Timing Chain: Service and Repair
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POSITION FOR APPLYING LIQUID GASKET
^ Refer to Engine; Service Precautions; Technician Safety Information; Precautions For Liquid Gasket.
^ Before installation, wipe off any protruding sealant.
CAUTION:
^ After removing timing chain, do not turn the crankshaft and camshaft separately, or the valves will strike the pistons.
^ When installing camshafts, chain tensioners, oil seals, or other sliding parts, lubricate contacting surfaces with new engine oil.
^ Apply new engine oil to bolt threads and seat surfaces when installing camshaft sprockets, cam shaft brackets, and crankshaft pulley.
^ Before disconnecting fuel hose, release fuel pressure.
^ Before removing the upper oil pan, remove the crankshaft position sensor (POS).
^ Be careful not to damage sensor edges.
^ Do not spill engine oil or coolant on drive belts.
Removal
1. Release the fuel pressure.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Drain the engine cooling system.
4. Drain engine oil.
5. Remove engine cover with power tool.
6. Remove the intake air duct with the air cleaner case lid and mass air flow sensor.
7. Remove the engine coolant reservoir.
8. Disconnect the fuel rail quick connector at the vehicle piping side.
9. Remove the cowl top grille and the windshield wiper assembly.
10. Remove the front RH wheel and tire with power tool.
11. Remove the engine undercovers with power tool.
12. Remove the inner fender splash shield with power tool.
13. Remove the drive belts and idler pulley.
14. Recover the A/C system R134a and remove the A/C compressor. Refer to Heating and Air Conditioning.
15. Dismount the power steering oil pump and reservoir tank. Tie them down with wire to reposition them out of the way.
16. Remove the lower and upper oil pans.
17. Remove the A/C high pressure line. Refer to Heating and Air Conditioning.
18. Remove the alternator.
19. Disconnect the engine harness and set aside.
20. Support the engine and remove the RH engine mount and bracket.
21. Remove the IVTC valve covers, bank 1 and bank 2. Loosen the bolts in the numerical order as shown.
NOTE: The shaft in the cover is inserted into the center hole of the intake camshaft sprocket. Remove the cover by pulling straight out until the cover disengages from the camshaft sprocket.
22. Remove the starter motor.
M/T
A/T
23. Set the ring gear stopper using the mounting bolt hole.
CAUTION: Do not damage the ring gear teeth, or the signal plate teeth behind the ring gear, when setting the stopper.
24. Remove the crankshaft pulley.
25. Remove the front timing chain case.
a. Loosen the bolts in the numerical order as shown.
b. Insert the appropriate size tool into the notch at the top of the front timing chain case as shown (1).
c. Pry off the case by moving the tool as shown (2).
26. Disconnect the power brake booster vacuum hose.
27. Disconnect the electric throttle control actuator.
28. Disconnect the coolant hoses at the electric throttle control actuator.
29. Disconnect the PCV hose.
30. Disconnect the EVAP canister purge volume control solenoid vacuum hose.
31. Remove the intake manifold collector. Loosen the bolts and nuts in the numerical order as shown.
32. Remove the six ignition coils.
33. Remove the six spark plugs.
34. Remove the engine oil dipstick.
35. Remove the IVTC (intake valve timing control) solenoid valve bank 1 and bank 2.
^ Discard the gaskets and use new gaskets for installation.
36. Remove the rocker covers. Loosen the bolts in the numerical order as shown.
37. Remove the internal chain guide.
38. Remove the timing chain tensioner and slack side chain guide.
^ Place paint marks on the timing chain and sprockets to indicate the correct position of the components for installation.
a. Pull lever down and release plunger stopper tab. Plunger stopper tab can be pushed up to release (coaxial structure with lever).
b. Insert stopper pin into tensioner body hole to hold lever, and keep the tab released. An Allen wrench [2.5 mm (0.098 inch)] is used for a stopper pin as an example.
c. Insert plunger into tensioner body by pressing the slack side chain guide.
d. Keep the slack side chain guide pressed and hold it by pushing the stopper pin through the lever hole and body hole.
e. Remove the mounting bolts and remove the timing chain tensioner.
39. Attach a suitable stopper pin to the RH and LH camshaft chain tensioners (for secondary timing chains).
40. Remove the intake and exhaust camshaft sprocket bolts.
^ Apply paint to the timing chain and camshaft sprockets for alignment during installation.
^ Secure the hexagonal portion of the camshaft using a wrench to loosen the mounting bolts.
41. Remove the primary and secondary timing chains with camshaft sprockets.
^ Intake camshaft sprocket is two-for-one structure of primary and secondary sprockets.
^ Handle the intake sprockets as an assembly.
CAUTION:
^ Avoid impact or dropping the intake sprockets.
^ Do not disassemble the intake sprockets (never loosen bolts A and B as shown).
42. Remove the chain tension guide and crankshaft sprocket.
43. Remove the rear timing chain case.
CAUTION:
^ Do not remove the metal plate cover for the oil passage.
^ After removing the chain case, do not apply any load to the case that might bend it.
a. Loosen and remove the mounting bolts in the order shown.
b. Cut the sealant with an appropriate tool and remove the rear timing chain case.
44. Use a scraper to remove all of the old RTV Silicone Sealant from the front timing chain case.
CAUTION: Do not damage the mating surfaces.
45. Remove all old RTV Silicone Sealant from all the bolt holes and bolts.
CAUTION: Do not damage the threads or mating surfaces.
46. Use a scraper to remove all the old RTV Silicone Sealant from the water pump cover and IVTC valve covers.
CAUTION: Do not damage the mating surfaces.
47. Remove the front oil seal from the front timing chain case using a suitable tool.
CAUTION: Do not damage the front cover.
Inspection
Check for cracks and any excessive wear at the roller links of the timing chain. Replace the timing chain as necessary.
Installation
1. Apply Genuine RTV Silicone Sealant or equivalent, to the rear timing chain case.
2. Align the rear timing chain case and water pump assembly with the dowel pins (RH and LH) on the cylinder block and install the case. Make sure the O-rings stay in place during installation.
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a. Tighten the mounting bolts in the numerical order as shown. There are two bolt lengths used. Follow the chart for proper bolt length specifications.
b. After all bolts are initially tightened, retighten them to the specification in the numerical order as shown.
Rear timing chain case bolts: 12 - 13 Nm (1.2 - 1.4 kg-m, 9 - 10 ft. lbs.)
3. Install the timing chain tension guide.
4. Position the crankshaft so No. 1 piston is set at TDC on the compression stroke.
^ Make sure that the knock pin hole, knock pin and crankshaft key are located as shown.
Camshaft knock pin hole (intake side): at cylinder head upper face side in each bank.
Camshaft knock pin (exhaust side): at cylinder head upper face side in each bank.
Crankshaft key: at cylinder head side of RH bank.
CAUTION: Hole on small diameter side must be used for intake knock pin. Do not misidentify (ignore big diameter side).
5. Install the crankshaft sprocket on the crankshaft.
^ Make sure the mating marks on the crankshaft sprocket face the front of the engine.
6. Install the secondary timing chains and camshaft sprockets.
CAUTION: Matching marks between the timing chain and sprockets slip easily. Confirm all matching mark positions repeatedly during the installation process.
^ Push the sleeve of the secondary chain tensioner and keep it pressed in with a stopper pin.
a. Align the matching marks on the secondary timing chain (gold link) with the ones on the intake and exhaust sprockets (stamped), and install them.
^ Matching marks for the intake sprocket are on the back side of the secondary sprocket.
^ There are two types of matching marks, round and oval types. They should be used for the RH and LH banks, respectively.
RH bank: use round type.
LH bank: use oval type.
b. Align the knock pin and pin hole on the camshaft with the groove and knock pin on the sprocket, and install them.
^ On the intake side, align the pin hole on the small diameter side of the camshaft front end with the knock pin on the back side of the camshaft sprocket, and install them.
^ On the exhaust side, align the knock pin on the camshaft front end with the pin groove on the camshaft sprocket, and install them.
^ Mounting bolts for the camshaft sprockets must be tightened in the next step. Tightening them by hand is enough to prevent the dislocation of the knock pins.
^ It may be difficult to visually check the dislocation of mating marks during and after installation. To make the matching easier, make a mating mark on the sprocket teeth in advance with paint.
7. Install the secondary timing chain and sprocket to the other bank. Install the primary timing chain at the same time.
^ Installation of the secondary timing chain follows the procedure in step 6.
^ Install primary timing chain so the mating mark (punched) on camshaft sprocket is aligned with the yellow link on the timing chain, while the mating mark (notched) on the crankshaft sprocket is aligned with the orange one on the timing chain, as shown.
^ When it is difficult to align mating marks of the primary timing chain with each sprocket, gradually turn the camshaft using a wrench on the hexagonal portion to align it with the mating marks.
^ During alignment, be careful to prevent dislocation of mating mark alignments of the secondary timing chains.
8. After confirming the mating marks are aligned, tighten the camshaft sprocket mounting bolts.
^ Secure the camshaft using a wrench at the hexagonal portion to tighten the mounting bolts.
9. Pull the stopper pins out from the secondary timing chain tensioners.
10. Install the internal chain guide.
11. Install the slack guide.
^ Do not overtighten the slack guide mounting bolts. It is normal for a gap to exist under the bolt seats when the mounting bolts are tightened to specification.
12. Install the timing chain tensioner for the slack guide.
^ When installing the chain tensioner, push in the sleeve and keep it pressed in with the stopper pin.
^ Remove any dirt and foreign materials completely from the back and the mounting surfaces of the chain tensioner.
^ After installation, pull out the stopper pin by pressing the slack guide.
13. Reconfirm that the matching marks on the sprockets and the timing chain have not slipped out of alignment.
14. Install new O-rings on the rear timing chain case.
15. Install the front oil seal on the front timing chain case using a suitable tool. Apply clean engine oil to the oil seal edges.
16. Apply liquid gasket to front timing chain case.
^ Before installation, wipe off the protruding sealant.
17. Install the rear case pin into dowel pin hole on front timing chain case.
18. Tighten bolts to the specified torque in order shown in the figure.
19. After installing the front timing chain case, check the surface height difference between the following parts on the oil pan mounting surface.
^ If not within specification, repeat the installation procedure.
Front timing chain case to rear timing chain case: (-0.14) - 0.14 mm [(-0.005) - 0.0055 inch]
Oil pump to cylinder block: (-0.36) - (-0.10) mm [(-0.0142) - (-0.0039) inch]
Rear timing chain case to cylinder block: (-0.24) - 0.14 mm [(-0.0094) - 0.0055 inch]
20. Install IVTC valve covers as follows:
a. Install new O-rings on the front of the timing chain case.
b. Install new seal rings on the IVTC valve covers.
c. Apply RTV Silicone Sealant to the IVTC solenoid valve covers. Use genuine RTV Silicone Sealant, or equivalent.
^ Being careful not to move the seal ring from the installation groove, align the dowel pins on the chain case with the holes to install the IVTC solenoid valve covers.
^ Tighten in the numerical order as shown.
21. Install the water pump cover and the chain tensioner cover. Apply RTV Silicone Sealant or equivalent.
22. Install the RH and LH rocker covers.
Rocker cover tightening procedure:
RH view
LH view
^ Tighten the rocker cover bolts in two stages in the numerical order as shown.
Stage 1: 0.96 - 2.96 Nm (0.1 - 0.3 kg-m, 9 - 26 inch lbs.)
Stage 2: 7.33 - 9.33 Nm (0.75 - 0.95 kg-m, 65 - 82 inch lbs.)
23. Install the IVTC solenoid valve bank 1 and bank 2.
IVTC solenoid valve bolts: 10 - 12 Nm (1.0 - 1.3 kg-m, 87 - 112 inch lbs.)
24. Install the engine oil dipstick.
25. Install the six spark plugs to their original positions.
Spark plugs (6): 20 - 29 Nm (2.0 - 3.0 kg-m, 14 - 22 ft. lbs.)
26. Install the six ignition coils to their original positions.
Ignition coils (6): 6.37 - 7.54 Nm (0.65 - 0.76 kg-m, 57 - 66 inch lbs.)
27. Install the intake manifold collector. Tighten the bolts and nuts in numerical order as shown.
Intake manifold collector bolts: 18 - 21 Nm (1.8 - 2.2 kg-lb, 13 - 15 ft. lbs.)
28. Connect the EVAP purge volume control solenoid hose.
29. Connect the PCV hose.
30. Connect the coolant hoses to the electric throttle control actuator.
31. Connect the power brake booster vacuum hose.
32. Connect the electric throttle control actuator harness electrical connector.
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33. Install crankshaft pulley and tighten the bolt in two stages.
^ Lubricate thread and seat surface of the bolt with new engine oil.
^ Apply a paint mark for the second stage of angle tightening.
Stage 1: 39 - 49 Nm (4.0 - 5.0 kg-m, 29 - 36 ft. lbs.)
Stage 2: 60° - 65° degrees clockwise
34. Remove the ring gear stopper.
35. Install the starter motor.
36. Install the RH engine mount and bracket.
Engine mount to frame bolts (2): 66 - 74 Nm (6.7 - 7.6 kg-m, 49 - 54 ft. lbs.)
Engine mount bracket to front cover bolts (2): 79 - 90 Nm (8.0 - 9.2 kg-m, 58 - 66 ft. lbs.)
Engine mount bracket to front cover nut (1): 10 - 15 Nm (1.0 - 1.6 kg-m, 87 - 138 inch lbs.)
Engine mount to bracket nuts (2): 49 - 58 Nm (5.0 - 6.0 kg-m, 37 - 43 ft. lbs.)
37. Reposition and reconnect the engine harness.
38. Install the alternator.
39. Install the upper and lower oil pans.
40. Install the power steering pump.
41. Install the A/C compressor and recharge the system. Refer to Heating and Air Conditioning.
42. Install the idler pulley and the drive belts.
43. Install the inner fender splash shield and the engine undercovers.
44. Install the RH wheel and tire.
45. Install the windshield wiper assembly and the cowl top grille.
46. Install the fuel hose quick connector to the fuel tube at the vehicle piping side.
47. Install the engine coolant reservoir.
48. Install the intake air duct with the air cleaner case lid and mass air flow sensor.
49. Install engine cover.
50. Refill the engine with oil and coolant.
CAUTION: Wait at least 30 minutes for the RTV Silicone Sealant to set before filling the engine with fluids to avoid leaks.
51. Install the battery.
52. Activate the fuel system. Check for any leaks when the system is repressurized and correct as necessary.
53. Start the engine and check all systems for leaks or improper operation. Correct as necessary.
^ After starting engine, keep idling for three minutes. Then rev engine up to 3,000 rpm under no load to purge air from the high-pressure oil chamber of the chain tensioners. The engine may produce a rattling noise. This indicates that air still remains in the chamber and is not a matter of concern.