Standard Procedure - Timing Verification

TIMING VERIFICATION





CAUTION: The 3.7L is a non free-wheeling design engine. Therefore, correct engine timing is critical.

NOTE: Components referred to as left hand or right hand are as viewed from the drivers position inside the vehicle.

NOTE: The blue link plates on the chains and the dots on the camshaft drive sprockets may not line up during the timing verification procedure. The blue link plates are lined up with the sprocket dots only when re-timing the complete timing drive. Once the timing drive is rotated blue link-to-dot alignment is no longer valid.

Engine base timing can be verified by the following procedure:

1. Remove the cylinder head covers.
2. Using a mirror, locate the TDC arrow (2) on the front cover (1). Rotate the crankshaft until the mark on the crankshaft damper is aligned with the TDC arrow on the front cover. The engine is now at TDC.




3. Note the location of the V6 mark (1) stamped into the camshaft drive gears. If the V6 mark on each camshaft drive gear is at the twelve o'clock position, the engine is at TDC on the exhaust stroke. If the V6 mark on each gear is at the six o'clock position, the engine is at TDC on the compression stroke.
4. If both of the camshaft drive gears are off in the same or opposite directions, the primary chain or both secondary chains are at fault. Refer to Timing Chain and Sprockets procedure.
5. If only one of the camshaft drive gears is off and the other is correct, the problem is confined to one secondary chain. Refer to Single camshaft timing, in this procedure.
6. If both camshaft drive gear V6 marks are at the twelve o'clock or the six o'clock position the engine base timing is correct. Reinstall the cylinder head covers.

COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT TIMING





1. Ensure that the engine is at TDC with both camshaft sprocket V6 marks (1) in the 12 o'clock position.




2. Look down the left cylinder head chain cavity. The timing dot on the counter balance shaft drive gear should be in the 6 o'clock position (2).

TIMING - SINGLE CAMSHAFT





NOTE: to adjust the timing on one camshaft, preform the following procedure.

1. Using the Wedge Locking Tool 8379 (2), stabilize the secondary chain drive (3). For reference purposes, mark the chain-to-sprocket position.
2. Remove the camshaft drive gear retaining bolt.




3. Carefully remove the camshaft drive gear (2) from the camshaft.
4. Re-index the camshaft drive gear in the chain until the V6 mark is at the same position as the V6 mark on the opposite camshaft drive gear.




5. Using Camshaft Holder 8428 (2), rotate the camshaft until the alignment dowel on the camshaft is aligned with the slot in the camshaft drive gear.

CAUTION: Remove excess oil from camshaft sprocket retaining bolt before reinstalling bolt. Failure to do so may cause over tightening of the bolt, resulting in bolt failure.





6. Position the camshaft drive gear onto the camshaft, remove oil from bolt then install the retaining bolt. Using Spanner Wrench 6958 with Adapter Pins 8346 (4) and a suitable torque wrench (1), tighten retaining bolt to 122 Nm (90 ft. Lbs.).
7. Remove the Wedge Locking Tool 8379.
8. Rotate the crankshaft two full revolutions, then verify that the camshaft drive gear V6 marks are in fact aligned.
9. Install the cylinder head covers. Cylinder Head Cover - Installation