Attention! The crankshaft can only be removed after the engine has been removed from the vehicle. Remove the flywheel first (or master disk), idler pulley, belt (chain), sump, oil receiver, oil pump, front cover and connecting rods with pistons.
1. Pre-check the axial play of the crankshaft. Move the crankshaft towards the rear of the engine, applying maximum effort, and in this position, set the indicator scale to zero. Then push the crankshaft towards the front of the engine and read the indicator. The amount of axial play is equal to the distance that the shaft has moved.
2. If the axial play exceeds the standard value, then check the wear of the thrust surfaces of the crankshaft cheeks. If their wear is insignificant, then the half rings should be replaced
3. In the absence of an indicator head, the play can be measured using a set of feeler gauges. Carefully move the crankshaft towards the front of the engine and measure the end play by inserting a feeler gauge between the crankshaft web and the surface of the 3rd (stubborn) main bearing on 4-cylinder engines, or 2nd main bearing (V6).
4. Check caps for orientation arrows and cylinder number markings (indicated by an arrow). Usually the covers are numbered starting from the front of the engine, the orientation arrows point towards the front.
5. If there is no marking, then mark with a stamp. Marks are applied to the tide next to the bolt head.
6. Loosen the cap bolts 1/4 turn at a time in reverse order (left - 4-cylinder engines, right - 6V engines), until the bolts turn away by hand. On 3VZ-FE engines (V6) covers are made in the form of a single frame. Mark the position of the studs that are used as guide pins.
7. Carefully slide the covers and remove them together with the insert (ami).