Timing Cover: Service and Repair

Engine Front Cover Replacement

Tools Required

J 35354-A Seal Installer

Removal Procedure

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnection and Connection (L26) (Service and Repair).
2. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle (Service and Repair).
3. Drain the engine oil. Refer to Engine Oil and Oil Filter Replacement (Service and Repair).
4. Drain the cooling system. Refer to Cooling System Draining and Filling (L26, LY7 GE 47716 Fill) (Service and Repair)Cooling System Draining and Filling (L26 Static Fill) (Service and Repair).
5. Lower the vehicle.
6. Loosen the water pump pulley bolts.
7. Remove the drive belt tensioner. Refer to Drive Belt Tensioner Replacement (Service and Repair).
8. Remove the water pump pulley.




9. Remove the power steering pump bolts and reposition the pump.
10. Raise the vehicle.
11. Remove the crankshaft balancer. Refer to Crankshaft Balancer Replacement (Service and Repair).





Important: Be careful not to damage the crankshaft.


12. Pry out the crankshaft front oil seal with a flat-bladed tool such as a large screwdriver. Use care to avoid damaging the crankshaft front oil seal bore or the crankshaft front oil seal contact surfaces.
13. Disconnect the electrical connectors from the following:

* Camshaft position (CMP) sensor
* Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor
* Oil pressure sensor




14. Remove the crankshaft position sensor shield.
15. Remove the radiator outlet hose from the water pump. Refer to Radiator Outlet Hose Replacement (L26) (Service and Repair).
16. Lower the vehicle.
17. Install the engine support fixture. Refer to Engine Support Fixture (Engine Support Fixture).
18. Raise the vehicle.





Important: The oil pan can be dropped slightly for engine front cover clearance if all pan bolts are loosened and the oil level sensor is removed.


19. Remove the oil filter.
20. Remove the engine mount bracket for oil pan access. Refer to Engine Front Mount Bracket Replacement (Service and Repair).
21. Disconnect the oil level sensor electrical connector.
22. Remove the oil level sensor.
23. Remove the oil pan-to-engine front cover bolts.
24. Loosen the remaining oil pan bolts to gain access for the engine front cover removal. DO NOT remove the remaining oil pan bolts.




25. Remove the crankshaft position sensor.




26. Remove the engine front cover bolts.
27. Remove the engine front cover with the oil filter adapter as one assembly.




28. Remove the engine front cover gasket.




29. If replacing the engine front cover, remove the oil filter adapter and pressure relief valve from the engine front cover.




30. If replacing the engine front cover, remove the water pump from the engine front cover.




31. If replacing the engine front cover, remove the oil pump cover and gear set from the engine front cover. Refer to Oil Pump Cover and Gear Set Replacement (Service and Repair).
32. Inspect the oil pump cover and gear set. Refer to Oil Pump Cleaning and Inspection (Overhaul).




33. If replacing the engine front cover, remove the camshaft position sensor from the engine front cover.
34. Inspect the timing chain for overall in and out movement. Maximum movement is 25.4 mm (1 in). Refer to Camshaft Timing Chain and Sprocket Cleaning and Inspection (L26) ().
35. Inspect the sprockets for wear.
36. Inspect the oil pan gasket. Replace the oil pan gasket if necessary.
37. Clean the engine front cover mating surfaces.

Installation Procedure




1. If replacing the engine front cover, install the camshaft position sensor to the engine front cover.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice (Fastener Notice).

2. Install the camshaft position sensor bolt.

Tighten the bolt to 10 N.m (89 lb in).




3. If replacing the engine front cover, install the oil pump cover and gear set to the engine front cover. Refer to Oil Pump Cover and Gear Set Replacement (Service and Repair).




4. If replacing the engine front cover, install the water pump.
5. Install and tighten the water pump bolts.

* Tighten the long water pump bolts to 34 N.m (25 lb ft).
* Tighten the short water pump bolts to 22 N.m (16 lb ft).




6. If replacing the engine front cover, install the pressure relief valve, the oil filter adapter and the oil filter adapter bolts to the engine front cover.

1. Tighten the bolts to 15 N.m (11 lb ft).
2. Use the J 45059 to rotate the bolt an additional 50 degrees.




7. Install the new engine front cover gasket. Ensure that the sealing surfaces are not damaged.
8. Apply sealer to the bolt threads. Refer to Sealers, Adhesives, and Lubricants (Specifications) for the correct part number.




9. Align the cogs on the crankshaft sprocket with the cogs on the oil pump gear set in the engine front cover.
10. Install the engine front cover to the engine.




11. Install the engine front cover bolts (1-7).

1. Tighten the bolts to 20 N.m (15 lb ft).
2. Use the J 45059 to rotate the bolt an additional 40 degrees.




12. Install the crankshaft position sensor.
13. Install the crankshaft position sensor studs.

Tighten the studs to 30 N.m (22 lb ft).

14. Install the oil pan-to-engine front cover bolts.

Tighten the oil pan bolts to 14 N.m (125 lb in).

15. Install the oil level sensor.

Tighten the sensor to 20 N.m (15 lb ft).

16. Connect the oil level sensor electrical connector.
17. Install the engine mount bracket. Refer to Engine Front Mount Bracket Replacement (Service and Repair).
18. Install the water pump pulley and bolts.

Tighten the bolts to 13 N.m (116 lb in).

19. Install the radiator outlet hose to the water pump. Refer to Radiator Outlet Hose Replacement (L26) (Service and Repair).




20. Install the oil filter. Install the engine oil pan drain plug. Refer to Engine Oil and Oil Filter Replacement (Service and Repair).




21. Install the new engine front cover seal using J 35354.
22. Tighten the bolt until the crankshaft front oil seal is seated in the engine front cover.
23. Remove the J 35354.




24. Install the crankshaft position sensor shield.
25. Connect the electrical connectors to the following:

* Oil pressure sensor
* Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor
* Camshaft position (CMP) sensor

26. Install the crankshaft balancer. Refer to Crankshaft Balancer Replacement (Service and Repair).
27. Lower the vehicle.




28. Install the power steering pump and the bolts.

Tighten the bolts to 34 N.m (25 lb ft).

29. Remove the engine support fixture.
30. Install the drive belt tensioner. Refer to Drive Belt Tensioner Replacement (Service and Repair).
31. Fill the cooling system. Refer to Cooling System Draining and Filling (L26, LY7 GE 47716 Fill) (Service and Repair)Cooling System Draining and Filling (L26 Static Fill) (Service and Repair).
32. Fill the crankcase with engine oil. Refer to Engine Oil and Oil Filter Replacement (Service and Repair).
33. Connect the negative battery cable. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnection and Connection (L26) (Service and Repair).
34. Inspect for leaks.
35. Perform the CKP system variation learn procedure. Refer to Crankshaft Position System Variation Learn (Programming and Relearning).