Timing Chain: Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Release fuel pressure.
Refer to FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE RELEASE .
Remove battery.
Remove radiator.
Refer to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
Drain engine oil.
Remove drive belts and idler pulley with brackets.
Remove cooling fan with bracket.
Remove engine cover.
Remove air duct with air cleaner case, collector, PCV hose, vacuum hoses, fuel hoses, water hoses, harnesses, connectors and so on.
Remove the air conditioner compressor, and tie it down using rope or the like to keep it from interfering.
Remove the power steering oil pump and reservoir tank. Tie them down using rope or the like to keep them from interfering.
Remove alternator.
Remove the following.
- Vacuum tank
- Water bypass pipe
- Brackets
Remove camshaft position sensors (PHASE).
- Avoid impact such as dropping.
- Do not disassemble the components.
- Do not place them on areas where iron powder may adhere.
- Keep away from the objects susceptible to magnetism.
  
  Fig 1: Identifying Camshaft Position Sensors (PHASE)
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove upper intake manifold collector in reverse order of illustration.

Fig 2: Removing Upper Intake Manifold Collector
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove intake manifold collector support bolts.

Fig 3: Removing Intake Manifold Collector Support Bolts
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove lower intake manifold collector in reverse order of illustration.

Fig 4: Removing Lower Intake Manifold Collector
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Disconnect injector harness connectors.
Remove fuel tube assembly in reverse order of illustration.

Fig 5: Removing Fuel Tube Assembly
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove ignition coils.
Remove RH and LH rocker covers from cylinder head.
- Loosen bolts in numerical order shown in the figure.
  
  Fig 6: Removing RH And LH Rocker Covers From Cylinder Head
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Set No. 1 piston at TDC on the compression stroke by rotating crankshaft.
- Align pointer with TDC mark on crankshaft pulley.
  
  Fig 7: Aligning Pointer With TDC Mark On Crankshaft Pulley
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
- Check that intake and exhaust cam nose on No. 1 cylinder are located as shown left.
  If not, turn the crankshaft one revolution (360°) and align as above.
  
  Fig 8: Checking Intake And Exhaust Cam Nose On No. 1 Cylinder
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove starter motor, and set ring gear stopper using the mounting bolt hole.
- Be careful not to damage the signal plate teeth.
  
  Fig 9: Setting Ring Gear Stopper (A/T)
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  
  Fig 10: Setting Ring Gear Stopper (M/T)
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Loosen the crankshaft pulley bolt.

Fig 11: Loosening Crankshaft Pulley Bolt
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove crankshaft pulley with a suitable puller.
Remove aluminum oil pan.
Refer to REMOVAL .
Temporarily install the suspension member bolts and engine mounting nuts.

Fig 12: Removing Crankshaft Pulley With Puller
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove intake valve timing control covers.
- Loosen bolts in numerical order as shown in the figure.
- In the cover, the shaft is engaged with the center hole of the intake camshaft sprocket. Remove it straight out until the engagement comes off.
  
  Fig 13: Identifying Intake Valve Timing Control Covers
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove front timing chain case bolts.
- Loosen bolts in numerical order as shown in the figure.
  
  Fig 14: Removing Front Timing Chain Case Bolts
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove front timing chain case.
1. Insert the appropriate size tool into the notch at the top of the front timing chain case as shown (1).
2. Pry off the case by moving the tool as shown (2).
  - Use seal cutter (special service tool) or an equivalent tool to cut liquid gasket for removal.
CAUTION:
- Do not use screwdrivers or something similar.
- After removal, handle it carefully so it does not tilt, cant, or warp under a load.
  
  Fig 15: Removing Front Timing Chain Case With Tool
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove internal guide.
Remove upper tension guide.
Remove timing chain tensioner and slack guide.

Fig 16: Removing Timing Chain Tensioner And Guides
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
- Remove timing chain tensioner. (Push piston and insert a suitable pin into pinhole.)
Remove primary timing chain and crankshaft sprocket.

Fig 17: Removing Timing Chain Tensioner
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove lower chain guide.

Fig 18: Removing Lower Chain Guide
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Attach a suitable stopper pin to RH and LH camshaft chain tensioners.

Fig 19: Attaching Stopper Pin To RH And LH Camshaft Chain Tensioners
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove intake and exhaust camshaft sprocket bolts.
- Secure the hexagonal head of the camshaft using a spanner to loosen mounting bolts.
  
  Fig 20: Removing Intake And Exhaust Camshaft Sprocket Bolts
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove secondary timing chains with camshaft sprockets.
1. Rotate camshaft lightly, and slacken timing chain of timing chain tensioner-side.
2. Insert metal or resin plate [thickness: 0.5 mm (0.020 in)] into guide between timing chain and chain tensioner plunger. Remove cam sprocket and secondary timing chain with timing chain floated from guide groove.
  CAUTION: Chain tensioner plunger may move, while fixed stopper pin and plunger both come off when timing chain is removed. Use caution during removal.
  
  Fig 21: Removing Secondary Timing Chains With Camshaft Sprockets
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
- Intake camshaft sprocket is two-for-one structure of primary and secondary sprockets.
- Handle intake camshaft sprocket, taking care of the following.
CAUTION:
- Avoid impact.
- Do not disassemble (Never loosen inner hexagonal bolts).
  
  Fig 22: Identifying Inner Hexagonal Bolt
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove rear timing chain case as follows if necessary.
1. Loosen mounting bolts in numerical order shown in figure, and remove them.
2. Disconnect liquid gasket applied portion using seal cutter (special service tool: KV10111100) or an equivalent tool. Then remove rear timing chain case.
  
  Fig 23: Loosening Mounting Bolts In Numerical Order
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  CAUTION:
  - Do not remove plate metal cover of oil passage.
  - After removing chain case, do not apply any load which affects flatness.
    
    Fig 24: Identifying Plate Metal Covers
    Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove O-rings from cylinder head.

Fig 25: Removing O-Rings From Cylinder Head
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove O-rings from cylinder block.

Fig 26: Removing O-Rings From Cylinder Block
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove RH and LH camshaft chain tensioners from cylinder head as follows if necessary.
1. Remove No. 1 camshaft brackets.
  Refer to REMOVAL .
2. Remove chain tensioners with stopper pin attached.
Use a scraper to remove all traces of liquid gasket from front and rear timing chain case, and opposite mating surfaces.

Fig 27: Using Scraper To Remove All Traces Of Liquid Gasket
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
- Remove old liquid gasket from the bolt hole and thread.
Remove front oil seal from front timing chain case. Refer to FRONT OIL SEAL .
Remove water pump cover and chain tensioner cover from front timing chain case if necessary.

Fig 28: Removing Old Liquid Gasket From Bolt Hole And Thread
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Use a scraper to remove all traces of liquid gasket from intake valve timing control cover, water pump cover and chain tensioner cover.

Fig 29: Using Scraper To Remove All Traces Of Liquid Gasket From Intake Valve Timing Control Cover
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.