Timing chain replacement for Nissan Almera N16

The Nissan Almera N16 was equipped with two petrol engines 1.5 (QG15DE) and 1.8 (QG18DE). Changing the gas distribution mechanism drive of these related engines follows the same algorithm. Replacing the Almera N16 timing chain may be required if direct or indirect faults occur. Direct signs of a stretched chain include:

At the time of startup, when the engine is idling, periodic failures or rough operation .
The appearance of extraneous noise , with a characteristic metallic ringing from the motor.
When examining the gas distribution mechanism, wear of the teeth on the gears and increased output of the tension devices .

QG15DE on the attachment belt side
Among the indirect factors indicating problems with the timing drive:

unreasonable increase in engine temperature;
tapping valves;
decreased cravings;
periodic occurrence of metallic knocks;
formation of thick smoke from the exhaust system;
increased fuel consumption;
jerks in movement.

We'll tell you how to independently replace the timing drive on a Nissan Almera N16.

QG18DE at implement belt side

Removing the old timing chain

First of all, you need to turn off the electrics - remove the terminals from the battery, disconnect the connectors from the ignition coils and unscrew the coils themselves. For convenience, number them so as not to be confused. Then you need to unscrew the valve cover bolts and remove it. The cover gasket is usually retained, but it would be a good idea to install a new one.
To gain access to the chain, you need to remove the timing protection. To do this, it is necessary to jack up the engine, since the timing case rests on the suspension cushion; if the cushion has lost its elasticity and there is a risk of damaging it when lifting the engine, simply unscrew the fasteners.
The third step is to drain the oil from the crankcase and the coolant from the cooling system. It is also advisable to change them, since such a case presents itself. To completely drain the oil, you must remove the pan. This is prevented by the exhaust pipe of the exhaust system, which we simply unscrew from the exhaust manifold. In this case, the sealing gasket will have to be replaced.

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After the oil has completely drained, remove everything that may interfere with the removal and installation of the chain - power steering, air conditioning and generator belts. To do this, you will need to loosen the water pump pulley bolt and remove it. You can also remove the crankshaft gear, but so that it does not move along its axis. If this is not done, you will have to manipulate the hydraulic tensioner and damper.
Before removing the old chain, you need to set the shafts in the correct position. There are corresponding marks on the motor housing (see Fig. 2). The first piston must be at dead center, and all marks on the gears and housing must match. To achieve this, turn the crankshaft with a wrench, and when the risks coincide, you need to fix the shafts.

Fig.2

Option 1

In order to remove the crankshaft gear, you can place a wooden block or something like that between its teeth and the inner wall of the crankcase. Then remove the pump pulley and oil pump. The oil pump gasket is not saved - we install a new one.

Option 2

It is necessary to loosen the chain, for which we remove the upper stabilizer bar, the hydraulic tensioner, and then the lower bar. Now it is free and can be easily removed. This will keep the pulleys in the correct position.

Nissan Almera chain installation and assembly

There are three, or less often two, links on the chain that should be painted yellow or white. These links must match the marks on the gears. camshaft and crankshaft.
If you have not manipulated the hydraulic tensioner, then first you need to put the chain on the camshaft pulleys, and then on the crank gear. Then we install the gear on the shaft. When installing, make sure that the marks on the pulleys match the painted chain links and that the marks are in the correct position.
If the hydraulic tensioner bars have been removed, you need to put the chain on the shafts, ensuring that the marks match. After this, install the lower damper bar, hydraulic tensioner and upper bar. In this case, the assistance of a second person may be required.
After the chain is in place, the shafts are in their normal position and the marks on the chain, pulleys and engine housing correspond to each other, we begin to assemble the timing belt.
In this case, the hydraulic tensioner piston should be in the same position as shown in Fig. 3. fig. 3
We put the oil pump, pump pulley and all belts in place. Then we install the oil pan, screw the receiving pipe with a new gasket to the exhaust manifold. Fill with new oil and coolant, timing case and valve cover. We install the ignition coils in the sequence in which they were installed, and also connect the wire connectors. We lower the engine from the jack.

As you can see, replacing the timing chain on a Nissan Almera N16 is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Of course, you will waste your time, but you will be sure that everything was done efficiently.

Finally

The coincidence of the marks is the key to successful adjustment of the gas distribution; special attention should be paid to this. Do not forget that if the marks coincide, the first piston must be in the TDC position, otherwise the adjustment will be in vain. The first method is easier to implement if you are not too lazy to make a couple of devices, but the chance of getting lost when installing a new belt is minimal. In addition, no assistant is required.

Regularly check the condition of this Nissan Almera part and change it promptly to avoid major and costly problems. Preventing trouble is easier, cheaper and faster.

DIY chain replacement video

At the time of startup, when the engine is idling, periodic failures or rough operation .
The appearance of extraneous noise , with a characteristic metallic ringing from the motor.
When examining the gas distribution mechanism, wear of the teeth on the gears and increased output of the tension devices .

QG15DE Attachment Belt Side

Among the indirect factors indicating problems with the timing drive:

unreasonable increase in engine temperature;
tapping valves;
decreased cravings;
periodic occurrence of metallic knocks;
formation of thick smoke from the exhaust system;
increased fuel consumption;
jerks in movement.

We'll tell you how to independently replace the timing drive on a Nissan Almera N16.

QG18DE at implement belt side

Methods for replacing the Nissan Almera G15 belt

There are two ways to replace the belt on the K4M engine of the Nissan Almera G 15.

First way

To understand how the timing camshafts are located in the Nissan Almera, you need to remove the plugs located on the left side of the engine head. The disassembly/assembly order is as follows:

Remove the resonator from the air line;
Make a hole in the center of the plug with a screwdriver, and using it instead of a lever, remove the plugs;
Using a lever, rotate the Nissan Almera crankshaft in the direction of movement of the clock hands. Until the grooves on the end sides of the camshafts are parallel to the cylinder head, and are shifted slightly lower than the axes of these shafts;
In order not to disrupt the timing setting, the Nissan Almera camshafts need to be fixed. To fix it, you will have to make a device like the one in the picture from a sheet of metal about 5 mm thick;

Spare parts and tools for replacing the timing chain on Almera H16 gasoline engines

Timing drive spare parts kit QG18DE

The process of replacing the Nissan Almera N16 timing chain begins with preparing the necessary tools and materials. To work you will need:

pulley and sprocket pullers;
jack;
set of socket heads with extension;
adjustable and torque wrench;
chisel, hammer;
a set of open-end and hex keys;
screwdrivers for flat and Phillips heads;
pliers;
containers for draining used cooling and lubricating materials;
solvent;
sealant;
block of wood;
rags.

Pulley and sprocket puller

When selecting spare parts, you need to consider what engine is on your Nissan Almera N16. For the 1.8 engine you will need spare parts under the article numbers:

13028-4M51A – timing chain;
13070-95FOA – hydraulic tensioner;
13085-7J600 – guide bar;
13091-7J600 – damper;
13510-95FOA – crankshaft oil seal;
15066-5E510 – ring-type gaskets for oil and water pumps;
13270-95FOB - cylinder head gasket.

For one and a half liter engines it is necessary to prepare spare parts with the following articles:

13028-4M51A – timing chain;
13271-4M501 – gasket for the crankcase ventilation system;
13533-AU000 – oil pump spacer;
21049-4M500, 15066-95F0B – rubber seal rings;
13510-10Y10, 13021-4M501 – oil seal, crankshaft gear.

Crankshaft oil seal

Features of the procedure and tips

Any work on the chain should be performed with extreme care. Care should be taken when setting the piston of the first cylinder to top dead center. It is important to set the piston to its highest position. All engine camshaft mounting bolts are removed one at a time.

If you visually compare a worn and new chain, you can see even with the naked eye how stretched the old part is. In addition to this, the tensioner and sprocket are changed. When installing a new tensioner, you need to ensure that its protrusion fits into a special groove. The tension nut should only be installed and should not be tightened under any circumstances. It is also important to double check that the crankshaft is at TDC of the first cylinder. The key will point up, and the shaft itself will not rotate clockwise.

When changing the timing chain on a Nissan Almera N16, it must be installed clockwise. This way you can prevent it from sagging between the gears.

Changing the timing chain of Almera N16

Let's look at replacing the Almera H16 timing chain using the 1.8 (DE) engine as an example. Material about this procedure on the 1.5 engine (QG15DE) can be found at the link.

Remove the covers and pulley

Replacing the Almera H16 timing chain begins with draining the coolant and oil. Further:

It's better to unscrew the spark plugs

Unscrew and remove the spark plugs.
Remove the attachment belts.
We dismantle the crankshaft pulley. The easiest way is to use the starter. To do this, place the key on the pulley fixing bolt and rest it against the engine mount or a rigid part of the body. Then crank the starter by turning the key in the ignition switch for a short time. This will loosen the tightening, after which the bolt is unscrewed so that a few turns remain in engagement. We install the puller, resting on the bolt, and remove the crankshaft pulley.

Crankshaft pulley

After unscrewing the two bolts, remove the tension roller .
Remove the pulley from the cooling pump , which is secured with four bolts.
We install the motor on a jack . The best place for the stop will be the connection between the gearbox and the engine.
We disconnect the wires from the sensors that interfere with access to the motor mount.
We dismantle the pillow by unscrewing four bolts from the power plant and two from the body.
Remove the valve cover by unscrewing the ten mounting bolts.
Next, remove the timing belt protective cover , which is held in place by two nuts and six bolts.
We dismantle the beams to obtain the necessary space to remove the engine pan.

Disconnect the wires and unscrew the engine mount

We install the gas distribution mechanism drive according to the marks

To correctly replace the Almera N16 timing chain, you need to set the marks by turning the crankshaft. Initially, you will need to set the oil pump bushing mark up. However, it does not fit the mark of the chain mechanism. Subsequently, the tension device is dismantled and the chain is removed.

Marks on camshafts

To install a new timing drive:

Let's lock the tensioner with a wire of a suitable cross-section through a special technological hole.
The timing marks must match the marks on the camshaft sprockets . On the left shaft it is made with one point, and on the right with four; the chain mark must be aligned with the second point. Sometimes you can find not dots, but marks made with paint.
You also need to match the mark on the chain with the point on the crankshaft sprocket .

Mark on the crankshaft sprocket

End of replacement

At the final stage of replacing the Nissan Almera H16 timing drive, you should do:

Thoroughly clean the contact surface of the protective casing of the gas distribution mechanism. Replace the pump and oil pump seals. Then apply sealant to the connecting part of the timing cover and install it in place.
Install the valve cover.
Install the oil pump bushing and accessory belt pulley.
Install the remaining elements following the reverse sequence of actions.
Check the operation of the power plant after the sealant has completely hardened. This takes half an hour. After starting the engine, pay attention to the absence of coolant and lubricant leaks.

Replacing front cover seals QG18DE

Timing belt

The engine of any car is a rather complex technological mechanism. Every part of it is calculated by brilliant engineers with a tolerance down to microns, and it works with precision down to milliseconds. The moving parts are interconnected with maximum calculation. This was made possible thanks to the scrupulous precision of the gas distribution mechanism. The timing belt is the heart of any engine operating on the principle of internal combustion. The timing belt is a thick rubber toothed belt with threaded fabric pressed into it. It is put on the sprockets of both shafts: the camshaft and the adjacent crankshaft, and also drives the water pump.

The gas distribution system and the equally important ignition system are completely synchronized. Timing marks and adjustment marks of the ignition system help achieve this effect. At the moment, there are original timing belts for Nissan Almera N16 with article number 1680600QBB, as well as their analogues of proper quality. The table shows the article number and approximate price for these products.

Product	vendor code	Cost in rubles
Gates timing belt	5578XS	1500
Timing belt kit (belt+roller) Gates	K025578XS	3500
Bosch timing belt	1987949565	1400
Timing belt LYNXauto	123CL27	1000

These are the most popular timing products, which are most popular among Nissan Almera N16 owners.

A quick way to change the chain

Replacing the chain using the pulling method occurs without removing the front cover, replacing the tensioner, or the shoes of the Almera N16 gas distribution mechanism.

This will require draining the oil and coolant, as well as removing the valve cover. The essence of the method is to rivet the old and new chains. After this, they are connected, with further pulling along all timing sprockets. To do this, you will need to rotate the crankshaft, having previously unscrewed the spark plugs.

Opening the circuit

After the end of the new chain has made a full revolution , it is disconnected from the old timing drive and fixed with the second end of the new chain . All that remains is to install the previously removed elements.

Before performing operations, you should set a mark on the crankshaft pulley, and also fix the position of the camshaft marks in order to ensure that the links do not jump when pulling a new chain.

Connecting the chain

Tools and accessories

Changing the timing belt here is not very convenient, since everything is located very close. To replace, we will need either an original special device for fixing camshafts (Renault tool code: MOT1496), or one made independently, the drawing is given below.

Two camshaft plugs.

Camshaft plugs.