Timing Belt & Camshaft Timing Procedure: Removal

For belt measurement specification, see TIMING BELT TENSION SPECIFICATIONS .

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove air cleaner duct. Drain engine coolant. See COOLING SYSTEM DRAINING . Disconnect accelerator and cruise control cables from throttle body. Remove the fuel injector sight shield. Remove fuel rail cover and relieve fuel pressure. See FUEL PRESSURE RELEASE . Remove fuel lines from fuel rail and remove fuel mounting bracket.
2. Remove heater hose and bracket from lower intake manifold. Remove PCV valve and vacuum line from throttle body. Disconnect electrical connector from EGR. Remove EGR valve. Disconnect electrical connection from canister purge solenoid and MAP sensor. Remove vacuum lines from upper intake manifold tee. Remove wiring loom bracket for rear spark plug wires. Disconnect power brake vacuum hose and remove upper intake manifold support bracket and manifold. Remove coolant recovery tank.
3. Remove serpentine belt and belt tensioner. Remove power steering pump. Disconnect PCM electrical connectors and reposition. Disconnect spark plug wires from spark plugs. Relocate wiring harness cover at right strut tower. Remove fuel line bracket and all upper timing belt covers (3). Remove breather hose from rear camshaft cover, and crankcase vent from breather manifold.
4. Remove camshaft carrier covers. See CAMSHAFT CARRIER & COVERS . Remove side plate bolts from actuator and rotate actuator assembly from tensioner pulley socket, and out of mounting base. See Figure. Remove timing belt tensioner pulley. See Figure. DO NOT install the rod tip or the tensioner actuator boot in the jaws of a vise or damage to the assembly may occur.
5. Position actuator in vertical position (rod tip down), lightly clamp actuator body in vise. See Figure. (Position the tensioner actuator up, so the oil goes to the boot end for at least 5 minutes before refilling the actuator prior to reassembly, if necessary). Actuator assembly uses a tapered bushing between actuator and mounting base. DO NOT lose or damage bushing when removing actuator assembly.
6. Straighten out a standard paper clip .032" (.81mm) diameter, to a minimum straight length of 1.85 " (47 mm). Form a double loop in remaining end of paper clip. See Figure. Actuator assembly is filled with oil and removal of the plug may allow oil to escape. DO NOT remove vent plug. Push paper clip through center of vent plug and into pilot hole. Insert a small screwdriver into screw slot inside actuator, behind rubber end plug. Retract actuator plunger by rotating screw in a clockwise direction, until it is fully retracted. Push on paper clip and slowly rotate screw counterclockwise until paper clip engages. This unloads tensioner.
CAUTION: Remove the painted on factory timing marks from all 4 camshafts and the intermediate shaft sprocket (they will no longer be used for timing reference). Prior to installing the Cam Hold Down, ensure that the bolt hole is free of any debris or the camshaft carrier may be damaged.
7. Remove timing belt. Rotate crankshaft so No. 1 cylinder is at TDC (Top Dead Center). Mark crankshaft timing indicator (with White paint or equivalent) on crankshaft balancer and front cover only. See Figure.
8. Position camshafts so flat spots are UP for installation of Cam Hold Down. See Figure. Install Cam Hold Downs on both camshaft carriers. One on left (front head) and the other on the right (rear head). To remove camshaft sprockets, install Cam Hold Down and remove bolts, taper lock rings, and sprockets by lightly tapping on it with a soft faced hammer. See Figure.