Valve Adjustment Question: How to rotate the engine??
 

Hi guys, sorry this might be a really dumb question, but I want everything to be clear before I have a shot at adjusting the valve lash of my car.

I was reading through the search results on valve adjustment. Everything seems clear to me except the part when the engine crankshaft needs to be rotated such that the cam pulley is at TDC (or any of the other 3 positions). My question is, since the crankshaft is all the way at the bottom of the engine, how am I suppose to rotate it? Do I just rotate the cam pulley instead? :confused:

Thanks guys.

On a 5th gen (pretty sure its the same for 6th) you just pull off the driver side front wheel, and there is a hole in the fender liner, to give you access to the bolt on the crankshaft. So you just throw an extension, long enough to reach the bolt, on a ratchet and crank it over. You may want to remove all the spark plugs to make it easier to turn over.

1. 1/2" drive ratchet
2. 19mm or 3/4" socket(correct me if i'm wrong)
3. extension long enough to allow rachet or johnson bar to clear crank pulley. about 6" will work


Use 1/2" drive tools if you can.

Best and easiest not to mention safest way would be to support the car on jack stands PROPERLY so you have access to the crank pulley and space to work. In the left front fenderweel there should be an access hole to get to the crank bolt without removing the inner fender liner.

The engine can be rotated by using the hex head bolt in the center of the crank pulley.
As for worrying about loosening this bolt, i wouldn't worry about it as long as you don't leave the car in gear and stand on your tools.

If you want to make turning the engine over easier, remove the plugs but ensure NOTHING falls into the plug holes. Use some paper towels or clean shop rags in the spark plug tubes

Anybody else have other ideas?

Thanks a lot guys! Wow, the valve clearance job is more involved than I originally though! :(

yep....but its still pretty simple....just kinda time consuming if its your first time.

By the way TrickHat, with your procedure, would I still have to take off the left front wheel to get to that bolt?

I've done it both with and without, if the cars up in the air it's only 4 bolts and it helps you see things better. I love air tools..

Turning the wheels full lock to the left should give you more than enough clearance in which to work.

As a final tip, if your doing it yourself, get a good service manual. Not only would it be good to have for your first valve adjustment, it could prove valuable if your going to keep and work on the car yourself.

Goodluck

Thanks a lot Shawn, I appreciate your advice! :)

yeah, shawn knows his cars but I think it's a 17 mm not 19... could be mistaken though.

I think you maybe right It's been awhile for me, I'll check tmrw.

17mm on civic, all of the twin cam engines are 19 and the single cams are 17 except accord