Turning the flywheel on a front-wheel drive car is not much different than turning the flywheel on a rear-wheel drive vehicle. Under both drive wheel configurations, you will find the flywheel between the engine and transmission. Although some vehicle models offer a relatively easy access to it than others, you still can turn the flywheel manually for inspection, transmission service or engine repair. In addition, armed with the proper tools, you can save time and money during your repair project.
Instructions
- 1
Park your vehicle on a level surface and block the rear wheels with wooden blocks.
2Open the hood and disconnect the negative (black) battery cable using a wrench.
3Number each spark plug wire in sequence using a label and pencil starting with the wire closest to the front of the engine -- the side where the drive belt(s) are located. This will help you reconnect the wires after your repair job.
4Unplug the first spark plug wire by grabbing the wire boot that connects to the spark plug. Carefully twist and pull the boot off the spark plug. Unplug the rest of the spark plug wires in the same way.
5Remove the spark plugs using a spark plug socket, large ratchet extension and ratchet. This will make it easier for you to turn the flywheel manually.
6Jack up the front of the car using a floor jack and support it on two jack stands. Apply the parking brake, shift the transmission to neutral and make sure the rear wheels are properly blocked.
7Put on your goggles and crawl under your car. Look for the small transmission cover located underneath, between the rear of the engine and transmission. If your vehicle is not equipped with this cover, or you find it hard to remove, go to Step 10.
8Remove the transmission cover using a ratchet, small ratchet extension and socket. This will give you access to the lower section of the flywheel.
9Turn the flywheel manually using a flywheel turner.
10Turn the center bolt located on the crankshaft pulley using a socket and breaker bar as an alternative method. This will help you turn the flywheel as well since the crankshaft connects to the flywheel. You will need an assistant underneath the engine, however, to let you know how much you need to rotate the flywheel to access the mounting bolts or inspect the part for you.
