valve stem seal removal procedure - no compressed air.

Hi,

a while back I inquired about procedure to replace valve stem seal on my

91Jetta with 260,000 miles. Got a lot of tips from quite a few of you. I summerized them and produced one document, I put it below as a regard to those generous helps. Just one question, however, it seems no one mentioned that I'll need to remove the camshaft. So last time, I braved to open the engine, just decide to close it because I don't see a way to access the valve stem seal without removing the camshaft. and removing the camshaft seemed too complex for me, which may involve touching sensitive stuffs like the timing belt, etc.

Can anyone point me to a site where I can get reference (photos) for the procedure?

thanks a lot. Ben

Replace Valve Stem Seal without Compressed Air

· Take off the cam cover and cover the open holes with rags where parts and dirt might fall into - throttle body, intake etc. · Remove your spark plugs and your distributor cap. · You can also take off the cam belt cover and use the timing mark information. You will have to in order to crank the engine by hand · Use a socket on a bar to turn the crank until the cylinder you want to work on is at the bottom of the stroke. · Get about 3 feet of cotton/nylon/etc rope that is about 1/4" or 3/8" thick. Put some of the rope into the cylinder through the spark plug hole. Put in a foot or so of the rope. No more!! · Next find TDC with the plug number 1 by watching the timing mark, the rotor on the distibutor and the valves on the head. It's a four stroke so you want to make sure none of the valves are compressed while the piston is TDC using a flash light and long wire in the plug hole to confirm TDC and using the timing marks, the rotor should be at the number one position. · Then, using the same bar and socket turn the crank until the piston pushes the rope up in the cylinder and against the valves. The rope will rest against the valves. · Taking off the retaining valve keeper after compressing the spring et al. · Do the work on the valves. They will NOT fall into the cylinder because the rope is pushed against them. Finish work on valves and put the "keepers' back on. · Use the socket and bar to crank the crank the other way and lower the piston a bit. · Remove rope from the cylinder by pulling on the piece sticking out of the spark plug hole. · Repeat on next cylinder...

Material Needed:

1/4" or 3/8" nylon rope;

Spring compressor for valve job;

cylinder cover gasket;

oil pan seal gasket;

valve stem seal.

I just did this on *my* 1991 Jetta (although I only have 160K on mine). Not a difficult job at all. I wish I did it 2 years ago when I got my car. Not a drop of smoke at start up. Meaning no oil fouled plugs... That plus a proper timing (not just by ear). I'd swear I have a new car. I like the rope method much better, because I could leave it over night. The keepers are tricky... And don't let the compressor slip and shoot that keeper to places unknown. For your reference Napa, AutoZone and Advance don't carry them in stock (it's a special order.) But at 2 PM on a Sunday CarQuest will give you 2 of these nice things for $1.50 and save your entire project. I put in as much rope as I could fit. Literally I'd move it to BDC and just start cramming it in. I only had to crank it a little bit.