Removal Procedure

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire and 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Important:

Any time the camshaft housing to the cylinder head bolts are loosened or removed, the camshaft housing to the cylinder head gasket must be replaced.
During disassembly, ensure that the valve lifters are kept together and identified so that they can be reinstalled in the original locations.
Before disassembling the valve mechanism, make a compression test and note the results.

Disconnect the negative battery cable.
Remove the ignition coil and the module assembly.

Fig 1: Ignition Coil And Module Assembly

Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Remove the camshaft position sensor connector.
Remove the power steering pump and position aside. Do not disconnect the power steering lines.
Disconnect electrical from oil pressure sensor.
Remove the vacuum line from the fuel pressure regulator.

Fig 2: Power Steering Pump
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the fuel rail. Refer to FUEL RAIL & INJECTORS .
Disconnect, but do not remove from the vehicle, the timing chain housing at the intake camshaft housing. Refer to Timing Chain Housing Replacement .

Fig 3: Fuel Rail
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the camshaft housing cover to the camshaft housing retaining bolts.

Fig 4: Camshaft Housing Cover
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Important:
- Use the reverse of the tightening procedure when loosening the camshaft housing to the cylinder head retaining bolts.
- Leave the 2 bolts loosely in place in order to hold the camshaft housing while separating the camshaft cover from the housing.
Fig 5: Camshaft Housing-To-Cylinder Head Retaining Bolt Tightening Sequence
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove the camshaft housing to the cylinder head retaining bolts.
Important: Tighten the bolts evenly in order to prevent the cover from binding on the dowel pins.
Push the cover off the housing by threading four of the housing to head retaining bolts into the tapped holes in the camshaft housing cover.
Remove the 2 loosely installed camshaft housing to head bolts.
Remove the cover and discard the gaskets.
Loosely reinstall one camshaft housing to cylinder head bolt in order to retain the housing during the camshaft and lifter removal.
Note the position of the chain sprocket dowel pin for reassembly. Remove the camshaft being careful not to damage the camshaft or the journals.
Important: The valve lifters are not serviceable. Replace faulty valve lifters.

Coat the valve lifter with the camshaft and lifter prelube GM P/N 12345501 (Canadian P/N 992704), or the equivalent. If the new lifters are installed, add the engine oil supplement GM P/N 1052367 (Canadian P/N 992869), or the equivalent, to the engine oil.
Remove the valve lifters as follows:
- Keep the lifters in order to reinstall the lifters to the original locations.
- In order to minimize the lifter bleed down, perform the following procedure:
  1. Store the lifters upside down, opposite of the installed position, on a level surface.
  2. Store the lifters submerged in clean engine oil.
  Important: Ensure that the alignment dowel pins are in the cylinder head prior to installing the camshaft housing.
- Remove the camshaft housing and the gasket.
  
  Fig 6: Camshaft Housing And Gasket
  Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.