1987 NISSAN PULSAR ECU

40 Engine


Check the engine oil for level and dilution on the dipstick.
dosed. Before dismantling the engine to
inspect the big ends check the engine oil for
correct level and dilution on the dipstick.
Also, remove the oil pressure sender unit
and connect an oil pressure gauge into the
oil gallery to check the oil pressure readings.

MAIN BEARING NOISE (APPARENT)
(1) Loose flywheel: Tighten the flywheel securing
bolls to the specified torque. (2) Low oil pressure: Check the bearing to
journal clearance. Check the condition of the oil
pump and pressure relief valve. Recondition the oil
pump as necessary. (3) Excessive crankshaft end float: Renew the
main bearings. (4) Crankshaft journals out of round and exces-
sive bearing to journal clear ance: Regrind the journals
and renew the bearings (undersize).
(5) Insufficient oil supply: Replenish the oil in
the sump to the correct level.
NOTE: Main bearing noise is indicated by a
heavy but dull knock when the engine is
under load. A loose flywheel is indicated by
a thud or dull click when the ignition is
turned off. It is us ually accompanied by
vibration.

Crankshaft end float noise is indicated by
a sharp rap at idle speed. The crankshaft
can be readily checked for excessive end
float by levering the crankshaft backwards
and forwards.

If the oil pressure is not satisfactory,
remove the main bearing caps and assess
the bearing clearance using the Plastigage
method as described in this section. Ovality
and wear on the main bearing journals can
only be checked with a micrometer after the
crankshaft has been removed.

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION
(1) Oil leaks: Check and renew the engine gas-
kets or seals as necessary.
(2) Damaged or worn valve stem oil seals:
Dismantle the cylinder head and renew the damaged
or worn oil seals. (3) Excessive valve stem to valve guide clear-
ance: Ream the valve guides and renew the valves as
necessary. (4) Worn or broken piston rings: Renew the
piston rings on all pistons. (5) Rings too tight or stuck in the grooves:
Renew the rings and clean the ring grooves.
(6) Excessive wear in the cylinders, pistons and
rings: Recondition the cylinders and renew the pistons
and rings. (7) Compression rings incorrectly installed. Oil
rings clogged or broken: Renew the piston rings.
NOTE: Before checking the engine for oil
leaks the engine should be completely de-
greased and cleaned. Run the engine at
operating temperature for a period and
visually check for oil leakage. By placing
white paper on the floor directly beneath the
engine any excessive leak can be readily
pinpointed.

Damaged or worn valve stem oil seals
which allow oil to be drawn down past the
valve stems into the combustion chambers
can be diagnosed by allowing the engine to
idle for a few minutes and then opening the
throttle. If oil is being drawn past the valve
stems a heavy discharge of blue smoke will
be seen at the tailpipe.

Piston, ring and cylinder bore troubles are
normally accompanied by a loss of compres-
sion. Cylinder compression can only be
accurately assessed by using a compression
gauge.

Run the engine over white paper to check for oil leaks.

Engine 43
CAMSHAFT HOUSING TOP COVER
Front view of the 1.8 liter engine and automatic transaxle assembly removed from the vehicle.
release the driveshafts from the transaxle. Tie the
driveshafts to the underbody of the vehicle using wire
and ensuring that excessive st rain is not placed on the
joints.

NOTE: If the driveshafts will not release
from the transaxle, a lever can be used
between the driveshaft and the transaxle.
Care must be taken when using the lever not
to damage the transaxle oil seals.

(26) Remove the engine pipe from the engine.
Refer to the procedure at the end of this section if
necessary.
(27) Remove the engine crossmember retaining
bolts and nuts and remove the crossmember from
beneath the vehicle. (28) Attach the lifting tackle to the engine and
raise the engine slightly to take the weight off the
engine mountings. (29) Remove the front, rear, left and right engine
mounting bolts and nuts. Withdraw the mountings
from the engine compartment. (30) Slowly lower the engine and transaxle assem-
bly from the engine compartment. On air conditioned vehicles, remove the air
conditioning compressor an d hoses after the engine
has been lowered slightly. Secure the compressor to

one side, clear of the work area, with wire or similar.
NOTE: Do not disconnect the hoses from
the air conditioning compressor. Escaping
refrigerant can cause frostbite and eye dam-
age.

( 3 1 ) Lower the engine and transaxle assembly
onto a suitable trolley and maneuver the engine from
beneath the vehicle.

TO INSTAL
Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:

(1) Position the engine and transaxle assembly
beneath the front of the vehicle.
(2) Install the lifting tackle and raise the engine
assembly into position in the engine compartment.
NOTE: On air conditioned models, ensure
that the air conditioning compressor is in-
stalled to the engine as the engine is in-
stalled to the engine compartment.

(3) Install the engine and transaxle
assembly
mounting nuts, bolts and washers finger tight before
the full weight of the assembly is taken by the

46 Engine
(1) Ensure that all carbon and old gasket mate-
rial is cleaned from the manifold and cylinder head
faces. (2) Check the face of the manifold for distortion
using a straight edge and a feeler gauge. (3) Use a new gasket and ensure that the mani-
fold retaining nuts are tightened to the specified
torque in a spiral pattern from the centre outwards. (4) Adjust the throttle cabl e as described in the
Fuel and Engine Management section and the kick-
down cable as described in the Automatic Transaxle
section.
(5) Start the engine and check for air, fuel and
water leaks.
EXHAUST MANIFOLD

To Remove and Install
(1) Bring the engine to operating temperature
and remove the oxygen sensor.
(2) Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
(3) On 1.6 liter models, remove the air cleaner
nuts, disconnect the vacuum hose and withdraw the
air cleaner from the vehicle. (4) Remove the front exhaust pipe flange mount-
ing nuts and separate the exhaust pipe from the
manifold. (5) Remove the heat shield retaining bolts and
withdraw the heat shield from the exhaust manifold. (6) Remove the exhaust manifold to cylinder
head retaining nuts and remove the manifold from the
engine. Discard the manifold gasket. Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:

(1) Ensure that all carbon is cleaned from the
manifold and cylinder head mating surfaces. (2) Check the face of the manifold for distortion
using a straight edge and feeler gauges. (3) Use new gaskets on assembly.
(4) Tighten the exhaust manifold retaining nuts
to the specified torque in the sequence shown in the
illustration. (5) Install the oxygen sensor. Refer to the Fuel
and Engine Management section. (6) Coat the threads of the front exhaust pipe to
manifold retaining nuts with an anti-seize solution
and tighten the nuts to the specified torque.
5. CAMSHAFT DRIVE BELT
Special Equipment Required:
To Adjust — Drive belt adjusting tool
TO REMOVE
(1) Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
(2) Raise the front of the vehicle, support it on
chassis stands and remove the right hand front wheel.
Refer to the Wheels and Tires section. (3) Remove the fasteners securing the engine
splash guard to the right hand front inner mudguard
and remove the splash guard. (4) Loosen the alternator adjusting bolt and if
equipped, the power steering and air conditioning
adjusting bolts. Remove the drive belt(s).


View of the exhaust manifold and components showing
the correct tightening sequence.

View of the 1.8 liter engine with the upper timing belt
cover removed showing the camshaft gear timing
marks. Inset shows the crankshaft pulley timing
marks.

Engine 47


Line drawing showing the dimensions for the fabrication of a camshaft drive belt adjusting tool.
(5) Release the clips securing the camshaft drive
belt outer cover to the inner cover and remove the
outer cover.
(6) Turn the engine in the direction of rotation
until the timing marks on the camshaft gear and the
inner cover are aligned and the timing marks on the
crankshaft pulley and the pointer on the inner timing
cover are also aligned.
(7) If the drive belt is to be reused, mark the
drive belt with an arrow to ensure that it is installed
in the original direction of rotation. (8) Remove the Allen head bolts securing the
crankshaft pulley to the crankshaft gear and remove
the pulley. (9) Loosen the water pump retaining bolts and
using the adjusting tool, rotate the water pump
housing to release the camsh aft drive belt tension.
NOTE: A drive belt tension adjusting tool
can be manufactured from a piece of 10 mm
thick steel to the dimensions given in the
illustration.

(10) Remove the inner cover lower retaining bolts
and maneuver the camshaft drive belt from the
camshaft and crankshaft gears. Do not rotate the
crankshaft or camshaft.

TO CHECK AND INSPECT
(1) Inspect the drive belt for any signs of wear,
damaged teeth or torn backing. Renew the belt if it is
contaminated by oil. Do not wash or clean a drive belt
in solvents. Any slight contamination may be wiped
off using a dry cloth.

NOTE: If the drive belt is contaminated
with oil, the crankshaft and camshaft oil


Dismantled view of the camshaft drive belt
components.
seals must be checked and any oil leak
rectified prior to installing a new drive belt.

(2) Check the water pump for rough or exces-
sively noisy operation. Ensure that the assembly slides
smoothly in the cylinder bloc k and that the seal is not
leaking. Refer to the Cooling and Heating Systems
section if it is necessary to renew the water pump
assembly. (3) Check the water pump, camshaft and crank-
shaft timing gears for any wear or damage.
Check the drive belt for the illustrated faults.

48 Engine

TO INSTAL
(1) Check that the camshaft and crankshaft
timing gears have not been moved and that the timing
marks are still aligned. It will be necessary to tempo-
rarily install the crankshaft pulley to check that the
timing marks are still aligned. (2) Install the drive belt to the crankshaft timing
gear around the water pump gear and onto the
camshaft timing gear.
NOTE: If the original drive belt is being
installed, ensure that the arrow marked on
the belt prior to removal is pointing in the
direction of rotation.

(3) Use the adjusting tool to turn the water
pump assembly sufficiently to engage the water pump
pulley with the drive belt. (4) Install the inner cover lower retaining bolt.
(5) Ensure that the drive be lt is correctly meshed
with the teeth of the camshaft, crankshaft and water
pump gears. Install the crankshaft pulley and tighten
the bolts to Specifications. (6) Adjust the drive belt as described under the
following heading.
(7) Install the drive belt outer cover and fasten
the retaining clips. (8) Install and adjust the alternator and if
equipped, the power steeri ng and air conditioning
drive belts as desc ribed in the Engine Tune-up section.
TO ADJUST

(1) Remove the alternator drive belt and if
equipped, the power steering and air conditioning
drive belts. (2) Release the clips securing the camshaft drive
belt outer cover to the inner cover and remove the
outer cover. (3) Turn the engine in the direction of rotation
until the timing marks on the camshaft and the inner
cover are aligned. (4) Loosen the water pump retaining bolts and
using the adjusting tool, rotate the water pump
housing to gain the required belt tension. The belt is
correctly tensioned when it can be grasped between
the thumb and forefinger midway between the cam-
shaft timing gear and the water pump gear and turned
ninety degrees from i t s operating position.
After the belt has been tensioned, tighten the
water pump retaining bolts to the specified torque.

NOTE: Over tensioning of the drive belt will
result in noisy operation and premature
wear of the belt.

(6) Install the outer drive belt cover.
(7) Install and adjust the alternator, and if
equipped, the power steering and air conditioning
drive belts as desc ribed in the Engine Tune-up section. 6. CAMSHAFT. ROCKER ARMS AND TAPPETS

Special Equipment Required:
To Check Camshaft — Dial gauge, Vee blocks and
micrometers
To Install — Drive belt adjusting tool
It is recommended that a new cylinder head
gasket is installed and the cylinder head bolts renewed
when the camshaft housing is removed.

TO REMOVE
(1) Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
Remove the nuts securing the earth wires to the
cylinder head bolts and remove the earth wires.
(2) On 1.6 liter models, remove the air cleaner
wingnuts and withdraw the air cleaner.
(3) Disconnect the engine breather hoses from
the camshaft housing and the camshaft housing top
cover. (4) Remove the camshaft housing top cover
retaining bolts and remove the top cover. Discard the
gasket.
(5) Remove the camshaft dr ive belt as described
under the previous heading. (6) Using an open ended spanner, hold the
camshaft between the inle t and exhaust lobes of
number four cylinder and remove the camshaft timing
gear retaining bolt and the camshaft timing gear.
(7) Remove the distributor, distributor cap and
high tension leads. If necessary refer to the Fuel and
Engine Management section. (8) Check the camshaft end float before remov-
ing the camshaft from the engine. Mount a dial gauge
to the cylinder block with the plunger bearing on the
distributor drive end of the camshaft. (9) Lever the camshaft towards the dial gauge
and zero the gauge. Move the camshaft in the opposite
direction away from the dial gauge and note the
reading obtained. Check this measurement against
Specifications.

Checking the camshaft end float.

Engine 49


Dismantled view of the camshaft housing and components.
(10) If the measurement is not within Specifica-
tions, check the retaining plate and the retaining plate
groove in the camshaft for wear or scoring after
dismantling. Renew the defective parts as necessary
on assembly. (11) Disconnect the lower radiator hose and drain
the cooling system.
NOTE: If the coolant is to be reused, drain
the coolant into a clean container.

(12) Remove the bolts securing the camshaft
drive belt inner cover to the camshaft housing. (13) Remove the cylinder head bolts in the re-
verse order of the tighten ing sequence, backing off
each bolt a quarter of a turn then half a turn at a time
until the bolts are loose.
NOTE: Do not loosen the cylinder head
bolts while the engine is warm as distortion
of the cylinder head could result.

(14) Remove the cylinder head bolts and lift the
camshaft housing from the cylinder head. (15) The rocker arms, thrust pads and tappet
assemblies can now be removed from the cylinder
head. Number a rack from 1 to 8 and keep each
assembly in order so that they can be returned to their
original positions.
(16) From the distributor drive end of the cam-
shaft housing, remove the bolts securing the camshaft
retaining plate to the camshaft housing and remove
the retaining plate. (17) Withdraw the camshaft from the camshaft
housing taking care to supp ort the camshaft to avoid
scoring the inner surfaces of the camshaft bearings.
(18) With a pointed drift, tap a small hole in the
front face of the oil seal. Insert a self tapping screw in
the hole and using a pair of pliers, pull on the screw
to remove the oil seal from the housing. Discard the
oil seal.
TO CLEAN AND INSPECT

(1) Wash all parts in cleaning solvent and dry
with compressed air. Ensure that all oil ways in the
camshaft and rocker arms are free from obstruction.
(2) Check the camshaft lobes, the rocker arms. the thrust pads and the ta
ppet assemblies for pitting
and wear. The tappet assemblies are non-serviceable
and should be renewed as an assembly if wear is
apparent or internal damage is suspected.

(3) Support the camshaft at each end on Vee
blocks and using a dial gauge with its plunger bearing
on the centre journal, rotate the camshaft and check
for bend. (4) Using micrometers, measure the outside of
each camshaft journal and the inside of each camshaft
tunnel in the camshaft housing. Compare these mea-
surements to Specifications and renew defective parts
as necessary. (5) Check the retaining plate and the retaining
plate groove in the camshaft for wear and scoring.
Renew defective parts as necessary.

Dismantled view of the valve operating components.
TO INSTAL
Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:

(1) Lubricate the lip of a new oil seal with engine
oil and position the seal squarely in the camshaft
housing. Ensure that the li p of the seal faces towards
the inside of the camshaft housing. Tap around the
edge of the seal with a soft faced hammer until the seal
is fully seated in the recess in the camshaft housing. (2) Apply clean engine oil to the camshaft bear-
ings and camshaft journals. Insert the camshaft into
position taking care not to damage the bearings with
the edges of the cam lobes or journals. (3) Apply engine oil to the camshaft retaining
plate and position it in the groove in the camshaft.
Install the retaining bolts and tension the bolts to the
specified torque.

50 Engine
(4) Ensure that the tappet assemblies are full of
clean engine oil and insert the tappets in their
respective bores in the cylinde r head. Install the thrust
pads to the top of each valve assembly ensuring that
they are returned to their original location.
(5) Coat the contact surfaces of the rocker arms
with molybdenum disulphide grease and install the
rocker arms to their origin al locations on the cylinder
head. (6) Clean the mating surfaces of the camshaft
housing and cylinder head. Apply a bead of Loctite
515 to the cylinder head and camshaft housing mating
surfaces. Take care that no sea lant is forced into the
oil passages and install the camshaft housing to the
cylinder head.
(7) Install new cylinder head bolts and lubricate
the bolts and washers with oil.
(8) Apply an initial torque to the cylinder head
bolts of 25 Nm in the corr ect sequence as shown in
the illustration under the Cylinder Head heading.
Further tighten the head bolts in the correct sequence,
in three separate 60 degree stages. Refer to Specifica-
tions. (9) Install the bolts securing the camshaft
drive
belt inner cover to the camshaft housing. (10) Install the camshaft timing gear to the cam-
shaft ensuring that it is correctly located. Tighten the
camshaft timing gear retain ing boll to the specified
torque. (11) Install and adjust the camshaft drive belt as
described under the previous heading. (12) Install the distributor. Refer to the Fuel and
Engine Management section.
(13) Connect the lower radiat or hose and fill the
cooling system with the required coolant. Refer to the
Cooling and Heating Systems section if necessary. (14) Start and run the engine until normal oper-
ating temperature is attained and tighten the cylinder
head bolts another 30-50 degrees in the correct
sequence, ensuring that the tension does not exceed
135 Nm.
TO RENEW CAMSHAFT OIL SEAL,
CAMSHAFT INSTALLED

(1) Remove the camshaft drive belt from the
camshaft timing gear as described under the previous
heading.
(2) Remove the camshaft housing top cover
retaining bolts, remove the cover and discard the
gasket.
(3) Use an open end spanner to hold the cam-
shaft between the inlet and exhaust lobes of number
four cylinder and remove the camshaft timing gear
retaining bolt and the camshaft timing gear. (4) With a pointed drift, tap a small hole in the
front face of the oil seal. Insert a self tapping screw in
the hole and using a pair of pliers, pull on the screw
to remove the oil seal from the housing.
(5) Clean the seal recess and the camshaft sea!
running surface. (6) Lubricate the lip of a new oil seal with engine
oil and slide the seal over the camshaft. Ensure that
the lip of the seal faces to wards the inside of the
camshaft housing. Tap evenly around the edges of the
seal until it is fully seated in the camshaft housing.
(7) Install the camshaft timing gear to the cam-
shaft, ensuring that it is co rrectly located. Tighten the
camshaft timing gear retain ing bolt to the specified
torque. Do not allow the camshaft to rotate while
tightening the bolt. (8) Install and adjust the drive belt as described
under the previous heading. Ensure that the timing
marks are aligned. (9) Install the camshaft hou sing top cover using a
new gasket. Tighten the retaining bolts to the specified
torque.
7. CYLINDER HEAD

Special Equipment Required:
To Dismantle and Assemble — Valve spring com-
pressor

To Inspect — Dial gauge and straight edge
To Install — Drive belt adjusting tool

TO REMOVE AND INSTAL
NOTE: Due to the high residua! pressure
within the fuel system, it will be necessary to
depressurize the system before removing any
fuel supply components. Refer to the Fuel
and Engine Management section for the
correct procedure.

Allow the engine to cool prior to the
removal of the cylinder head to prevent
possible distortion of the cylinder head.

(1) Disconnect the negative battery terminal and
remove the nuts securing the earth wires to the
cylinder head bolts.
(2) Remove the camshaft drive belt as previ-
ously described.
(3) Disconnect the lower radiator hose and drain
the cooling system. Refer to the Cooling and Heating
Systems section if necessary. (4) Remove the alternator adjusting bracket
mounting bolt and insulating washers from the inlet
manifold. Loosen the adjusting bolt at the alternator
and slide the bracket away from the cylinder head. (5) Disconnect the upper radiator hose, coolant
by-pass hose and the heater hose from the thermostat
housing and on 1.6 liter m odels, the coolant hoses
from the inlet manifold. (6) Disconnect the electrica l connectors from the
throttle body, fuel injectors, coil, distributor and on
1.8 liter models, the MAT sensor. (7) Disconnect the oxygen sensor wiring connec-
tor and remove the wiring connectors from the

Engine 51

coolant temperature sensor and temperature sender
switch located in the thermostat housing.

(8) Remove the bolt securing the wiring clamp
to the rear of the manifold and maneuver the wiring
away from the cylinder head and the inlet manifold.
(9) Disconnect the throttle cable and on auto-
matic transaxle models, the kickdown cable from the
throttle body linkage. (10) Remove the bolls securing the throttle cable
bracket to the inlet manifold and place the bracket
and cable(s) to one side.
(11) Mark the fuel supply and return hoses to
ensure correct installation and disconnect the hoses
from the fuel rail or throttle body. Plug the hoses to
prevent the loss of fuel or the entry of dirt. (12) Mark the vacuum hoses connected to the
inlet manifold and throttle body to ensure correct
installation and disconnect the hoses. (13) Remove the nuts securing the engine pipe to
the exhaust manifold and separate the pipe from the
manifold. (14) Remove the oxygen sensor from the exhaust
manifold. Refer to the Fuel and Engine Management
section if necessary. (15) Remove the distributor and coil as described
in the Fuel and Engine Management section. (16) Disconnect the engine breather hoses from
the camshaft housing and cams haft housing top cover.
(17) Remove the bolts retaining the top cover to
the camshaft housing and remove the top cover. (18) Using an open end spanner, hold the cam-
shaft between the inlet and exhaust lobes of number
four cylinder and remove the camshaft timing gear
retaining bolt and the camshaft timing gear.
(19) Remove the bolts securing the camshaft
drive belt inner cover to the camshaft housing. (20) Loosen the cylinder head bolts in the reverse
order of the tightening sequence, backing off each bolt
a quarter turn then half a turn at a time until the bolts
are loose.
NOTE: Do not loosen the head bolts while
the engine is warm as distortion of the
cylinder head could result.

(21) Remove the cylinder head bolts and lift the
camshaft housing from the cylinder head. (22) Remove the cylinder head and gasket from
the cylinder block. Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure
with attention to the following points:

(1) Thoroughly clean the gasket surfaces of the
cylinder head, cylinder block and camshaft housing
and check all mating surfaces with a straight edge.
Ensure that all the oilways are clean and free of any
foreign material and lightly oil all operating parts with
engine oil.
(2) Install new gaskets throughout during
assem-
bly.

View of the cylinder head showing the bolt tightening
sequence.
(3) Ensure that the cylinde r head and gasket are
located correctly on the dowels on the cylinder block
face. The head gasket is marked TOP to aid in correct
installation. (4) With the cylinder head and gasket in posi-
tion on the cylinder block, apply an even smear of
Loctite 515 to the cylinder head and camshaft housing
mating surfaces. Take care that no sealant is forced
into the oil passages. (5) Install new cylinder head bolts and lubricate
the bolts and washers with engine oil,
(6) Apply an initial torque to the cylinder head
bolts of 25 Nm in the sequence shown in the
illustration. Further tighten the head bolts in the same
sequence in three separate 60 degree stages. Refer to
Specifications. (7) Install the bolts secur ing the camshaft drive
belt inner cover to the camshaft housing. Install the
camshaft timing gear and tighten the retaining bolt to
the specified torque. (8) Install and adjust the camshaft drive belt as
previously described. (9) Install the distributor, coil and oxygen sensor
as described in the Fuel and Engine Management
section.
(10) Using a new gasket, connect the engine pipe
to the exhaust manifold flange, coat the nuts with an
anti-seize compound and install and tighten the nuts
to
the specified torque. (11) Connect all hoses and electrical wiring dis-
connected during the removal of the cylinder head.
Ensure that all the hoses are returned to their original
locations. (12) Connect the throttle cable and where appli-
cable, the kickdown cable. Adjust the cables as
described in the Fuel and Engine Management section
and the Automatic Transaxle section. (13) Check the engine oil fo r correct level on the
dipstick and for dilution. Change the engine oil and
filter if necessary. (14) Fill the cooling system as described in the
Cooling and Heating Systems section. (15) Start the engine and check for oil or water