Hi

could anyone tell me how to rotate the camshaft when checking valve clearances on a SPI 1996 Felicia LXi Plus? Do you just turn the camshaft with your hand?? I've been reading haynes but its unclear on how to actually rotate the camshaft to check all the valves. I'm a novice on this sort of stuff so I don't want to do it wrong.

Thanks in advance

Stick it in a high gear like 4th and just pull the car.

it's unlikely you will be able to turn it by hand because of the pressure of the valve springs and the compression of the engine, you could remove the sparkers to make it easier. but you shouldn't turn the engine over using the camshaft anyway

best off turning the crank using a spanner. but make sure if you do this that the ignition isn't switched on

thanks for the advice guys, managed to do it yesterday by pulling the car in high gear. it worked ok but i'm not sure if i adjusted the valves correctly but the car works fine still

thanks for the advice guys, managed to do it yesterday by pulling the car in high gear. it worked ok but i'm not sure if i adjusted the valves correctly but the car works fine still

if it dosn't rattle then you've probably done it right!!

i find it easy to rotate the engine, and here is how:

buy a high quality 6v SLA battery

some thick wire

a 10mm spanner

a 12mm spanner (or whatever us fitted on your car)

step one

remove spark plugs and engine top cover

remove alternator belt (every little bit of friction lost helps)

disconnect battery

disconnect wiring from starter motor.

apply power from the 6v sla to the starter motor (GET POLARITY RIGHT)

watch the engine turn slowly!

it works even better as the battery runs out, as it starts to get really slow and you can get some really fine movements out of it!

assuming this is a 1.3i

you could just take off the drivers side front wheel, remove the cover plate and turn the crank with a 19mm spanner...

remember to take out the spark plugs so you aint fighting the compression.

I still sy rocking the car is a darn site easier and cheaper than any of the above..lol

Jack one front wheel till its off the ground with the handbrake on and put the car in fourth (make sure you don't have the keys in the ignition) and turn the raised wheel in the direction of forward rotation. easy peasy to turn using the tyre and you can rotate it back if you go to far forward.

Jack one front wheel till its off the ground with the handbrake on and put the car in fourth (make sure you don't have the keys in the ignition) and turn the raised wheel in the direction of forward rotation. easy peasy to turn using the tyre and you can rotate it back if you go to far forward.

that wouldn't work because of the diff. you would have two turn both of the wheels at the same time.

that wouldn't work because of the diff. you would have two turn both of the wheels at the same time.

No you wouldnt. One wheel in the air with it in gear would be just fine.

No you wouldnt. One wheel in the air with it in gear would be just fine.

yes, i've just been thinking about it, you are dead right. sorry my brain isn't switched on yet!

thanks guys, my engine is still a bit rattly from the first time i did it, so im gonna try again with the new info i've obtained. just hope i can get it right this time!!!

here's a little warning - the haynes manual has got 1 point badly wrong when setting the valve clearances.

It tells you to remove the oil splash shield to get to some of the valves - but you MUST then refit the bolt that mounted the shield and torque it to the correct setting.

If you leave that bolt out you won't set the clearances correctly as the shaft that has the rockers on it won't be in the correct position !!!

Once all the clearances are set remove that bolt and refit the splash shield - again bolt to the correct torque setting.