How do you get access to the valves? Options

[jschaible]

Newbie question:
How do you actually get access into the valves on my 1.8L? I 've set valves on other cars many times before, but I can't figure out how you get into the (heavily obscured) valve covers!

[detoxcowboy]

it is tight but doable, i used a long screwdriver to assist pry pop back the bales as the cramped area does not allow for much more than finger strength. Once you adj. your valves a couple times you will get comfortable with the limited space, sometimes I loosed the j pipes (heater pieces going up through the engine tin) so I can do a reach around when adj. the appropriate valves that side closet to the pipes. I would get up in there once before you buy any "special" tools as not all valve adj. tools are going to have room in that limited space. Pelican Parts. com has a tech article there but I personally do not use the drive it up on ramps then wait to get cold again, I just jack up in the dirty driveway the side I am doing, patience is the key as your saving some money anyways, have some coffee down there or even a burrito resting above you on your heat exchanger and do it slow w/ low frustration. Ipod what ever it takes.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif)