#### REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

##### 3.0L (VG30E) Engine

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove the engine undercovers and drain engine coolant from the radiator; be careful not to allow coolant to contact drive belts.
3. Remove the front right side wheel and tire assembly. Remove the engine side cover.
4. Remove all the drive belts from the engine.
5. Rotate the crankshaft to position the No. 1 cylinder at the TDC of it's compression stroke.
6. Remove the upper radiator hose and the water inlet hose. Remove the water pump pulley.
7. Remove the idler bracket of the compressor drive belt and crankshaft pulley.
8. Remove the upper and lower timing belt covers.

   NOTE: Make sure the punch marks on the camshaft sprockets align with the punch marks on the rear timing belt cover and the punch mark on the crankshaft sprocket aligns with the punch mark on the oil pump.

9. Loosen the timing belt idler pulley bolt. Using a hexagon wrench, rotate the idler pulley to release its tension and remove the timing belt.

   NOTE: After removing timing belt, do not rotate crankshaft or camshaft because valves will hit piston heads.

10. Using an adjustable spanner wrench (to hold the camshaft sprockets) and a socket wrench, remove the camshaft sprocket bolt and washer.
11. Pull the camshaft sprockets from the camshafts. Be careful not to lose the key.

    NOTE: The right and left camshaft pulleys are different parts. Install them in their correct positions. The right pulley has an R3 identification mark and the left pulley has an L3.

12. Crankshaft sprocket can pulled off crankshaft. If sprocket is difficult to remove, use an appropriate puller to remove.

    To install:

13. Install the camshaft sprockets. Hold the sprocket and torque mounting bolt to 65 ft. lbs. (88 Nm).
14. Align Woodruff key and tap crankshaft sprocket onto crankshaft, using a plastic hammer or mallet.

    NOTE: Be careful not to bend the new belt installing it.

15. Confirm that No. 1 cylinder is at TDC on its compression stroke. Install tensioner and tensioner spring. If stud is removed apply locking sealant to threads before installing.
16. Swing tensioner fully clockwise with hexagon wrench and temporarily tighten locknut.
17. Install the timing belt assembly and be sure the marks on all 3 pulleys are aligned.

    NOTE: There are 133 total timing belt teeth. If timing belt is installed correctly there will be 40 teeth between left and right camshaft sprocket timing marks. There will be 43 teeth between left camshaft sprocket and crankshaft sprocket timing marks.

18. Loosen tensioner locknut, keeping tensioner steady with a hexagon wrench.
19. Swing tensioner 70–80°clockwise with hexagon wrench and temporarily tighten locknut.
20. Install all the spark plugs. Turn crankshaft clockwise 2–3 times, then slowly set No. 1 cylinder at TDC on its compression stroke.
21. Push middle of timing belt between right camshaft sprocket and tensioner pulley with a force of 22 lbs. (98 N).
22. Loosen tensioner locknut, keeping tensioner steady with a hexagon wrench.
23. Using a feeler gauge or equivalent, which is 0.0138 in. (0.35mm) thick and 0.500 in. (13mm) wide, set gauge at the bottom of tensioner pulley and timing belt. Turn crankshaft clockwise and position the gauge completely between tensioner pulley and timing belt. The timing belt will move about 2.5 teeth.
24. Tighten tensioner locknut, keeping tensioner steady with a hexagon wrench.
25. Turn crankshaft clockwise or counterclockwise and remove the gauge.
26. Rotate the engine 3 times, then set No. 1 at TDC on its compression stroke. Check alignment of the timing marks.
27. Check timing belt deflection. Timing belt deflection is 13.0–15mm at 22 lbs. of pressure. If it is out of specified range, readjust the timing belt.
28. The remaining components are installed in the reverse order from which they were removed.

##### 3.0L (VG30DE and VG30DETT) Engines

1. Remove the spark plugs and position the engine so that No. 1 piston is at TDC of the compression stroke.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
3. Remove the engine undercover.
4. Drain the cooling system.
5. Remove the radiator.
6. Remove the drive belts.
7. Remove the cooling fan and cooling fan clutch assembly from the front of the water pump.
8. Remove the water pump pulley.
9. Remove the starter and lock the flywheel ring gear using a suitable locking device.
10. Remove the crankshaft pulley bolt.

    NOTE: The engine is locked to prevent the crankshaft gear from turning during removal and installation. Remove the lock during engine timing portion of this procedure.

11. Remove the crankshaft pulley using a suitable puller.
12. Remove the water inlet and outlet housings.
13. Remove the timing belt covers and gaskets.

    WARNING
    After the timing belt has been removed, DO NOT rotate the camshafts or the crankshaft. Severe internal engine damage will result from piston and valve contact.

14. Install a suitable 6mm stopper bolt in the tensioner arm of the auto tensioner so the length of the pusher does not change.
15. Remove the automatic tensioner and the timing belt.
16. Check the automatic tensioner for oil leaks in the pusher rod and diaphragm. If oil is evident, replace the automatic tensioner assembly.
17. Inspect the timing gear teeth for wear and if the sprockets must removed, perform the following:
    1. On the exhaust camshaft, use a suitable spanner wrench to hold the sprocket in place and remove the camshaft pulley bolts. Remove the washer, and pull the sprocket from the camshaft.
    2. On the intake camshaft, use a suitable spanner wrench to hold the sprocket in place, and carefully remove the front cover bolts, O-ring, and spring. Then remove the center retaining bolt and the pull the sprocket, from the camshaft.
    3. Using a suitable puller, remove the crankshaft gear and timing belt plates from the crankshaft. Be careful not to gouge or scratch the surface of the crankshaft when removing the gear.

       To install:

18. If the sprockets were removed, install the crankshaft gear with new Woodruff key and torque the pulley mounting bolt to 159–174 ft. lbs. (216–235 Nm). Install the camshaft sprockets and torque to specifications.
19. Verify that the No. 1 piston is at TDC of the compression stroke.
20. Align the timing marks on the camshaft and crankshaft sprockets with the timing marks on the rear timing belt cover and the oil pump housing.
21. With a feeler gauge, check the clearance between the tensioner arm and the pusher of the automatic tensioner. The clearance should be 0.16 in. (4mm) with a slight drag on the feeler gauge. If the clearance is not as specified, mount the tensioner in a vise and adjust the clearance. When the clearance is set, insert the stopper bolt into the tensioner arm to retain the adjustment.

    NOTE: When adjusting the clearance, do not push the tensioner arm with the stopper bolt fitted, because damage to the threaded portion of the bolt will result.

22. Mount the automatic tensioner and tighten nuts and bolts by hand.
23. Install the timing belt. Ensure the timing sprockets are free of oil and water. Do not bend or twist the timing belt. Align the white lines on the belt with the timing marks on the camshaft and crankshaft sprockets. Point the arrow on the belt towards the front.
24. Push the automatic tensioner slightly towards the timing belt to prevent the belt from slipping. At the same time, turn the crankshaft 10 degrees clockwise and torque the tensioner fasteners to 12–15 ft. lbs. (16–21 Nm).

    NOTE: Do not push the tensioner too hard because it will create excessive tension on the belt.

25. Turn the crankshaft 120 degrees counterclockwise.
26. Back off on the automatic tensioner fasteners 1⁄2 turn.
27. Turn the crankshaft clockwise and set the No. 1 piston at TDC of the compression stroke.
28. Using push-pull gauge No. EG1486000 (J–38387) or equivalent, apply approximately 15.2–18.3 lbs. (67.7–81.4 N) of force to the tensioner.
29. Tighten the tensioner mounting bolts to 12–15 ft. lbs. (17–21 Nm).
30. Turn the crankshaft 120 degrees clockwise.
31. Turn the crankshaft 120 degrees counterclockwise and set the No. 1 piston at TDC of the compression stroke.

    NOTE: If the timing belt deflection exceeds the specifications, change the applied pushing force.

32. Fabricate a 0.35 in. (9mm) wide x 0.10 in. (2mm) steel plate. The length of the plate should be slightly longer than the width of the belt.
33. Set the steel plate at positions mid-way between the camshaft sprockets on each head, between the left exhaust camshaft sprocket and the idler pulley, and between the right exhaust camshaft sprocket and the tensioner.
34. Using the push-pull gauge or equivalent, apply approximately 11 lbs. (49 N) of force to the tensioner.
35. Check and record the belt deflection at each position with the steel plate in place. The timing belt deflection at each position should be 0.24–0.28 in. (6–7mm). Another means of determining the belt deflection is to add all deflection readings and divide them by 4. This average deflection should be 0.24–0.28 in. (6–7mm).
36. If the belt deflection is not as specified, repeat the timing belt adjusting procedure until the belt deflection is correct.
37. Once the belt is properly tensioned, torque the automatic tensioner fasteners to 12–15 ft. lbs. (16–21 Nm).
38. Remove the stopper bolt from the tensioner and wait 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, check the clearance between the tensioner arm and the pusher of the automatic tensioner. The clearance should remain at 0.138–0.205 in. (3.5–5.2mm).
39. Make sure the belt is installed and aligned properly on each pulley and the timing sprocket. There must be no slippage or misalignment.
40. Install the timing belt covers with new gaskets. Torque the covers bolts to 2–4 ft. lbs. (3–5 Nm).
41. Install the remaining components in the reverse order of removal.
42. Connect the negative battery cable.
43. Start the engine and check the ignition timing.