How to replace the timing belt on a Lada Priora 16 valves yourself


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.

Gas distribution mechanism

Lada Priora boasts a 16-valve engine producing 106 hp. With. and a working volume of 1.6 liters (there is also an 8-valve one, but it is not popular). The timing belt drive is the weak point of the timing belt. If it breaks, the pistons will inevitably bend the valves, and this will lead to large expenses for repairs.

Unlike the power unit with 8 valves, the Priora engine with 16 valves is equipped with two camshafts, each of which has its own gear. The mechanism is designed to remove exhaust gases and timely supply the fuel-air mixture to the combustion chambers due to the synchronous raising and lowering of the pistons (opening/closing of valves).

Due to the design features of the 16-valve engine, the timing belt of the Lada Priora is longer. In addition to the tensioner roller, the drive has an additional support roller.

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:

  1. Use a hexagon to unscrew 5 mounting bolts, with which the front upper timing drive cover is secured.

    Removing the timing cover

  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

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.

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:

  1. Using a special wrench, you need to turn the tensioner pulley counterclockwise.

    Tensioner adjustment key

  2. Align the marks on the roller as shown above, and then tighten the fastening bolt.
  3. 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
  • Print

Rate this article:

  1. 5
  2. 4
  3. 3
  4. 2
  5. 1

(28 votes, average: 4.2 out of 5)

Share with your friends!

Home →

Maintenance and Repair →

Engine →

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.

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

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

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

Set the top dead center

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

Rating
( 2 ratings, average 4.5 out of 5 )
Did you like the article? Share with friends:
For any suggestions regarding the site: [email protected]
Для любых предложений по сайту: [email protected]