Replacing the camshaft drive chain (Renault 19)

For C-engine only

A ringing sound from an engine when idling most often indicates wear of the camshaft drive chain. The tensioner no longer provides the required tension for the chain that has stretched due to wear. To some extent, chain noise, especially on a hot engine, is due to its design features. If the ringing sound only disappears at high revs, then it is not just the chain. This means that both sprockets of the chain drive are also worn. In this case, due to a violation of the valve timing, power is reduced and the exhaust gas characteristics are deteriorated. The camshaft drive chain, sprockets of the chain drive, and the chain tensioner must be replaced at the same time. Buy a set of gaskets for the cylindrical gear cover and sealant from a spare parts store in advance (silicone paste CAF 4/60 THIXO).

1. Drain the oil and remove the oil pan. If the pan is firmly stuck, carefully pry it off with a screwdriver, being careful not to damage the seal location.



2. Remove the V-belt.

3. Loosen the crankshaft V-belt pulley and remove it. To prevent the crankshaft from rotating, engage 4th gear and have an assistant apply the brake. Remove the gear cover. Be careful not to damage the sealing ring.

4. Turn the engine until the crankshaft sprocket mark and the camshaft sprocket mark are aligned exactly with each other.

5. In a car repair shop, a special tool (Mot. 761) is used to fix the chain tensioner. If there is no special tool, twist the tensioner and spring with wire with force until the chain is released from the tensioner.

6. Loosen both mounting bolts and remove them.

7. Remove the chain tensioner.

8. Bend back the lock washer of the central bolt of the camshaft chain sprocket and unscrew the bolt.

9. Remove the camshaft sprocket together with the drive chain.

10. Do not under any circumstances turn the crankshaft and camshaft after this!

11. Remove the crankshaft chain sprocket using a standard puller. To avoid damaging the threads, screw a suitable center-punched bolt into the end of the crankshaft.

12. Remove the safety key from the crankshaft.

13. Before assembly, clean the surfaces of the unit and the covers that ensure the engine is sealed.

14. Insert the safety key into the crankshaft groove.

15. Screw a suitable bolt into the end of the crankshaft and press the sprocket onto the crankshaft using a spacer sleeve (diameter 25 mm) and nuts with a large washer.

16. Put on the camshaft chain sprocket with the drive chain. The marks on the camshaft and crankshaft sprockets should be aligned exactly with each other (the sprocket marks must be on one imaginary line drawn between the centers of the camshaft and crankshaft axes).



17. Screw in the camshaft sprocket bolt with a new lock washer and tighten to 30 Nm.

18. Bend back the edge of the lock washer.

19. Install the chain tensioner and remove the wire that held it in place.

20. Install the gear covers with a new gasket. To prevent slipping, fix the gasket in the cover with silicone paste.

21. Tighten the bolts evenly to avoid damaging the gasket.

22. Clean the surfaces of the oil pan and engine element; degrease them with a solvent.

23. Apply to bearings (flywheel side) a 3 mm thick layer of sealant on the surface of the oil pan that contacts the engine. However, the sealant should not get into the bolt holes. In the 4 corners of the oil pan in the area of the main bearings, apply a little more sealant.

24. In the main bearing, where no sealant was applied, install a new rubber gasket.

25. If necessary, screw 4 suitable sawed bolts as centering pins into the engine housing.

26. Install the oil pan and secure with bolts to a torque of 8-10 Nm.

27. Then replace the centering pins with bolts and tighten them to 8-10 Nm.

28. Put on the crankshaft pulley with the slot and tighten the bolts (40 mm long bolts with a force of 80 Nm; screw 45 mm long with a torque of 110 Nm).

29. Put on the V-belt and tighten it, see chapter Cooling system.

30. Fill the engine with oil and after a test drive check for oil leaks.

Note: Recommendation: when installing the oil pan, no oil droplets should come into contact with the sealant layer or the surface of the engine body that is in contact with the pan, otherwise the seal will be damaged.