Setting the piston of the first cylinder to the TDC position of the compression stroke

The piston of the 1st cylinder is set to the TDC position of the compression stroke so that when carrying out work related to the removal of the camshaft drive belt, the valve timing is not disturbed. If the valve timing is disturbed, the engine will not work normally.

To accurately set the piston of the 1st cylinder to the TDC position of the compression stroke, two special devices are needed to fix the crankshaft and camshafts in a certain position.

You will need: special tools for fixing the crankshaft and camshafts, socket wrench «on 10», box wrenches or sockets «for 8» And «at 13», key «at 18».

1. Remove the A/C compressor drive belt (see «Accessory drive belt replacement»).

2. Remove generator (see «Removal and installation of the generator»).



3. Remove expansion tank (see «Removal and installation of a broad tank»).

4. Securely support the engine.



5. Remove the right front powertrain mount (see «Replacement of the right support of a suspension bracket of the power unit»).


6. Remove the water pump pulley by unscrewing the four bolts of its fastening (see «Replacing the timing belt and its tension roller»).



7. Turn out three bolts of fastening and remove an arm of the right support of a suspension bracket of the power unit.

8. Remove the front cover of the timing belt by unscrewing the eight bolts of its fastening (see «Replacing the timing belt and its tension roller»).

9. Turn on the neutral gear in the gearbox.

10. Turn out the plug located in a forward part of the block of cylinders on the right (see «Replacing the timing belt and its tension roller»), and install the fixing rod into the opened hole until it stops against the crankshaft. Carefully turn the crankshaft by the bolt securing its pulley until the shaft stops with the fixing rod.

Note. The fixing rod is a cylindrical piece about 65 mm long (stepped in diameter). Part of a rod with a length of 10 mm of small diameter (4 mm) is a shank included in the groove of the crankshaft. The rest of the cylindrical part of a larger diameter (8 mm) serves as a guide in the bore of the cylinder block.

11. Install the fixing plate in the special grooves at the rear of the camshafts. If the device was installed without difficulty, the timing belt is installed correctly, the piston of the 1st cylinder is at TDC of the compression stroke and the initial setting of the valve timing is correct. If the device cannot be installed (shifted valve timing), remove the timing belt, install the locking tool and put on the timing belt correctly (see «Replacing the timing belt and its tension roller»).

12. Install the removed parts in the reverse order of removal.