Almera 1.5 timing chain

sean61

I'm replacing the timing chain on my N16 Almera. I have all the bolts removed from the engine side cover and have the crankshaft pulley and engine mount removed. I have a service manual for the car and it says to remove the oil sump. The problem is, to remove the sump you need to remove the exhaust and the bolts are rusted solid. The oil strainer needs to be taken out after the sump but I can't see any reason why in the manual. The engine cover is very reluctant to come away from the engine and I'm not sure if the oil strainer is somehow holding it as I can't see it! Has anyone here done one of these before that can offer me some advice??

sean61

For anyone else who might be thinking of doing this job, it's a right PITA!! Sump has to come off to get at 2 bolts which also hold in the oil strainer. The exhaust actually came off easily enough by removing it from the cat instead of the flange underneath the engine.

It's very time consuming and took me a good 8 hours with access to a pit and all the necessary tools. The chain had definitely been replaced before because the yellow links on the chain wouldn't line up with the marks on the camshaft pulleys. Plus there was only 2 yellow links when there should have been 3. With only 120k miles on the car and the chain having been changed twice, I wish they just used a flipping belt instead!!

sean61

For anyone else who might be thinking of doing this job, it's a right PITA!! Sump has to come off to get at 2 bolts which also hold in the oil strainer. The exhaust actually came off easily enough by removing it from the cat instead of the flange underneath the engine.

It's very time consuming and took me a good 8 hours with access to a pit and all the necessary tools. The chain had definitely been replaced before because the yellow links on the chain wouldn't line up with the marks on the camshaft pulleys. Plus there was only 2 yellow links when there should have been 3. With only 120k miles on the car and the chain having been changed twice, I wish they just used a flipping belt instead!!

nd

Thanks for this. Was thinking of trying it myself on the sisters car. With just jack stands and a socket set it's probably not a good idea!

sean61

nd wrote: »

Thanks for this. Was thinking of trying it myself on the sisters car. With just jack stands and a socket set it's probably not a good idea!

Well if you can manage to get the exhaust and sump off first, you could probably manage the rest on the jack stands too. Thats definitely the hardest part to do without a pit

Stoolbend

You didn't take any pictures while you were at it did you?

sean61

Stoolbend wrote: »

You didn't take any pictures while you were at it did you?

No. None that would be of any use anyway!