Valve Spring And Stem Seal Replacement: Removal

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

Disconnect negative battery cable.
Disconnect intake air temperature (IAT) sensor connector.
Loosen clamp at air cleaner assembly.
Remove pushpin attachment from outlet resonator/duct assembly to support bracket.
Loosen clamp at throttle body assembly.
Disconnect PVC fresh air vent hose at cam cover.
Remove outlet resonator/duct assembly.

Fig 1: Removing Outlet Resonator/Duct Assembly
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove ignition module assembly with bolts.
Disconnect coolant degas bracket and bolt at back of cylinder head.
Disconnect degas hose at clamp at cylinder head and position away from cam cover assembly.

Fig 2: Removing Ignition Module Assembly With Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Disconnect ground strap at rear of cam cover assembly.

Fig 3: Disconnecting Ground Strap At Rear Of Cam Cover Assembly
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Relieve fuel system pressure. Refer to FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE RELEASE .
Disconnect Gauge Bar Set SA9127E after pressure has been relieved.

Fig 4: Disconnecting Gauge Bar Set
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Disconnect fuel rail bracket and bolt at rear of cam cover.

Fig 5: Disconnecting Fuel Rail Bracket
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

CAUTION: WHENEVER FUEL LINE FITTINGS ARE LOOSENED OR DISCONNECTED, WRAP A SHOP CLOTH AROUND FITTING TO COLLECT FUEL. PLACE CLOTH IN AN APPROVED CONTAINER.

NOTE: An open-end wrench must be used to support the fuelline-to-rail connection during loosening/tightening to avoid damaging fuel rail assembly.
While supporting fuel rail assembly with an open-end wrench, loosen transfer line fitting at fuel rail.

Fig 6: Loosening Transfer Line Fitting At Fuel Rail
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Position fuel line away from cam cover assembly.

Fig 7: Positioning Fuel Line Away From Cam Cover Assembly
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove cam cover assembly bolts.
Remove cam cover assembly.

Fig 8: Removing Cam Cover Assembly
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove purge valve from power steering plate.
Remove power steering block off plate if intake camshaft is being removed.

Fig 9: Removing Purge Valve From Power Steering Plate
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

NOTE: To avoid valve-to-piston contact, No.1 piston must be positioned at approximately 60° before-top-dead center (BTDC). Pistons are properly positioned when diamond shaped hole on intake camshaft sprocket is located at 12 o'clock.

IMPORTANT: To rotate camshaft(s), use a 24 mm open-end wrench on camshaft flats. Camshaft(s) should be rotated in a clockwise direction only (facing camshaft sprockets from passenger side of vehicle).
Locate the No.1 piston to approximately 60° before top-dead-center (diamond shaped hole on intake camshaft sprocket at 12 o'clock position). Remove spark plugs. This will ease rotation effort.

Fig 10: Rotating Camshafts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

NOTE: Care should be taken removing guide bolts to avoid from falling down into front cover.
Remove upper timing chain guide.
Remove front camshaft caps.

Fig 11: Removing Upper Timing Chain Guide
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

NOTE: During camshaft removal procedure, the pistons are locked in position by Camshaft Support Holding J43655 tool. DO NOT rotate engine crankshaft or tool damage and timing reset will be required. Camshafts can be rotated ONLY AFTER #1 piston is at 60° before-top-dead-center and sprocket has been disengaged from camshaft.

IMPORTANT: Lubricate sprocket pins with clean motor oil. These will allow sprockets to easily slide on sprocket pins.
Install Camshaft Support Holding tool J43655 through sprocket holes from timing chain side of sprocket towards rear of engine.

Fig 12: Installing Camshaft Support Holding Tool
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
With guide pin installed in sprocket, align guide pins into slots on support plate.
Tighten support bracket to cylinder head.
Torque:

Support Plate-to-Cylinder Head: 10 N.m (89 in-lbs)

Fig 13: Supporting Plate-to-Cylinder Head
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Install wingnuts and tighten.
Hold each camshaft in place using 24 mm open-end wrench and carefully remove camshaft sprocket timing retaining bolts and washers. Discard torque-to-yield (TTY) bolts.

Fig 14: Removing Camshaft Sprocket Timing Retaining Bolts And Washers
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

IMPORTANT: When sliding timing chain and sprockets onto guide pins, be sure timing chain is positioned properly on adjustable and fixed guide or guide damage will occur. Care should be taken when removing camshaft sprockets from camshafts.

IMPORTANT: Camshafts are spring loaded and may rotate. Care should be taken until all spring tension is removed from camshaft.
Slide camshaft sprockets away from camshafts.
To release spring tension on camshaft, after camshaft is disengaged from sprocket, rotate camshaft using a 24 mm wrench to a neutral position.

Fig 15: Removing Camshaft Bearing Cap Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Uniformly loosen and remove remaining camshaft bearing cap bolts.
Carefully pull camshaft(s) straight up to avoid damaging cylinder head thrust surfaces.

Fig 16: Removing Remaining Camshaft Bearing Cap Bolts
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

IMPORTANT: When servicing cylinder head components, components should be kept in order to assure proper re-assembly.

Fig 17: Removing Valve Springs
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Remove rocker arms (followers).

Fig 18: Removing Rocker Arms
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Remove lash adjusters.

Fig 19: Removing Lash Adjusters
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NOTE: During camshaft removal procedure, the pistons are locked by Camshaft Support Holding tool J43655 and SHOULD NOT be rotated. Tool damage may result and timing chain re-timing will be required.
Install Valve Spring Compressor J43649. Use four cam cover bolts to mount the supports to cylinder head.
Thread bolts into cam cover holes.

Fig 20: Installing Valve Spring Compressor
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Torque:

Cam Cover Bolts-to-Hold Valve Sp/P>

Compressor: 10 N.m (89 in-lbs)
Install spark plug adapter from Gauge Bar Set SA9127E in the respective cylinder.
NOTE: Care should be used when servicing valve spring, retainer and valve. If air pressure is lost, valve will drop into cylinder.
Pressurize cylinder being serviced to 690 kPa (100 psi).
Both intake and exhaust valves must be closed to allow pressure to build. Do not rotate engine.

Fig 21: Installing Spark Plug Adapter From Gauge Bar Set
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Position compressor assembly over valve spring to be removed and tighten down.
IMPORTANT: The T-handle compressor was used on L-Series vehicles but does not provide sufficient clearance when servicing the SUV. Changing the tool from the T-handle compressor rod to the shorter hex rod will allow service for all 4-cylinder applications.
Use a magnetic to remove valve retainers.
Release tension on Valve Spring Compressor J43649 tool.

Fig 22: Releasing Tension On Valve Spring Compressor J43649 tool
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove valve spring cap and spring.

Fig 23: Removing Valve Spring Cap And Spring
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Remove valve seal using Valve Seal Remover/Replacer SA9102E-A.
One cylinder must be serviced at a time to allow the cylinder to be pressurized. After reassembly, steps 36-42 can be completed on other cylinders as necessary.

Fig 24: Removing Valve Seal Using Valve Seal Remover/Replacer SA9102E-A
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.