Timing Cover: Service and Repair

1. Relieve fuel system pressure.
2. Disconnect battery ground cable, then loosen four water pump pulley bolts with drive belt in place.
3. Using a 1/2 inch drive breaker bar inserted into serpentine belt auto tensioner, rotate tensioner to relieve tension until belt may be removed, then remove belt.
4. Drain cooling system, then remove lower radiator hose and heater hose from water pump.
5. Remove crankshaft pulley and damper.
6. Drain and remove oil pan.

Fig. 22 Timing Cover & Water Pump Removal:

7. Remove timing cover to block retaining bolts. Timing cover and water pump may be removed as an assembly by not removing bolts Nos. 11-15.
8. After cover is pulled away from block, remove water pump pulley and bolts.
9. Inspect timing chain deflection for excessive wear.
10. Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
a. Carefully clean all gasket material from timing cover and cylinder block.

CAUTION: The aluminum timing cover gouges easily. Use care when scraping gasket.

b. Inspect timing cover crankshaft seal, replace if necessary.
c. Before installing bolt Nos. 1, 2 and 3, apply pipe sealant No. D6AZ-19558-A, or equivalent.
d. Tighten front cover bolts in sequence.
e. Torque bolts 1 through 10 to 15-22 ft lb, then torque bolts 11 through 15 to 8-9 ft lb.