Timing chain VAZ 2107: malfunctions, replacement, adjustment

A timing belt or chain is installed as a timing drive on different types of engines.
They transmit torque from the crankshaft to the camshaft, which controls the operation of the vehicle's valve system. The VAZ 2107 engines use a chain drive, which provides greater reliability compared to a belt drive. There are frequent cases of broken timing belts, which leads to damage to the valves of the gas distribution system and requires expensive, labor-intensive engine repairs. Unlike a belt, a timing chain guarantees the absence of breaks and the consequences associated with it. During operation, the chain gradually wears out and stretches, beginning to make an unpleasant knocking noise. If the malfunction is not corrected in time, a chain that is too loose can jump one or two teeth, which will lead to a shift in valve timing, loss of power and engine performance. If the chain slips by a larger number of teeth, the timing valves may “meet” the pistons, as happens on some engines when the timing belt breaks. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to periodically monitor the tension and, if necessary, tighten the VAZ 2107 chain.

Signs of stretching

The symptoms of this problem are specific. And it will be very difficult to confuse them with something else.

• Increased engine noise. Yes, the chain itself is very noisy. But in this case, the sound will be accompanied by a characteristic clattering sound, even at idle speed. As you press the pedal, the clunking sound will increase in intensity.
• Unstable engine speed. Since we now have shifted valve timing, the engine will adjust. Excessive vibrations occur and are transmitted to the body.

In some cases, the damper breaks. In this case, only replacing it will help. How to tension a chain on a VAZ-2107 (injector)? Photos of the process are in our article.

By the way, on a VAZ-2107 with a carburetor power system, unlike injection engines, to turn the crankshaft it is enough to turn the ratchet. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and consider several ways to tighten the motor chain on a VAZ-2107.

Automatic tensioner system

Automatic tensioner

Some car owners of classic VAZs replace the standard chain tensioner with an automatic one of the “Pilot” type. The automatic tensioner does not require maintenance after installation and, without the intervention of a technician, ensures that the chain is tightened as it stretches. The advantages of the Pilot device include:

• no need to supply an oil line, which eliminates chafing of the VAZ 2107 injector timing chain and loss of oil pressure;
• the absence of plunger elements, which is why the automatic chain tensioner “Pilot” does not jam;
• the movement step is 1 mm, which allows you to regularly monitor the degree of tension;
• no shoe wear;
• reduction of motor noise;
• increasing the service life of all timing components;
• long service life - about 25 years.

The “Pilot” chain tensioner improves the performance of the VAZ 2107 injector engine due to the precise execution of valve timing. The process associated with how to tension the chain is carried out regardless of the operation of the car engine.

The timing chain and belt are important parts of the gas distribution mechanism. Over time, the chain stretches and requires adjustment. The article talks about when tensioning is necessary, and also gives step-by-step instructions on how to tension the chain on a VAZ 2107 with your own hands.

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How to tension a chain on a VAZ-2107 without removing the valve covers?

First we need to place the car on a flat surface and secure it with anti-roll bars. Next, fix the gearshift lever in the neutral position. Then remove the drive cover. Once access to the chain is free, the tensioner should be slightly loosened. It is located next to the water pump. Next, using a 36-degree socket, rotate the crankshaft 360 degrees. After this, tighten the tensioner to the maximum. We start the engine and check the tension level. The clatter must disappear.

Step-by-step instruction

Before starting work on tensioning the chain, the car must be placed in a comfortable position. Place the gearshift knob in the neutral position and secure the wheels so that the car does not roll during the procedure.

Tools

To carry out the work, the following tools are required:

• set of socket wrenches;
• set of heads;
• pliers;
• screwdriver;
• hammer.

Before starting work, you should make a visual inspection of the chain drive. If mechanical damage is found to the tension roller, shoe, guide, sprockets or chain, the defective parts must be replaced.

Stages

The sequence of work when tensioning the chain both in an engine with an injector and with a carburetor consists of the following steps:

To access the timing chain, it is necessary to remove the protective cover by unscrewing the mounting bolts that hold it in place.

Tightening the chain while removing the valve covers

If the chain is still noisy, perform the following operation. Using keys, we remove not only the drive, but also the valve cover from the cylinder head side. In this case, the chain tension can be checked manually as the camshaft sprocket is released.

So, loosen the tensioner a little and turn the crankshaft two turns. After this, fully tighten the timing chain tensioner. Next, we check the element manually. There should be no sagging. The chain must be elastic. If so, replace the valve cover and drive cover.

Adjustment Details

Sometimes the process of adjusting the tension level may be required several times. Therefore, let us consider in detail how this procedure is performed. After the cover has been removed, it is necessary to relieve the pressure in the tensioner. To do this, unscrew the corresponding lock nut.

As soon as it loosens, the tensioner shoe will make a characteristic click. If this does not happen, and the locknut is almost unscrewed, you need to knock on the tensioner. Sometimes the plunger gets stuck in it. Try not to damage this element and strike gently through the rubber layer. As a result of the operations performed, the element should snap off.

How to tension a chain on a VAZ-2107? Use a large wrench to turn the crankshaft. It should stop at the point of greatest resistance. Just turn it a couple of turns. Using a wrench, fix the shaft in this position and tighten the cap nut. How to further tighten the chain on the VAZ-2107 with your own hands?

We connect the tensioner and check how secure it is. If the chain is elastic, install all the elements in place and start the engine. When checking the operation of the timing drive, there should be no extraneous noise, which will increase with increasing crankshaft speed.

Why is this so important to do?

During operation, the chain is subjected to significant loads. After all, it interacts with two shafts - the crankshaft and the camshaft. Over time, the part stretches out. The chain pitch changes and the engine begins to operate unstably. As a result, the revolutions fluctuate, and the mechanism itself jumps one or more teeth. If the circuit begins to make noise, this is the first sign for diagnosis.

Experts recommend tightening the chain every 15 thousand kilometers. Its resource itself is about 100 thousand. By this time the part must be replaced. The sedative also changes. Before tensioning the chain on the VAZ-2107, check its condition. All the necessary elements can be found in the VAZ-2107 timing belt repair kit.

Which hydraulic tensioner should I choose and where to buy it?

If, after the simple analysis described above, it became clear to the car owner that the problem is with the hydraulic tensioner, then he will then need to carry out a series of actions. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the engine. The first thing you need to do is check its oil level. It is also a good idea to check the serviceability of the tensioner and damper shoes. If they are normal, auto mechanics advise replacing the defective part with an automatic chain tensioner.

You can put either , or Isai . Some car experts recommend an alternative option - ESPRA. Hydraulic tensioners from the above companies for the Chevrolet Niva are not difficult to find today. They are available in almost all auto stores. But they can also be purchased online.

Symptoms of loose chain tension

In principle, the symptoms are quite specific, and it is very, very difficult to confuse them with something else.

• Increased engine noise, even at idle speed;
• Instant increase in noise during a sharp increase in speed;
• The roar increases proportionally with a smooth increase in speed, and decreases gradually with a sharp release of the gas pedal;
• Most often, a loose VAZ 2107 chain rattles because the damper has broken and needs to be replaced.

However, let’s say that this is not the case, and we just need some tension. To work, we will need a special key to turn the crankshaft; on carburetor cars, you can turn it using a ratchet.

How to understand: the problem is in the hydraulic tensioner or the hydraulic compensators are faulty?

Before diving deeper into the nature of the problem, you need to figure it out and be sure that the problem is with the hydraulic tensioner and not with the hydraulic compensators. How to understand what exactly went wrong? You can determine it yourself without a car mechanic in this way: if the hydraulic tensioner has failed, it stops rattling when the speed rises at startup. And if there is a problem with the hydraulic compensators, then even when the speed rises at startup, the rattling sound will still remain.

How to tension a chain on a VAZ 2107

Before starting work, let the engine cool down. Many people believe that it is necessary to tension the chain when it is hot in order to compensate for its thermal expansion. In fact, an automatic tensioner is installed on the car, which copes with this. In principle, there is no difference at all; you need to let the engine sit so that the oil flows from the head into the crankcase or down the line.

Now let’s look directly at how to tighten the chain on a VAZ 2107:

• Remove the valve cover. Do not forget about specific washers, which, if lost, will have to go to the store;
• Using a 10 mm socket wrench, unscrew the two bolts that hold the tensioner;
• Next, we clamp it in a yew or in a gas wrench, after which we unscrew the cap nut three or four turns with a 13 wrench;
• Remove the tensioner from the vice. We press the plunger (the thin finger on the back side of the cap) against the table or other surface until it is completely sunk into the body;
• Now tighten the nut and insert the tensioner into place. Of course, you need to check the gasket and replace it if necessary. Tighten the fastening bolts;
• Make a couple of revolutions of the crankshaft. It is advisable to do this with your hand and not with a starter. To make work easier, you can unscrew the spark plugs. As soon as you feel uniform resistance, hold the crankshaft from reverse and unscrew the cap a couple of turns. Thus, we “discharge” the plunger and tension the chain.

Engine preparation

Before you begin replacing the chain, the vehicle should be placed on a horizontal surface and the handbrake applied. Next, the procedure for preparing the engine for measuring the circuit is as follows:

• the lever responsible for shifting gears is set to neutral;
• The engine head cover is removed. This can be done by picking up a key and a 10mm socket;
• The old gasket on the engine head cover is replaced with a new one.

Thanks to such fairly simple actions, all the timing parts, including the chain, will appear before a person’s gaze.

Remember that you won't have to spend a lot of time adjusting this drive. However, you should be extremely careful and attentive. To make the adjustment, you will need a 38 open-end wrench and a 13 socket wrench.

Consequences of a loose chain on a VAZ 2107

This applies to 2106 and all classics in general. First of all, the chain is manufactured with high precision and durability. This means that at the slightest jump of teeth, the engine will work at random. This is especially true for injection engines, since the crankshaft position sensor will give one reading, but in fact, the shaft will be in a completely different position. Moreover, jumping two or more teeth is fraught with the risk that the valve will punch a hole in the piston, and such a disaster will occur in all cylinders, and if, when the belt breaks, for example, the timing parts move simply by inertia, then in this situation they are still driven into movement from the crankshaft.

The next problem is wear of the head housing. It has a special part near the camshaft gear. So, aluminum wears off very easily at high speeds, and then restoring the head can be very problematic. The same goes for the tin valve covers. In general, timely tensioning of the chain on a VAZ 2107 is a mandatory procedure.

Video on how to tighten a chain on a VAZ 2107:

A timing belt or chain is installed as a timing drive on different types of engines. They transmit torque from the crankshaft to the camshaft, which controls the operation of the vehicle's valve system. The VAZ 2107 engines use a chain drive, which provides greater reliability compared to a belt drive. There are frequent cases of broken timing belts, which leads to damage to the valves of the gas distribution system and requires expensive, labor-intensive engine repairs. Unlike a belt, a timing chain guarantees the absence of breaks and the consequences associated with it.

During operation, the chain gradually wears out and stretches, beginning to make an unpleasant knocking noise. If the malfunction is not corrected in time, a chain that is too loose can jump one or two teeth, which will lead to a shift in valve timing, loss of power and engine performance. If the chain slips by a larger number of teeth, the timing valves may “meet” the pistons, as happens on some engines when the timing belt breaks. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to periodically monitor the tension and, if necessary, tighten the VAZ 2107 chain.

Types of chain drive

The VAZ “Seven”, like other “classics”, is equipped with a double-row timing chain. However, there is a single-row chain that, if desired, can be installed on a Zhiguli.

Single row chain

A chain drive with one row has less noise when the engine is running compared to two rows. This factor is one of the main factors in favor of choosing single-row chains. Therefore, some VAZ 2107 owners decide to replace the timing drive. The lower noise level is due to the fact that fewer links are driven. Plus, it is easier for the entire engine to rotate such a chain, which has a positive effect on the increase in power. However, due to the low noise level when such a chain is stretched, it is not always clear that the part needs tension.

Single row timing chain has lower noise levels

Double row chain

Despite the advantages of a single-row chain, a chain drive with two rows is the most common, since it is characterized by high reliability and if a link breaks, the entire chain does not break. In addition, the load on the timing drive parts is distributed evenly, as a result of which the chain and gears wear out more slowly. The life of the part in question exceeds 100 thousand km. Although recently, in order to reduce the weight of power units, automakers have been installing chains with one row.

The double-row chain, despite its higher noise level, has a long service life

Replacing a double-row chain with a single-row one

If you are thinking about replacing a double-row chain drive with a single-row one, you will need to purchase the following parts:

• crankshaft, camshaft and oil pump gears for single row chain;
• sedative;
• shoe;
• single-row chain;
• automatic tensioner.

To install a single row chain, you will need to replace the gears, chain, guide and timing chain tensioner

All of the listed parts are taken, as a rule, from the VAZ 21214. Replacing the chain should not cause difficulties. The only thing that is required is to replace the sprockets, for which you unscrew the corresponding fasteners. Otherwise, the steps are similar to the procedure for replacing a conventional double-row chain.

How to check chain tension

The VAZ 2107 timing chain is located in the front part of the engine. It is closed on top by the cylinder head cover, on the bottom by the engine sump, the middle part runs inside the block and can only be reached by removing the chain.

To check the chain tension, simply remove the cylinder head cover. To do this, you need to unscrew the 8 fastening nuts. After removing the cover, the gasket must be replaced. It is inexpensive, but if this is not done, after installing the cover with the old gasket, it is almost guaranteed that oil will begin to ooze from under it.

When the "valve cover" is removed, the top of the chain is exposed. You can check the tension with your hands, but it is better to use a large screwdriver. It must be inserted between the chain and the cylinder block body and, using it as a lever, try to bend the chain. In this case, the chain should not bend. The tension must be checked on both sides - on the left and right sides of the engine. A chain that is taut like a string and does not bend when pressed with a screwdriver or fingers is a sign of its correct tension. Otherwise, it must be tightened or replaced.

Important: Do not apply too much force by pressing the chain as hard as you can. This can lead to deformation of the chain links. Therefore, it is necessary to press “half-heartedly.”

Features of self-removal of the defect that has arisen

When replacing the hydraulic chain tensioner and installing a mechanical tensioner on a Chevrolet, the valve cover must be removed.

Next, after pulling out the pin, you need to use a ratchet wrench to make one full revolution of the crankshaft. It is important to pay attention to whether the slack chain on the Niva has come out of the grooves of the tensioner shoe and damper. If this point is ignored and the defect is not eliminated, then the consequences can be sad (but this only applies to a single-row chain).

Also, as a result of the first revolution, the primary slack of the chain on the Niva is selected and, as a rule, the rod immediately comes out one or two more clicks, relative to the first shooting. After self-replacement, subsequently no extraneous sounds will be observed during startup on the Chevrolet Niva. The engine will always run smoothly.

By the way, practice shows that sometimes you don’t have to resort to replacing the unit described above on a Chevrolet, but simply get by with just changing the oil. Many auto mechanics advise using semi-synthetic oil rather than synthetic oil.

When the hydraulic tensioner is replaced, nothing will rattle when you start the engine. Since it is always only the faulty element that rattles. The instructions for replacing this unit yourself prove that the procedure is not at all complicated, and in addition, the price of the issue is no more than 2,000 rubles. But there is one “but” - if the Niva Chevrolet car is relatively new and was under warranty, it will automatically be canceled.

Chain that needs tightening

It is necessary to tighten the chain on a VAZ 2107 in the following cases:

• during long-term use of the car,
• when a metallic ringing appears in the front part of the engine,
• after repairs, which included removing the VAZ 2107 timing chain and other elements of this system,
• before adjusting the valve clearance,
• after the timing chain tensioner or tensioner has been replaced.