Replacing the timing belt on a Priora 16 valves with your own hands

Russian-made cars of the VAZ-2170 or Lada Priora brand have received recognition from many motorists. This is due not only to the modern design of this car, but also to the fact that the vehicle is equipped with a type 21126 engine. This is a 16-cylinder engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 106 hp. Along with the advantages, the Priora has a disadvantage, which manifests itself when the timing belt breaks. If the timing belt is not replaced in a timely manner, then when it breaks, the valves will bend. To prevent this from happening, the timing belt on a Priora 16 valve must be replaced in a timely manner, which can be done with your own hands. This procedure is not complicated, and each owner will be able to perform it independently, having understood some of the nuances.

2 When a belt replacement is needed on a Priora: possible consequences
3 Features of self-checking the serviceability of the timing belt on Priora
4 Necessary tools for replacement
5 Replacing rollers and timing belt: step-by-step steps
6 How to check tension
6.1 Video: replacing the timing belt and rollers with a pump on a Priora VAZ 2172, 2170, 2172 (timing marks)

Timing belt and its purpose

The timing belt is a rubber product that has a toothed surface on the inside. Durable types of rubber are used to make this belt. The product is put on the crankshaft and camshaft gears, which allows you to synchronize the operation of these mechanisms. With its help, fuel is supplied to the engine cylinders in a timely manner.

The teeth on the belt are designed to ensure reliable adhesion to the gears and prevent slipping. Priora is equipped with belts that have 137 teeth. If the belt breaks, the car will not be able to continue moving due to incorrect operation of the engine. That is why the regulations state that this element must be replaced every 30-45 thousand kilometers.

This is interesting! If it is noticed that the timing belt shows signs of wear or damage, but the mileage has not yet reached the specified value, then it is definitely necessary to replace it. This is especially important to do on a VAZ-2170 or Priora car, since in the event of a break, the valves fail.

The timing belt not only connects the crankshaft to the camshaft, but also drives the water pump. Despite the fact that the device is a “piece of rubber”, its importance in the design of the engine of any car is priceless.

We set the timing marks of the Priora engine 16 valves VAZ 21126

The timing marks on the 126 16-valve engine of the Priora vehicle are set to ensure that the engine works perfectly. The order consists in the distribution of parts of the four-stroke engine of the Priora vehicle. The notches themselves are located on the rear casing, camshaft, and flywheel. They are used when changing the timing belt, which activates this entire complex gas distribution mechanism.

When does a belt need to be replaced on a Priora: possible consequences

It is recommended to replace the timing belt every 30 - 45 thousand kilometers. Of course, the probability of a belt breaking with such a mileage is very low, but the indicated mileage is the resource of the product. There are many cases where motorists clock twice the mileage indicated above on the tachometer, and have never changed the belt. The serviceability of the product in question is measured not only by its integrity. During operation, it stretches, therefore the quality of engagement decreases and the likelihood of slipping increases.

Timing belt with worn teeth: what can happen if the product is not replaced in a timely manner

This is interesting! The service life of the timing belt is influenced by various factors: the nature of the ride, the quality of the product, the ingress of foreign liquids and objects onto the belt drive, etc. It is impossible to indicate the exact mileage that a timing belt will last. To avoid having to go to a service station for major repairs, it is recommended to monitor the operating time of the product on a car such as the Priora.

Signs that the timing belt on a Priora needs to be replaced are the following factors:

presence of extraneous noise when the engine is running;
changing the color of exhaust gases;
problems when starting the engine;
extraneous vibration.

Photo of a worn and torn belt on a Priora: what you shouldn’t let your car do

Replacing the timing belt on a Priora 16 valve may be necessary much earlier than at 30-45 thousand km. This is due to oil, dirt and antifreeze getting on the belt drive. Antifreeze or coolant poses a particular danger to the integrity of a rubber product. If a coolant leak occurs, which is caused by a leak in the pump gasket or failure of the pump, then the service life of the rubber product is reduced tenfold. If a coolant leak is detected, the causes should be promptly identified and eliminated. If the cause is a violation of the integrity of the pump or gasket, then the timing belt will need to be replaced at the same time. If there are problems with the strength of the belt at high speeds, irreparable consequences may occur in the form of broken pistons and deformation of connecting rods.

Bending valves on Priora 16 valves

Checking the condition of the belt

The inspection regulations for this unit require an inspection in a cold engine state. Remove the outer protective casing to allow visual contact with the surface of the gas distribution unit parts. Having gained access directly to the timing belt, rotating its drive, inspect both sides of the consumable in detail for the presence of any kind of defects (wear, broken teeth, protruding cord, rubber delamination, etc.). Tensioner rollers are subject to careful inspection; in the presence of mechanical damage and large play, they contribute to increased wear of the consumables. The presence of oil stains on the surface of a rubber technical part, which contribute to the destruction of its structure, is not allowed. If found, immediately remove from surface.

Features of self-checking the serviceability of the timing belt on Priora

If you are thinking about the need to replace a rubber product on a Priora, then it won’t hurt to initially check the belt drive. The inspection will reveal signs of wear and the presence of places where the product is deformed. To carry out the check, you will need to use a hex wrench set to “5” or a T-30 star-shaped bit (depending on the year of manufacture of the Priora).

The procedure for checking the belt drive is as follows:

Use a hexagon to unscrew 5 mounting bolts, with which the front upper timing drive cover is secured.
Removing the timing cover
Place the jack on the passenger side, suspend the wheel, and then engage 5th gear. While rotating the wheel, carefully inspect the integrity of the rubber product.
The presence of cracks, cuts, peeling and signs of thread appearance indicates the need for replacement. If traces of a coolant leak are visible in the pump area, then the rubber product must also be replaced.
The tension roller is inspected. Its service life is 90-100 thousand km, so it is recommended to change it every other time when changing a rubber product.
Belt deflection measurement. To do this, you need to press on the product with a force of 10 kg. The degree of deflection is measured between the gears of the two camshafts. The permissible degree of deflection is 5-7 mm.
Belt stretch is checked by checking the alignment of the marks. One mark 1 in the form of a recess is located on the outer race of the tensioner roller. The second mark 2 has the form of a tooth-shaped recess located on the base of the tensioner roller. The permissible deviation from mark mismatch is 3-4 mm.

Marks on the tensioner pulley

This is interesting! The timing belt for the VAZ-2170 on the outer rim has the following information: engine type (21126 or 21127), number of teeth - 137, as well as marking with a product width of 22 mm.

What kind of belt is used?

On Priora cars with a 16-valve engine 21126, a toothed rubber belt with a number of teeth of 137 pcs is used. The width of the belt is 22 mm.

The article number of this element is 137-22 HNBR

This is what the timing belt used on Priors looks like

Also, many owners speak well of Gates belts.

Necessary tools for replacement

Having decided that you need to replace the timing belt on a Priora, you should prepare the necessary material and tools. The materials will require a new timing belt. Moreover, you can buy both the original belt and analogues. The original belt product is also equipped with two rollers: a tensioner and a thrust roller. The cost of such a kit is about 5 thousand rubles.

Original kit for timing system on VAZ-2170

If necessary, you should purchase a new pump if the car’s mileage exceeds more than 100 thousand km and the product has never been changed. If you are replacing the pump, you will also need to replace the coolant.

This is interesting! Antifreeze needs to be replaced every 2 years, and antifreeze every 4-5 years.

Of the tools to replace the timing belt on a Lada Priora, 16 valves will be needed:

Head at "17".
Set of open-end wrenches.
Screwdrivers.
Hex key or T-30 sprocket, depending on the year of manufacture of the car.
Special key for adjusting the roller. Comes with a set of belt and 2 rollers.

It is not necessary to install the Priora in the inspection hole, since most of the actions will be performed in the engine compartment. Once all the tools and materials are ready, you can start working.

The basis of the operation of the gas distribution mechanism

When the mixture is compressed, a spark enters the working cylinder and the mixture explodes, pushing the piston. He pushes the connecting rod, the connecting rod pushes the crankshaft. Everything is known. The valves, by timely opening and closing, ensure tightness in the cylinder at the right moment and free inlet and outlet in other cycles. The camshaft controls these devices by pressing the valve mechanism with its cams. The Priora engine has 16 valves. They are controlled by two camshafts. And the camshafts are driven by the crankshaft via a timing belt.

To ensure that the valve timing matches and the drive is installed correctly, special marks are applied.

Timing timing marking points

They are applied by the manufacturer in several places and are divided into movable and stationary:

On the body of the Priora engine
On camshaft gears.
On the crankshaft gear.
On the engine flywheel.

Now in more detail about these tags.

On the engine body of a VAZ 2170

Here the mating marks are installed in three places. They are immovable:

On the lip of the oil pump housing.
On the flywheel housing.
Marks on the plastic protection of the Priora timing belt

The first two types of marks are intended for mating the crankshaft.

That is, the risks on the gear and on the flywheel must coincide with them. The crankshaft drive gear is located in the oil pressure pump housing. This is a slot in the metal skirt that half-encircles the gear from above. It is clearly visible in normal lighting. Sometimes it can be “bombarded” with oil and dust. Then you need to wipe this place with a rag, and everything will be visible.

There is a special arrow installed on the flywheel housing, in the viewing window in the starter area. It must be taken into account that the top dead center is determined only by the average of the three marks.

How to check tension

At the end of the work, it is necessary to adjust the tension of the timing belt drive on the Priora. The adjustment is made as follows:

Using a special wrench, you need to turn the tensioner pulley counterclockwise.
Tensioner adjustment key
Align the marks on the roller as shown above, and then tighten the fastening bolt.
Rotate the crankshaft pulley 2 turns by the mounting bolt in a clockwise direction. At the same time, the coincidence of the marks on the camshaft and crankshaft pulleys is checked.

You can check the tension by applying force to a rubber product weighing 10 kg. The deviation value should not exceed 5-7 mm.

When tightening the pulley and roller bolts, it is recommended to use a torque wrench. The tightening torque for each element is equal to the following values:

for the tension roller – 35-41 Nm;
thrust roller – 105-110 Nm;
pump mounting bolts – 15-20 Nm.

After adjustment, you can put the protective cover back in place. Finally, the generator belt tensioner roller is installed, as well as the belt itself. It is also recommended to replace these elements with new ones. Finally, do not forget to fill the coolant before starting the engine.

Upon completion of the work done, you can start the engine and check its operation. If the marks are correctly set, the engine will start the first time the key is turned in the ignition switch. In this case, the engine should operate evenly and keep the speed in the region of 800-900 rpm. Listen to the timing belt drive. There should be no extraneous sounds or noises. The presence of a whistle or hum indicates that the tensioner is too tight and needs to be loosened.

Video: replacing the timing belt and rollers with a pump on a Priora VAZ 2172, 2170, 2172 (timing marks)

In conclusion, it should be noted that the process of replacing the timing belt on a Lada Priora car does not present any difficulties if all steps are performed one by one. Even an inexperienced driver can handle this procedure, so don’t be afraid when the time comes to replace the belt product.

Author: Andrey
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Changing the belt yourself

Replacing the timing belt of a Lada Priora with 16 valves is not the most difficult procedure. Buy a kit that includes tension rollers, stock up on tools, and you’re good to go.

Instructions

Lift the hood, use a hex wrench to unscrew the five bolts on the cover, and remove it. Unscrew the two bolts from the lower timing cover.
Disconnect the crankshaft sensor.
On the passenger side, place a jack under the wheel, lift the car with it, and place the wheel in a suspended position. This will make it easier to align the marks of the mechanism and camshafts - they should be parallel, opposite each other. Combine them with fifth gear engaged, turning the wheel to the correct position. Turn off gear transmission.
Find the flywheel and remove the rubber plug with a regular screwdriver. Under the muffler you will see a flywheel with a mark, it should be located opposite the mark on the left side.
You need to get to the crankshaft pulley; to do this, remove the wheel or turn it to the right, you need to turn it all the way. Unscrew the five bolts that secure the mudguard.
Ask a friend to engage fifth gear and press the brake, at this time, using ratchet No. 17, unscrew the bolt that secures the crankshaft pulley. Rotate in the opposite direction clockwise.
Remove the thrust washer
Unscrew the bolts securing the tension and thrust rollers. Use key 15. Remove the rollers, remove the belt.
Now install new rollers, do not tighten the tensioner type, they will be used for adjustment. Reinstall the camshaft pulleys, then the crankshaft pulley.
Put on a new belt - pull it onto the crankshaft, then around the pump, then onto the camshaft pulleys.

The new product is installed, all that remains is to adjust the tension:

Pull the tensioner pulley in the opposite direction clockwise - when you installed the new kit, you did not tighten this pulley.
All that remains is to align the marks on the tension roller, just tighten the bolts tightly.
Turn the crankshaft pulley exactly two turns. Rotate the pulley in a clockwise direction. Be sure to make sure that the marks on the two shafts match.

To make sure the tension is correct, press the stretched rubber with a force of about ten kilograms. If the product bends by more than seven millimeters, you will have to carry out the rubber tensioning procedure again. In ideal condition, the rubber should not be pressed under a pressure force of 10 kg.

Possible breakdowns and their causes

According to the manufacturers of the Lada Priora, the rollers and belt can withstand up to 200 thousand kilometers. However, in practice, many car owners encounter problems after 40 - 60 thousand kilometers. Failure to correct the malfunction in a timely manner may result in the timing belt breaking. The Internet is full of horror stories about the catastrophic consequences of a break and the subsequent replacement of dead pistons and bent valves. However, few people mention that such breakdowns do not occur suddenly. To avoid serious damage, it is recommended to inspect and diagnose the system once every 50 thousand kilometers. Unfortunately, diagnosing faults in the gas distribution system is a very non-trivial task. The fact is that many signs may simultaneously correspond to several malfunctions, sometimes not related to the timing belt. A malfunction may be indicated by:

Metallic knocking in the engine;
“Sag” in power on a cold engine;
“Shots” into the silencer;
Blue exhaust fumes;
Engine overheating.

One way or another, if these signs occur, it is worth conducting a visual diagnosis. Among the main causes of malfunctions with parasitic timing belt rollers are: contamination of the part, inappropriate belt tension or its displacement due to improper assembly. The reason may also lie in mechanical damage that occurs due to incorrect installation or a foreign object getting under the belt.

Don’t tempt fate; keep an eye on the condition of the timing system and the timing of replacement. Buy spare parts for timing belt maintenance in trusted stores.

Checking and adjusting the tension of the timing belt.

If you want your belt to last long and trouble-free, it is important to maintain its tension in the correct position. To do this, periodically test the tension. Pay special attention to the first tension of the new belt. If the belt is loose, the lateral load on the teeth increases, which greatly accelerates their wear. In some cases, if the belt is very loose, there is a high probability of the belt teeth moving relative to the pulleys. This can lead, at best, to engine instability and loss of power. In the worst case, it will lead to expensive repairs. To check the tension, perform the following steps:

1. Unscrew the 5 bolts securing the protective timing cover and move the cover to the side.

2. Press the timing belt exactly in the center between the camshaft pulleys with a force of 100 Newtons (10 kgf). The belt deflection from the horizontal position should be no more than 7 millimeters. Modern tension rollers are also provided with a tension control mechanism. To check the quality of the tension, make sure that mark A on the outer part of the roller coincides with protrusion B.

3. To adjust the tension, slightly unscrew the roller mounting bolt and, rotating the roller, achieve complete alignment of the marks described above (see figure)

4. Secure the tension by tightening the roller mounting bolt.

5. Reassemble all remaining parts in the opposite order of removal.

Source

Camshaft marks

The VAZ 21126 engine uses two switchgears. One of them is needed for optimal operation of the intake valves, and the second is installed in order to regulate the movement of the exhaust valves.

Each camshaft has its own pulley, which is not recommended to be replaced with another. This pulley allows the camshaft mechanism to operate correctly. A phase sensor is installed on the right side of the pulley.

The marks are located on the pulleys. They are located on the crown of the ledge at the bottom. Experienced mechanics call them movable because they move with the rotation of the camshaft.

Attention! Beginning car owners should remember that the marks have different sizes. It all depends on the manufacturer who made the pulley.

To see the marks, experienced mechanics advise wiping the pulley with a clean rag to get rid of dirt and dust. Then you will notice a small notch in the metal.

But the crankshaft marks will help all parts of the 126 engine from the Lada vehicle work equally. At the output of the crankshaft there is a gear. And this gear is connected to the device by means of a key. This is where the mark for correct installation of parts is located. Because if the position is incorrect, the key simply will not fit as expected.

The notch is made in the form of a slot or a conical hole. It is found on the outside of the engine pulley.

Additional guidelines are also applied to the outer engine housing so as not to make mistakes when setting marks. To do this, install another mark on the rear side of the timing belt housing. It is needed for the correct alignment of the camshaft pulleys.

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Another notch is located on the engine oil pump. It is needed for the correct orientation of the crankshaft. And it will be difficult to find the last mark. It is located on the flywheel.

There is a small cutout in the flywheel housing. According to the standard, it is covered with a rubber plug. It is pulled out and inserted with pliers.

Step-by-step instruction

It will not be possible to completely remove the belt since the engine mount passes through it and if you want to change it you will have to unscrew it. It will not interfere with replacing the drive belt.

On newer models we will need an asterisk.

We tint the marks on the camshaft toothed pulleys with a marker for ease of control.

Unscrew the bolts securing the lower timing belt protective cover. Hexagon 5.

Lower timing cover.

The front right wheel does not need to be removed, but turned all the way to the right.

We lock the crankshaft. We place stops under the front wheels, turn on fifth speed and unscrew the crankshaft pulley bolt. 17mm head and extension with a pipe as a lever. Turn off the speed.

Crankshaft pulley.

We dismantle the pulley and the lower protective cover. behind the pulley, do not forget it when installing.

Set the top dead center

It is necessary to screw the crankshaft bolt into place and use this bolt to turn the crankshaft clockwise until the marks on the crankshaft pulley and the ebb on the oil pump coincide. The head is 17. We put a mark with a marker for convenience. Many manuals suggest putting a mark on the flywheel, but climbing under the thermostat is not very convenient, so we’ll take the simple route.

Crankshaft mark.

The marks on the camshaft pulleys should also match the marks on the timing case. The camshaft marks were photographed after installing the new belt, they simply forgot to take a photo during the replacement process, may the inexperienced reader forgive us for this.

Camshaft marks.

We unscrew the bolts securing the tension and idler rollers and remove them together with the timing belt.

Replacing the pump

Attention! There is a plate for the timing sensor installed on the intake camshaft pulley, do not damage it.

We pull the bolts evenly in several passes.