A. Camshaft Timing Belt Removal

A. Camshaft Timing Belt Removal:

A1. Remove lower left engine compartment splash shield.





A2. Support engine with fixture and remove the left engine mount and bracket (Figure 1).

A3. Remove the alternator/water pump drive belt and the power steering drive belt.

Note:
Loosen water pump pulley bolts before removing belt.

A4. Remove water pump pulley.

A5. Remove A/C belt and tensioner pulley bracket.

A6. Remove crankshaft pulley.





A7. Remove the upper and lower timing belt covers (Figure 2).

A8. Rotate the crankshaft clockwise and align the timing marks so as to bring the No. 1 piston to the Top-Dead-Center (TDC) position of the compression stroke.

Caution:
Rotate the crankshaft in a clockwise direction.





The camshaft sprocket dowel pins must be at the 12 o'clock position and the camshaft sprocket timing marks must be aligned together (left sprocket at the 3 o'clock and right sprocket at the 9 o'clock positions). Both camshaft sprocket timing marks must be in line with the top surface of the cylinder head (Figure 3). Crankshaft and oil pump sprockets must be aligned with timing marks as shown in Figure 3.

Note:
Crankshaft may need to be rotated up to six turns before all sprockets are properly aligned due to the oil pump-to-balance shaft gear ratio.








A9. Remove rubber plug from inner timing belt cover and screw special tool no. MD998738 into the engine left support bracket until it makes contact with the tensioner arm (Figures 4 & 5).

A10. Loosen the tensioner pulley center bolt (Figure 5).





A11. Compress push rod with tensioner arm by SLOWLY rotating special tool no. MD998738 until hole in push rod aligns with the hole in the auto tensioner body (Figure 6).

Note:
Push rod may need to be rotated if hole in rod is not vertically in line with hole in housing.

Insert a 1/16 inch alien wrench or similar pin [1.4 mm (.055 in.) in diameter] into the aligned holes to hold the push rod in the reset (pinned) position. Back off special tool no. MD998738 once auto tensioner is in the reset position. (Figure 6).

Note:
Inspect the tensioner and replace it only if it shows signs of oil leakage.

A12. Remove and discard the camshaft timing belt.