Note: Unlike engines of most other brands of cars, Renault engines have cylinder counting from the flywheel, not from the crankshaft pulley.
Set the TDC according to the mark on the camshaft pulley (when installed according to the marks on the crankshaft pulley, the piston of either the 1st or 4th cylinder may be in this position). After this, be sure to check that the marks on the toothed pulley of the crankshaft match (with the auxiliary drive pulley removed). If the marks on the crankshaft pulley do not match, then the valve timing is out of alignment (piston of the 1st cylinder is not set to TDC). In this case, it is necessary to remove the camshaft drive belt and turn the crankshaft until the marks are aligned.
Note. The crankshaft is turned to check the coincidence of the marks for the bolt that attaches the auxiliary drive pulley to it, having removed the upper part of the right engine mudguard to access it. In addition, this can be done in the following ways (especially when adjusting valve clearances, when control by marks on the toothed pulley of the crankshaft is not necessary):
- 1) engage any gear (better the fourth) and slowly roll the car until the marks align;
- 2) engage any gear and lift one of the front wheels, then turn the lifted wheel until the marks align.
The mark on the camshaft toothed pulley must be aligned with the mark on the cylinder head cover, which is made in the form of the "Dacia" logo...
Note: In addition to the marks on the pulleys, the timing belt has paint-applied marks a, which must also be aligned with the marks on the pulleys when setting the valve timing.
...and the mark on the toothed pulley of the crankshaft must be aligned with the mark on the cylinder block. It becomes visible after removing the accessory drive pulley. The risk and the round protrusion on the toothed pulley must coincide with the hole on the cylinder block.
You will need socket wrenches (heads) "10" and "18".
1. Remove the right front wheel.
Caution! Loosen the wheel mounting bolts only when the vehicle is parked on the ground. If you are working on a ditch or overpass, place blocks under the wheels, apply the parking brake, and place the front of the vehicle on a secure support.
This note was copied from the resource: www.RenaultBook.ru
2. Remove the upper part of the right engine splash guard (see "Removal and installation of mudguards and engine crankcase protection").
3. Remove the accessory drive belt (see "Replacing auxiliary drive belts").
4. Remove the right powertrain suspension support (see "Replacing the right support of the powertrain suspension").
5. Remove the five bolts securing the upper timing belt cover...
6. ...and remove the lid.
7. Turn the crankshaft clockwise by the accessory drive pulley mounting bolt until the marks on the camshaft pulley and cylinder head cover align. Then loosen the tightening...
8. ...finally unscrew the pulley mounting bolt...
9. ...and remove the pulley.
10. Remove the three bolts securing the lower timing belt cover...
11. ...and remove the cover.
Note: It is not necessary to remove the lower cover beforehand when checking the valve timing. This may be necessary if a phase misalignment is detected and it is necessary to restore the installation by loosening the timing belt tension.
12. Check that the marks on the camshaft toothed pulley and on the cylinder head cover match.