Examination
The need to adjust the valve clearances arises only after the replacement or repair of the components of the valve mechanism.
The easiest way to check the valves is to listen to the engine with the hood open. The need for adjustment is indicated by an increased background noise emitted by the valve mechanism.
Checking and adjusting valve clearances should be done with a cold engine.
Adjustment
4-cylinder engines
1. Remove the cylinder head cover and upper timing belt cover (see chapter Engine).
2. Bring the piston of the first cylinder to the TDC position of the end of the compression stroke, for which you should turn the crankshaft by the pulley so that the mark "UP" on the camshaft gear was in the 12 o'clock position (see chapter Engine).
3. Having brought the engine to the agreed position, you can begin to check and adjust the valves of the first cylinder. The layout of the valves on the engine is shown in the illustration.
4. Start with the inlet valve. Thread the probe blade to the desired thickness (see specs) into the gap between the end of the valve stem and the rocker arm of its valve drive. The feeler gauge should slide into the gap with little resistance. If necessary, loosen the locknut with a wrench, loosen the adjusting screw with a screwdriver, then begin to tighten it, achieving the desired effect on the probe blade.
5. After securing the adjusting screw with a screwdriver from turning, tighten the lock nut. Make sure that the gap does not change during the tightening of the nut, then, proceeding in a similar manner, alternately adjust the gaps of the second inlet valve and the two exhaust valves.
6. Turning the crankshaft 180°counterclockwise (the camshaft gear must rotate 90°), bring the piston of the third cylinder to the TDC position of the end of the compression stroke. In this case, the UP mark on the camshaft gear should move to the 9 o'clock position. Check and adjust the valves of the third cylinder.
7. Rotate the crankshaft another 180°counterclockwise (UP mark will move down at 6 o'clock) and adjust the valves of the fourth cylinder.
8. Once again turning the crankshaft 180° (the UP mark should move to the 3 o'clock position), repeat the procedure for the valves of the second cylinder.
9. When you have finished adjusting the valves, reinstall the cylinder head covers and timing belt.
V6 engines
1. Remove the upper intake manifold plenum, upper front timing belt cover, and both cylinder head covers (see chapter Engine).
2. After turning the crankshaft, bring the piston of the first cylinder to the TDC position (see chapter Engine). In this case, the corresponding mark on the camshaft gear should be aligned with the pointer on the rear cover of the timing drive.
3. In the specified position of the engine, adjust the valves of the first cylinder.
Note. Each cylinder has 4 valves (2 intake and 2 exhaust). The procedure for performing the procedure is similar to that described above in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Section.
4. Turning the crankshaft by the pulley in a clockwise direction, achieve alignment with the TDC mark of the 4th cylinder and adjust its valves. Continuing in the same manner (move cylinder to cylinder in ignition order), adjust the valves of all remaining cylinders one by one.
Note. The crankshaft should be rotated clockwise each time.
5. Reinstall the cylinder head covers, upper timing belt cover, and upper intake manifold plenum.