories.

Almost every car owner has encountered a similar situation. How to check the timing belt? It is enough to remove the part yourself at least once and look at the markings on it: according to the catalogs it was made by GM, Audi, etc., but according to the markings, for example, Contitech.

The disadvantage of this approach becomes visible if you compare the price with the same model under your own brand on the market. As a rule, the difference with the service is approximately 1.5 times. However, there is absolutely no difference in quality. That is why it is difficult to say how much a timing belt costs - it all depends on the manufacturer.

However, some drivers hold an alternative opinion: they believe that only the best products from one manufacturer or another are used for original spare parts, and everything else goes on open sale in the form of a kind of “markdown”.

Practice shows that original and non-original timing belts serve approximately equally. Thus, it will be enough to find out the factory model of the part so that you can purchase it immediately and not overpay for service.

The only point: you must buy from a trusted dealer, since otherwise there is a high risk of running into a low-quality fake. As a result, a timing belt break can occur much earlier with a much higher probability.

So, which timing belt is best? Designed specifically for your vehicle and purchased from a reliable supplier.

Replacing the timing belt. Video:

Timing belt breaks - 5 main reasons

A car is a very capricious mechanism, which during operation can pose a number of problems for the owner. For example, a motor or transmission breaks down; these are the worst breakdowns that always require expensive repairs.

Some car owners are faced with a broken timing belt. This is a rather serious nuisance that costs the driver a large sum. In addition, it brings with it another problem - breakdown of the power unit, because many cars are equipped with plug-in engines. In such conditions, when the belt breaks, the valves hit the pistons. Let's look at the 5 main reasons that can lead to such a defect.

We missed the replacement deadline . The main reason for this phenomenon is natural wear and tear. Drivers very often ignore the timing of replacement of this element, although each instruction from the manufacturer indicates the necessary information. The interval can be different - from 60,000 km to 120,000 km. However, there is a time limit. For example, in older Volvo 850 cars it is recommended to replace the belt after 3 years of operation.

Desire to save money . Every car owner today tries to buy consumables at the lowest possible cost. However, some cheap items may require repairs. As a result, after 500 km some fake belt begins to burst. It is very difficult to notice this phenomenon, since the cracks first appear on the inside.

The pumps are jammed . In many cars, the water pump or pump operates thanks to the timing belt. If the pump does not rotate during operation of the vehicle, the belt may well break. Of course, this does not happen at once. At the initial stage, the teeth of the belt are cut and the car begins to jerk intermittently. In this case, it is very important to pull over to the side of the road and turn off the engine. After this, you will need to call a tow truck and go to the service center.

Hands are from the wrong place . If you place the belt incorrectly, you can simply warp it. For example, if you tighten it too much, the pump will whine and jam. If the rollers are not fully tightened, they may unscrew and the belt will simply come off.

Accessory belt . If the drive belt breaks, it can hit or crawl under the timing belt. This usually leads to skew or breakage of the element.

How to determine a broken belt . As a rule, this phenomenon is accompanied by a sharp bang, after which the engine stalls. If you try to restart the power plant, you can hear a metallic knock and feel the ease of rotation of the starter. Please note that under no circumstances should experiments be carried out with repeated launches. If you suspect a timing belt rupture, you need to stop on the side of the road and inspect the element.

Bottom line . A broken timing belt is a problem that many car owners face. Typically, this occurs due to normal wear and tear, but there are 4 other reasons that lead to this.

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Timing for timing belt replacement

First, let's figure out when to change the timing belt. Spontaneous timing belt breakage very often results in bent valves. They require very expensive repairs, so you need to carefully monitor the condition of the belt. Specific planned replacement periods depend on the specific car model and are most often indicated in its technical documentation.

Many people are interested in: at what mileage should the timing belt be changed? Experts recommend replacing them after a mileage of about 50-80 thousand kilometers.

If the car was purchased secondhand and the owner does not know when the last replacement was made, you can visually check the part for wear. Traces of active use are quite clearly visible in the form of small cracks on the case.

Foreign automakers recommend changing the timing belts on their cars after a mileage of 120 thousand kilometers, but domestic dealers give different numbers: 90, maximum 100 thousand kilometers, which is due to the difficult operating conditions in our country.

If, during inspection, cracks were found on the parts, you should not immediately panic and assume that a break will happen immediately, as soon as the car moves again. The belts are based on several thin metal rods that can withstand significant impact loads and increase the life of the part.

If the belt begins to weaken, the driver will quickly feel it - the noise from the engine will increase noticeably, and the car will become more difficult to start. Yes, and there is a risk in practice to check whether the valves bend when the timing belt breaks.

Car manufacturers often recommend replacing the timing belt tensioner roller along with replacing the part itself. This option is preferable, since all of the mentioned procedures are quite labor-intensive individually, and the wear of specific parts is sometimes not visible to the naked eye. That is why many manufacturers have switched to producing sets of belt and rollers.

What needs to be changed along with the timing belt

The Russian Lada Grant has been available for several years. And with good performance and several different trim levels, it has won the trust of many drivers. Now let's talk about replacing the timing belt on a Lada Grant.

In any machine, the gas distribution mechanism allows for the timely introduction and removal of working fluid and exhaust gases. This mechanism includes the camshaft, as well as various valve actuation parts, as well as valves with springs, as well as guide type bushings.

Speaking of timing belts, this is a special element that works as a link. This ensures synchronous operation of the camshaft and crankshaft.

Finding such a belt is very easy. The hood will be quite open for you, then the belt will appear on your eye. However, this “special device” will be protected by a special casing, which should prevent the entry of dirt and protect it from other mechanical influences.

The external timing belt has a toothed inner surface and a rubber base. Unlike other types of belts, it covers several pulleys at the same time.

Camshaft drive diagram

1. engine crankshaft toothed pulley;
2. Gear for water cooling pump:
3. tension roller or automatic tensioner;
4. Timing belt cover;
5. camshaft pulley;
6. Timing belt;
7. leakage on the oil pump cover;

AND . mark on the crankshaft pulley; IN . mark on the oil pump outlet cover; FROM . protrusion on the rear timing belt cover; D. _ mark on the camshaft gear pulley

Type

In addition to said two shafts, the belt connects several other components, such as the water pump (pump) and the like.

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If the rollers or pump are damaged, this indicates excessive wear of the belt, which significantly reduces its service life.

Cars of the Lada Grant family are equipped, as we have already said, with various engine modifications. Some of them don't have the problem that when the timing belt breaks the valves bend, while others have a similar function.

If the timing belt breaks, only 11183-50 engines do not bend the valve; such an engine is installed on the Lada Grant as standard. Read more about which engines, when the timing belt breaks, it breaks the valve in this material.

To eliminate emergency situations, the manufacturer advises changing the belt every 70 thousand miles . But you will have to monitor his condition more often. during each maintenance, in other words, after 15 thousand km. This statement is true for both 8-valve and 16-valve engines. Despite the fact that the most common Lada Grant 21116 engine consists of an imported cylinder head, it will also have to be repaired due to a broken belt!

Naturally, the manufacturer does not recommend changing the belt without outside help, or checking it. If you try to do all the work yourself, in other words, there is a good chance that you will be denied the following warranty. It is recommended to change only the filter (cabin filter replacement, air filter replacement, fuel filter replacement).

Most Lada Grant owners, especially owners of 16-valve engines (much more expensive to repair than the 8-valve equivalent), recommend not waiting for 75,000 miles. The fact is that due to poor components, wear can begin after 20,000 km.

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Most owners use proven Gates products when replacing. But they love to counterfeit this brand, so try to take on the tried and tested suppliers time!

K015670XS. Part number for 16 valve engines.

If you decide to change the belt without assistance, then there are some tips worth considering.

For example, after installing the belt, you will also need to tension it correctly. This is done using a special key. Some will see that you can do the right thing, but then no one guarantees the result.

The force characteristic for turning the belt 90 degrees between the crankshaft pulleys and the camshaft should be no more than 20 Nm and no less than 15 Nm. All other characteristics indicate that the belt tension has not been adjusted correctly and you will need to make the following adjustments.

As we have already noted, it is often necessary to monitor the condition of the timing belt.

This will allow him to see his damage before it completely fails, damaging engine parts.

1. The first sign will be significant wear and tear on the material. If so, you risk slipping or breaking down when the vehicle is overloaded or in high humidity.
2. It follows that wear usually occurs when the position of the tension roller and pulley deviates, also when the bearing temperature is high or performance is low. You can see this because the material will be frayed and the remaining fabric will be poking out of it.
3. The 3rd sign implies cracks or ligaments. The more such damage, the greater the likelihood that the belt will break very soon.
4. Difficulties are also typical for situations where the back surface of the belt has low elasticity and significant rigidity. This will also add appropriate brightness to the belt. This will prevent it from making good contact with the pulley.
5. The belt can be extended during operation. If this parameter is very large, then it is necessary to replace the belt with a new one, especially since its elastic capabilities will be significantly reduced.
6. And, of course, if the belt position deviates from this, then this will give a clue to a situation where the tension pulley components may be failing.

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I took off the timing belt and it still looks like it, but the owner decided to replace it

In this case, the belt is still in good working order.

4 valves bent after timing belt broke

As we have already said, only the 1st engine should not have serious problems after the timing belt breaks. 11183-50 . But other models may have serious failures that will lead to significant financial investments! On our site, in the middle of the Grand Guides, there was a battle about which engine is better: 8-valve or 16-valve, we are also interested in your worldview.

The fact is that when the belt breaks, the camshaft stops in the position in which it was at that moment. But the crankshaft continues to move. As a result, the pistons hit the valves, which were open, with great force. The valves are bent from this impact, and in rare cases the piston may even break, although this is quite rare. This situation is popularly called the “fist of friendship”!

Source

Replacement Procedures

Now let's move on to how to change the timing belt. Replacing a part consists of three main steps. First of all, you need to get to the part. Then loosen the tensioner and only then install a new belt. However, first things first.

How to get to the timing belt?

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. The negative cable is disconnected from the battery. If available, you should make sure you have a radio safety code in advance - this will help save time on reconfiguration after completion of work.
2. Remove the alternator belt. Depending on the specific vehicle, access to the timing belt may also be made difficult by the serpentine belt. To remove it, the corresponding nuts are loosened and, if necessary, the generator is pushed away.
3. Remove all accessories. At this stage, you will need to dismantle the generator, steering, air conditioning compressor and other similar parts that prevent access to the timing case. Important: the fittings should not be removed; in most cases, they can simply be moved without losing pressure in the system.
4. If the distributor cap is installed, it must also be removed. Most often, this requires unscrewing the fastening screws and straightening the clamps. Some modern models do not have this part; its place is taken by the crankshaft and camshaft position sensor. In this case, you cannot do without a repair manual for an engine of a specific model - the process varies greatly depending on the model.

   

5. Align the timing marks (how to set the timing marks is described in the vehicle manual). To do this, the engine is cranked until the pulley mark reaches the 0 degree mark on the timing scale.
6. Remove the timing belt cover. First of all, all mounting screws and bolts are unscrewed. If there are any parts that interfere with removal, they will need to be further dismantled. Here again you will have to refer to the manual, since their availability and removal procedure vary depending on the car model.
7. Check the accuracy of the installation of the crankshaft and camshaft using the installation marks. Pulleys or sprockets most often have a special line that is aligned with marks on the auxiliary shaft, cylinder head, or marks on the block. In the case of a broken timing belt, this point is very important.
8. Check the belt area for oil stains. If any leaks are noticed, they must be repaired immediately.

Loosening the tensioner

In order to remove the old timing belt, you will need to loosen the bolts that secure the device that regulates the tension of the bolt. There is no point in unscrewing them completely - it will be enough to unscrew the tensioner, then tighten the bolts again and fix the tensioner.

It would also be a good idea to check the tensioner pulley for wear. A visual inspection includes checking for cracks and dents, after which the pulley must be rotated.

If a rumble or crackling noise is heard during the process, it means the bearings are worn out or at least weakened. In this case, you should additionally install a new tensioner pulley.

Installation of a new timing belt

The installation of the timing belt itself is quite simple and is unlikely to cause any difficulties for anyone. The first step is to remove the belt from the sprockets.

If the tensioner has been loosened, it will easily come off on its own. Sometimes the belt can get stuck, but the problem is solved if you pry it up with a screwdriver.

At the second stage, a new belt is installed. Most often, the user manual describes in detail how to tension the timing belt. The exact procedure with all tolerances varies depending on the brand of car. This is especially important for the crankshaft pulley mounting bolt; it has the highest tightening torque.

Then all that remains is to carry out all the procedures in reverse order.

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Timing belt or chain

Many people doubt what to prefer: a timing chain or a timing belt? Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. Let's first consider the advantages of the chain:

• higher resource;
• high resistance to external damage: the chain rotates in a confined space, it is not afraid of temperature changes, moisture or dust, while sometimes in winter it happens that the timing belt breaks precisely because of rapid heating and cooling;
• the possibility of more precise adjustment: the timing marks on the chain can be set more accurately, so the shaft will rotate with the proper force, the valves will work more accurately and will not burn out;
• better lubrication: during operation, the timing chain is constantly in oil, while the belt operates in a dry atmosphere, which negatively affects its service life;
• increased resistance to loads: the chain can withstand high speeds better; if the tensioner is operating normally, it will not jump forward.

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Unfortunately, the chain is not an ideal solution; it also has its drawbacks:

• Stretching. Over time, the chain stretches a little, which is why the marks do not stop matching. As practice shows, over several years of operation its length increases by a couple of centimeters. As a result, several links begin to slip. As a result, a strong rumble begins under the hood, which can only be “cured” by replacing the chain.
• Heavy weight. Compared to a belt, a chain is much heavier. Current trends are such that manufacturers are trying to make cars as light and compact as possible in order to reduce fuel consumption. It’s even about minor details, so they decided to abandon the chain in favor of a belt. Of course, today there are special lightweight options, but even in this case, the life of the chain suffers significantly.
• Volume. With every year and every new generation of cars, the space under the hood is getting smaller. A belt drive takes up much less space than a chain drive.

So, which is better: a timing chain or a timing belt? Whatever arguments are given in favor of one or another option, we can already say for sure: car manufacturers have chosen belts and do not plan to abandon them; chains are almost completely out of use.

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Replacing the timing chain

It remains to note such a point as replacing the timing chain. We can say right away: it is absolutely no different from the belt replacement algorithm. The main difficulty is the preparatory operations, with the help of which you can get to the desired part. On average, this takes several hours, while direct replacement takes a few minutes.

So, it is quite possible to cope with replacing the timing belt yourself. Of course, this procedure is not quick, but it is quite accessible even to beginners.

The main thing is to stock up on the appropriate tools, as well as a user manual for the car. Some things are unique to a particular model.

For example, how to properly tension the timing belt is written there. Remember that if you do something once, it will be much easier the next time.

Wait, there are so many manufacturers here... So which timing belt is best?

Yes, there are many companies that produce the necessary materials for replacing the timing belt. They are usually divided into “original” and “analogues” - in the first case, the supplier is the car manufacturer, and in the second - third-party companies that specialize in the production of spare parts.

If you dig a little deeper, you will find out that the original belts, rollers or other parts are made by the same third-party manufacturers, only the packaging and markings are different. These are the so-called OEM suppliers - reliable companies with a good reputation that have entered into an agreement with the car manufacturer.

If you look hard enough, you can find the same part as the original, only in packaging from the OEM supplier. This will allow you to save on the brand without skimping on quality.

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Among the manufacturers of timing belts and rollers, the following companies have proven themselves well: Gates, Contitech, Dayco, Bosch, INA . There are other, cheaper options that expand the price/quality range. But, as we have already found out, the timing belt is not a part you should skimp on.