[nilknarf]

I need to remove my valvetronic in order to replace my valve cover gasket. Bentley says to turn the valvetronic clockwise until there is no more resistance and shows a socket head inserted into the center of the valvetronic. What kind of socket fits in there? I've tried screwdrivers and they don't seem to work. Attached is a photo I took using a mirror. There appears to be a pin in the center, similar to a security bit that is preventing a screwdriver to work. Any ideas?

[bumere90]

I think you need E8 sockets (external torx)
I have one laying around, let me know if you want it.

[CobraMarty]

Zoom out on your picture.

[nilknarf]

I took some more pics. Looking at these, I don't really see the pin in the center that I thought I saw before. I have a set of Torx, so I'll give those a try and will report my findings.

[nilknarf]

Update: Torx was it! Thanks for the tip bumere90. The size had rubbed off my bit, but #8 looks about right.

[boredazhell20]

Sorry to bring back an old thread, but I am doing the same process as the OP (changing the valve cover gasket) and purchased the bentley service manual as well.

I need help reinstalling the valvetronic motor to valve cover.

When reintalling the valvetronic motor the bentley manual states, "put everything back in reverse order..."

The steps to remove:
1) turn the valvetronic motor clockwise till you feel resistance.
2) unbolt the valvetronic motor
3) and as you pull it out turn the valvetronic motor counter clockwise.

So when I am reinstalling the valvetronic motor:
1) I turn the valvetronic motor clockwise as I slowly put it back in the valve cover.
2) bolt up the valvetronic motor within specs to the valve cover
3) ????????

For step three after the valvetronic motor is mounted up do I need to turn the valvetronic motor counter clock wise to put it back in the same position it was in before? If yes, how many turns? the manual doesn't give any input regarding this.

Thanks everybody.

I will be contributing a video DIY regarding this valve cover gasket change when I'm done.

[smass]

You do not need to do anything else after mounting. During re-install, the motor is manually turned simply to make it fit and mount flush. Once the engine is started, the motor will readjust itself to the correct position.

I noticed you are doing a DIY on the VC gasket. I just did mine last month. Some tips i have are: Have a 7 mm (NAPA sells them) tap in case any of the bolts snap off during removal. I broke 2. One came out by hand, the other needed to be drilled and re-tapped. Remove the wiring from the top of the fuel injectors. Then pull the harness back over to the passenger side. This gives more slack to the wiring that goes to the coils and makes VC removal easier. Removing the bolts that mount the coolant tank makes r and r of the cover easier.

[boredazhell20]

Thank you for your input and suggestions! I have a feeling your right about the aluminum bolts snapping. I'll let you know how it turns out Sunday night.

[boredazhell20]

Well to give an update on the valve cover gasket... I've failed. Gave myself 8 hours for the job but kept hitting road block after road block. Before I knew it, it was 5pm and I couldn't get the valve cover off for the life of me since the stupid inlet breather hose pipe kept on getting stuck on the top of the firewall.

What really made me call it quits for the night is that there were two broken studs. I told myself if the studs were flushed with the block I was going to call it quits. They were so i was done.

Never had a car frustrate me so much. I've worked on a lot of cars and I never imagined a valve cover gasket change would ever be this difficult.

[smass]

Did you remove the hose from the metal pipe?

[boredazhell20]

^ The breather hose? if yes, then yes. The hose was removed, but the actual metal pipe kept on hitting the firewall.

Did you have to take off the plastic casing for the ignition coil wires to make more room in the engine bay for the valve cover to come off?

[smass]

Originally Posted by boredazhell20

^ The breather hose? if yes, then yes. The hose was removed, but the actual metal pipe kept on hitting the firewall.

Did you have to take off the plastic casing for the ignition coil wires to make more room in the engine bay for the valve cover to come off?

I did not take off the casing. I removed the plug from the top of each injector and pulled the entire wiring assembly to the passenger side of the engine.

[bbstoke]

May as well put a new one on while you have the engine open, they cause loads of damage when the go and the sensor for it costs even more than the motor