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TIMING VERIFICATION Dodge Nitro I

3.7L Engine - Service Information 6 illustrations ~691 words

TIMING VERIFICATION

1 - TIMING CHAIN COVER
2 - CRANKSHAFT TIMING MARKS
CAUTIONThe 3.7L is a non free-wheeling design engine. Therefore, correct engine timing is critical.

Note. Components referred to as left hand or right hand are as viewed from the drivers position inside the vehicle.

Note. The blue link plates on the chains and the dots on the camshaft drive sprockets may not line up during the timing verification procedure. The blue link plates are lined up with the sprocket dots only when re-timing the complete timing drive. Once the timing drive is rotated blue link-to-dot alignment is no longer valid.

Engine base timing can be verified by the following procedure

Scheme 134

Scheme 134
Scheme 134
  1. Remove the cylinder head covers. Refer to «REMOVAL»(ref-306142-S12051049862008120900000) for left side or «REMOVAL»(ref-306142-S07155423102008120900000) for right side.
  2. Using a mirror, locate the TDC arrow on the front cover. Rotate the crankshaft until the mark on the crankshaft damper (2) is aligned with the TDC arrow on the front cover (2). The engine is now at TDC. see scheme 171 1 - LEFT CYLINDER HEAD 2 - RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD
  3. Note the location of the V6 mark stamped into the camshaft drive gears (1,2). If the V6 mark on each camshaft drive gear is at the twelve o'clock position, the engine is at TDC on the exhaust stroke. If the V6 mark on each gear is at the six o'clock position, the engine is at TDC on the compression stroke. (Scheme 134)
  4. If both of the camshaft drive gears are off in the same or opposite directions, the primary chain or both secondary chains are at fault. Refer to «CHAIN AND SPROCKETS-TIMING»(ref-306142-S36793491762008120900000).
  5. If only one of the camshaft drive gears is off and the other is correct, the problem is confined to one secondary chain. Refer to «TIMING - SINGLE CAMSHAFT»(ref-306142-S14722536052008120900000).
  6. If both camshaft drive gear V6 marks are at the twelve o'clock or the six o'clock position the engine base timing is correct. Reinstall the cylinder head covers.

Scheme 135

Scheme 135: COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT TIMING
Scheme 135: COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT TIMING
1 - COUNTERBALANCE SHAFT GEAR
2 - TIMING MARK
3 - IDLER SPROCKET GEAR
  1. Ensure that the engine is at TDC with both camshaft sprocket V6 marks in the 12 o'clock position.
  2. Look down the left cylinder head chain cavity. The timing dot (2) on the counter balance shaft drive gear should be in the 6 o'clock position. (Scheme 135)

Scheme 136

Scheme 136: TIMING - SINGLE CAMSHAFT
Scheme 136: TIMING - SINGLE CAMSHAFT
1 - CYLINDER HEAD
2 - SPECIAL TOOL 8379
3 - TIMING CHAIN

Note. to adjust the timing on one camshaft, preform the following procedure.

Scheme 137

Scheme 137
Scheme 137
  1. Using the Wedge Locking Tool 8379 (2), stabilize the secondary chain drive. For reference purposes, mark the chain-to-sprocket position. (Scheme 136) 1 - SPECIAL TOOL 8379 TIMING CHAIN WEDGE 2 - CAMSHAFT DRIVE GEAR 3 - RETAINING BOLT 4 - CYLINDER HEAD
  2. Remove the camshaft drive gear retaining bolt (3). (Scheme 137)
  3. Carefully remove the camshaft drive gear from the camshaft. 1 - LEFT CYLINDER HEAD 2 - RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD
  4. Re-index the camshaft drive gear in the chain until the V6 mark is at the same position as the V6 mark on the opposite camshaft drive gear (1,2). see scheme 176
  5. Using the Camshaft Holder 8428, rotate the camshaft until the alignment dowel on the camshaft is aligned with the slot in the camshaft drive gear. CAUTION: Remove excess oil from camshaft sprocket retaining bolt before reinstalling bolt. Failure to do so may cause over-torqueing of bolt resulting in bolt failure.
  6. Position the camshaft drive gear onto the camshaft, remove oil from bolt then install the retaining bolt. Using Special Tools, Spanner Wrench 6958 with Adapter Pins 8346 and a suitable torque wrench. Tighten the retaining bolt to 122 N.m (90 ft. lbs.).
  7. Remove the Wedge Locking Tool 8379.
  8. Rotate the crankshaft two full revolutions, then verify that the camshaft drive gear V6 marks are in fact aligned.
  9. Install the cylinder head covers. Refer to «INSTALLATION»(ref-306142-S22568602322008120900000) for left side or «INSTALLATION»(ref-306142-S07052064472008120900000) for right side.

Scheme 138

Scheme 138: BALANCE SHAFT
Scheme 138: BALANCE SHAFT
1 - IDLER SHAFT
2 - COUNTERBALANCE SHAFT THRUST PLATE
3 - COUNTERBALANCE SHAFT DRIVE GEAR
4 - RETAINING BOLT

Scheme 139

Scheme 139
Scheme 139
  1. Remove the primary and secondary timing chains. Refer to «CHAIN AND SPROCKETS-TIMING»(ref-306142-S36793491762008120900000). NOTE: The balance shaft and gear are serviced as an assembly. Do not attempt to remove the gear from the balance shaft. Remove the retaining bolt (4) from the counterbalance shaft thrust plate (2). (Scheme 138) 1 - COUNTERBALANCE SHAFT REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION TOOL 2 - COUNTERBALANCE SHAFT THRUST PLATE
  2. Using the Counterbalance Shaft Remover/Installer tool 8641 (1), remove the counterbalance shaft from the engine. (Scheme 139)