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Timing Chain: Installation

  1. Install RH and LH camshaft chain tensioners to cylinder head as follows, if removed.
    1. Install chain tensioners with stopper pin attached and new O-ring, if removed.
    2. Install No. 1 camshaft brackets.
    Fig 1: Installing O-Rings Onto Cylinder Block
    G00787750Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  2. Install O-rings onto cylinder block.
    Fig 2: Installing O-Rings To Cylinder Head
    G00787751Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  3. Install O-rings to cylinder head.
  4. Apply liquid gasket to rear timing chain case. Refer to "POSITION FOR APPLYING LIQUID GASKET ".
  5. Align rear timing chain case and water pump assembly with dowel pins (RH and LH) on cylinder block. Then install it.
    • Do not allow O-ring to drop.
      1. Tighten mounting bolts in order as shown in the figure.
        • Install two types of mounting bolts, referring to the following instructions and figure.

          Bolt length: 

          20 mm (0.79 in) (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 in the figure) 

          16 mm (0.63 in) (other than the above) 

          12 - 13 N.m (1.2 - 1.4 kg-m, 9 - 10 ft-lb) 

      2. After all bolts are temporarily tightened, retighten them to specified torque in Fig 3.
    Fig 3: Tightening Rear Timing Chain Case Bolts
    G00787752Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  6. After installing rear timing chain case, check surface height difference between following parts on oil pan mounting surface.

    Standard 

    Rear timing chain case to cylinder block: 

    -0.24 to 0.14 mm (-0.0094 to 0.0055 in) 

    • If not within standard, repeat above installation procedure.
  7. Install chain tension guide.
    Fig 4: Identifying Crankshaft Key
    G00787753Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  8. Make sure that camshaft and crankshaft are at TDC position of No. 1 cylinder.
    • Make sure that dowel pin hole, dowel pin and crankshaft key are located as shown in the figure.

    Camshaft dowel pin hole (intake-side): At cylinder head upper face side in each bank

    Camshaft dowel pin (exhaust-side): At cylinder head upper face side in each bank

    Crankshaft key: At cylinder head side of RH bank

    CAUTION: Hole on small diameter side must be used for intake camshaft sprocket dowel pin. Do not misidentify (Ignore big diameter side).
  9. Install secondary timing chain and camshaft sprocket.
    Fig 5: Identifying Stopper Pin
    G00787754Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    CAUTION: Matching marks between timing chain, intake and exhaust camshaft sprockets slip easily. Confirm all matching mark positions repeatedly during the installation process.
    • Push sleeve of secondary chain tensioner, and keep it pressed with stopper pin.
    1. Align matching marks on secondary timing chain (gold link) with the ones on intake and exhaust sprockets (stamped). Then install them.
      • Matching marks of intake sprocket are on back side of secondary sprocket.
        Fig 6: Aligning Dowel Pin And Pin Hole On Camshaft With Groove And Dowel Pin On Sprocket
        G00787755Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
      • There are two types of matching marks: round and oval types. They should be used for RH/LH banks respectively.

        RH bank: Use round type.

        LH bank: Use oval type.

    2. Align dowel pin and pin hole on camshaft with groove and dowel pin on sprocket. Then install them.
      • On intake side, align pin hole on small diameter side of camshaft front end with dowel pin on back side of camshaft sprocket. Then install them.
      • On exhaust side, align dowel pin on camshaft front end with pin groove on camshaft sprocket. Then install them.
      • Mounting bolts for camshaft sprockets must be tightened in step 10. Tightening them by hand is enough to prevent dislocation of dowel pins.
        Fig 7: Identifying Mating Mark On Top Of Sprocket Teeth
        G00787756Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
      • It may be difficult to visually check the dislocation of mating marks during and after installation. To make the matching easier, make a mating mark on the top of sprocket teeth and its extended line in advance with paint.
    Fig 8: Securing Camshaft Hexagonal Portion Using Spanner To Tightening Mounting Bolts
    G00787757Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  10. After confirming the mating marks are aligned, tighten the camshaft sprocket mounting bolts.
    • Secure the camshaft hexagonal portion using a spanner to tighten mounting bolts.
  11. Pull out the stopper pin from the secondary timing chain tensioner.
    Fig 9: Pulling Out Stopper Pin From Secondary Timing Chain Tensioner
    G00787758Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    Fig 10: Identifying Matching Mark To Crankshaft Sprocket
    G00787759Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  12. Install primary timing chain.
    • Install crankshaft sprocket, with matching mark to timing chain facing front to engine.
      Fig 11: Aligning Mating Marks Of Primary Timing Chain Sprocket
      G00787760Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    • Install primary timing chain so that mating mark (punched) on camshaft sprocket is aligned with that (yellow link) on the timing chain, and mating mark (notched) on crankshaft sprocket is aligned with that orange link on the timing chain, respectively.
    • When it is difficult to align mating marks of the primary timing chain with each sprocket, gradually turn the camshaft hexagonal portion using a spanner so it is aligned with the mating mark.
  13. Install internal chain guide.
    Fig 12: Installing Internal Chain Guide
    G00787761Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  14. Install slack guide.
    Fig 13: Identifying Mounting Bolts
    G00787762Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    • Take care not to over tighten mounting bolts for slack guide. It is normal for a gap to exist under bolt seats when mounting bolts are tightened to specified torque.
    Fig 14: Installing Chain Tensioner For Slack Guide
    G00787763Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  15. Install chain tensioner for slack guide.
    • When installing chain tensioner, push in sleeve and keep it pressed with stopper pin.
    • Remove dirt and foreign materials completely from back and mounting surfaces of chain tensioner.
    • After installing, pull out stopper pin by pressing slack guide.
  16. Confirm again that matching marks on sprockets and timing chain have not slipped.
    Fig 15: Installing Front Oil Seal To Front Timing Chain Case
    G00787764Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  17. Install front oil seal to front timing chain case. Refer to "FRONT OIL SEAL ".
    Fig 16: Applying Liquid Gasket To Water Pump Cover And Chain Tensioner Cover
    G00787765Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    Fig 17: Installing O-Rings On Rear Timing Chain Case
    G00787766Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    Fig 18: Tightening Front Timing Chain Case Bolts
    G00787767Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    Fig 19: Checking Surface Height Difference Between On Oil Pan Mounting Surface
    G00787768Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  18. Apply liquid gasket to water pump cover and chain tensioner cover. Refer to INSTALLATION .
  19. Install water pump cover and chain tensioner cover.
  20. Install O-rings on rear timing chain case.
  21. Apply liquid gasket to front timing chain case.
  22. Install front timing chain case.
    • Align dowel pin on rear timing chain case with hole on front timing chain case.
  23. Tighten bolts to the specified torque in order shown in the figure.
  24. After installing front timing chain case, check surface height difference between following parts on oil pan mounting surface.

    Standard 

    Front timing chain case to rear timing chain case: 

    -0.14 to 0.14 mm (-0.0055 to 0.0055 in) 

    • If not within standard, repeat above installation procedure.
    Fig 20: Installing Seal Ring On Intake Valve Timing Control Cover
    G00787769Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    Fig 21: Installing O-Ring In Front Timing Chain Case
    G00787770Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    Fig 22: Aligning Dowel Pins On Chain Case
    G00787771Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    Fig 23: Installing Rocker Covers
    G00787772Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    Fig 24: Tightening Rocker Covers Bolts
    G00787773Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  25. Install LH and RH intake valve timing control covers.
    1. Install new seal ring at intake valve timing control cover with new engine oil applied on it.
    2. Apply liquid gasket to intake valve timing control covers.
    3. Install collared O-ring in front timing chain case oil hole (LH and RH sides).
    4. Being careful not to move the seal ring from the installation groove, align the dowel pins on the chain case with the holes to install the intake valve timing control cover.
    5. Tighten in numerical order as shown in the figure.
  26. Install RH and LH rocker covers.
    • Check spark plug hole oil seal for cracks and damage on sealing portion. Replace rocker cover if necessary. 
    • Apply liquid gasket to RH and LH rocker covers. Refer to " POSITION FOR APPLYING LIQUID GASKET  ". 
    • Use Genuine RTV Silicone Sealant or equivalent. Refer to  RECOMMENDED CHEMICAL PRODUCTS AND SEALANTS  . 

      Rocker cover tightening procedure: 

    • Tighten in numerical order as shown in the figure. 
      1. Tighten bolts 1 to 10 in that order to 0.96 to 2.96 N.m (0.10 to 0.30 kg-m, 9 to 26 in-lb).
      2. Then tighten bolts 1 to 10 as indicated in figure to 7.33 to 9.33 N.m (0.75 to 0.95 kg-m, 65 to 82 in-lb).
  27. Install RH and LH intake valve timing control solenoid valves.
    Fig 25: Installing Intake Valve Timing Control Solenoid Valves
    G00787774Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  28. Install RH and LH ignition coils.
  29. Install intake manifold collector gasket.
  30. Install intake manifold upper and lower collectors.

    Refer to  TIGHTENING PROCEDURES  .  

    Fig 26: Tightening Crankshaft Pulley To Crankshaft Bolts
    G00787775Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  31. Install crankshaft pulley to crankshaft.
    1. Tighten to 39.2 to 49.0 N.m (4.0 to 5.0 kg-m, 29 to 36 ft-lb).
    2. Put a paint mark on the crankshaft pulley.
      Fig 27: Aligning Crankshaft Pulley
      G00787776Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    3. Again tighten by turning 60° to 66° [Target: 60 degrees (equivalent to one graduation)].
      Fig 28: Installing Heated Oxygen Sensor Harness Clamp
      G00787777Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  32. Reinstall removed parts in reverse order of removal.
    • Make sure that crankshaft position sensor (POS) and heated oxygen sensor 1 (bank 2) harness clamp are installed correctly as shown in figure. 
    • When installing fuel tube assembly. Refer to FUEL PRESSURE CHECK .
    • Check oil level after refilling engine oil.
    • After starting engine, keep idling for three minutes. Then rev engine up to 3,000 RPM under no load to purge air from the high-pressure chamber of the chain tensioners. The engine may produce a rattling noise. This indicates that air still remains in the chamber and is not a matter of concern. 
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