Nissan Maxima Service and Repair Manual: Timing Chain

Exploded View

1. Timing chain tensioner (secondary)
2. Internal chain guide
3. Timing chain tensioner (secondary)
4. Camshaft sprocket (EXH)
5. Timing chain (secondary)
6. Timing chain (primary)
7. Camshaft sprocket (INT)
8. Camshaft sprocket (INT)
9. Timing chain (secondary)
10. Camshaft sprocket (EXH)
11. Slack guide
12. Crankshaft sprocket
13. Tension guide

Removal and Installation

CAUTION:

• After removing timing chains, do not turn the crankshaft and camshaft separately, or the valves will strike the pistons.
• When installing camshafts, chain tensioners, oil seals, or other sliding parts, lubricate contacting surfaces with new engine oil.
• Apply new engine oil to bolt threads and seat surfaces when installing camshaft sprockets, camshaft brackets, and crankshaft pulley.

REMOVAL

1. Remove front timing chain case. Refer to EM-54, "Removal and Installation".
2. Remove the intake manifold collector. Refer to EM-25, "Removal and Installation".
3. Remove the engine oil dipstick.
4. Place paint marks on the timing chain and sprockets to indicate the correct position of the components for installation.
5. Remove the timing chain tensioner (primary).

1. Pull lever down and release plunger stopper tab. Plunger stopper tab can be pushed up to release (coaxial structure with lever).

2. Insert stopper pin into timing chain tensioner (primary) body hole to hold lever, and keep the tab released. An Allen wrench [1.2 mm (0.047 in)] is used for a stopper pin as an example.
3. Insert plunger into tensioner body by pressing the slack guide.
4. Keep the slack guide pressed and hold it by pushing the stopper pin through the lever hole and body hole.
5. Remove the bolts and remove the timing chain tensioner (primary).

6. Remove the internal chain guide (1), and slack guide (2)
7. Remove timing chain (primary) and crankshaft sprocket.

CAUTION: After removing timing chains, do not turn the crankshaft and camshaft separately, or the valves will strike the pistons.

8. Attach a suitable stopper pin (2) to the right and left timing chain tensioners (secondary) (1).

1. Bank 1
2. Bank 2

9. Remove the timing chains (secondary) with camshaft sprockets (INT) and (EXH).

1. Insert metal or resin plate [0.5 mm (0.020 in)] into guide between timing chain (secondary) and timing chain tensioner (secondary) plunger. Remove camshaft sprocket and timing chain (secondary) with timing chain removed from guide groove.

CAUTION: Timing chain tensioner plunger can move while stopper pin is inserted in timing chain tensioner.

Plunger can come out of tensioner when timing chain is removed. Use caution during removal.

• Apply paint marks to the timing chain and camshaft sprockets for alignment during installation.

2. Remove the camshaft sprocket (INT) and (EXH) bolts.

• Secure the hexagonal portion of the camshaft using a wrench to loosen the bolts.
• Handle the sprockets as an assembly.

3. Remove timing chains (secondary).

CAUTION:

• Avoid impact or dropping the camshaft sprockets.
• Do not disassemble the camshaft sprockets (do not loosen bolts (A) and (B) as shown).

10. Remove the tension guide.

INSPECTION

Check for cracks and any excessive wear of the timing chain. Replace the timing chain as necessary.

INSTALLATION

NOTE: The figure shows the relationship between the mating mark on each timing chain and that on the corresponding sprocket with the components installed.

1. Internal chain guide
2. Camshaft sprocket (INT)
3. Mating mark (pink link)
4. Mating mark (punched)
5. Timing chain tensioner (secondary)
6. Mating mark (orange link)
7. Timing chain (secondary)
8. Camshaft sprocket (EXH)
9. Tension guide
10. Water pump
11. Crankshaft sprocket
12. Mating mark (notched)
13. Timing chain (primary)
14. Slack guide
15. Timing chain tensioner (primary)
16. Mating mark (back side)
17. Crankshaft key

1. Install the tension guide.
2. Position the crankshaft so No. 1 piston is set at TDC on the compression stroke.

NOTE:

• Make sure that the dowel pins (A) and crankshaft key (1) are located as shown.
• Camshaft dowel pin (INT): at cylinder head upper face side in each bank.
• Camshaft dowel pin (EXH): at cylinder head upper face side in each bank.
• Crankshaft key: at cylinder head side of RH bank.

3. Install the timing chains (secondary) and camshaft sprockets.

CAUTION: Matching marks between the timing chain and sprockets slip easily. Confirm all matching mark positions repeatedly during the installation process.

• Push the sleeve of the chain tensioner (secondary) and keep it pressed in with a stopper pin.

1. Align the matching marks (4), (5), (7) and (10) on the timing chain (secondary) (8) (orange link) (2) with the ones on the camshaft sprockets (INT) and (EXH) (punched), and install them.

• Matching marks for the camshaft sprocket (INT) are on the back side of the secondary sprocket.
• There are two types of matching marks:

• RH bank use round type (7) and (10).
• LH bank (6): use oval type (4) and (5).

• Check mating mark (punched) (D) on each camshaft sprocket is positioned on the mating marks (orange link) (C) on timing chain (secondary).

1. Intake side
2. Exhaust side

NOTE: Ensure the mating mark (punched) (D) on the camshaft sprocket is aligned with the mating marks (orange link) (C) on the timing chain (secondary).

4. After confirming the mating marks are aligned, tighten the camshaft sprocket bolts.

• Secure the camshaft using a wrench at the hexagonal portion to tighten the bolts.

1. Align the matching marks (4), (5), (7) and (10) on the timing chain (secondary) (8) (orange link) (2) with the ones on the camshaft sprockets (INT) and (EXH) (punched), and install them.

• Matching marks for the camshaft sprocket (INT) are on the back side of the secondary sprocket.
• There are two types of matching marks:

• RH bank use round type (7) and (10).
• LH bank (6): use oval type (4) and (5).

2. Align the dowel pin with the pin hole (3) on the camshaft sprocket (INT) side (1), and dowel pin groove (11) with the dowel pin on the camshaft sprocket (EXH) side (9), and install them.

• Camshaft sprocket bolts must be tightened in the next step.

  Tightening them by hand is enough to prevent the dislocation of the dowel pins (3) and dowel pin grooves (11).

• Check mating mark (punched) (D) on each camshaft sprocket is positioned on the mating marks (orange link) (C) on timing chain (secondary).

1. Intake side
2. Exhaust side

NOTE: Ensure the mating mark (punched) (D) on the camshaft sprocket is aligned with the mating marks (orange link) (C) on the timing chain (secondary).

4. After confirming the mating marks are aligned, tighten the camshaft sprocket bolts.

• Secure the camshaft using a wrench at the hexagonal portion to tighten the bolts.

5. Pull the stopper pins (2) out from the timing chain tensioners (secondary) (1).

1. : Bank 1
2. : Bank 2

6. Install the crankshaft sprocket on the crankshaft.

• Make sure the mating marks on the crankshaft sprocket face the front of the engine.

7. Install the timing chain (primary).

• Install timing chain (primary) so the mating mark punched (B) on camshaft sprocket (C) is aligned with the pink link (A) on the timing chain, while the mating mark (notched) (E) on the crankshaft sprocket (D) is aligned with the orange one (F) on the timing chain, as shown.
• When it is difficult to align mating marks of the timing chain (primary) with each sprocket, gradually turn the camshaft using a wrench on the hexagonal portion to align it with the mating marks.
• During alignment, be careful to prevent dislocation of mating mark alignments of the secondary timing chains.

  (G): Water pump

8. Install the internal chain guide (1), slack guide (2) and timing chain (primary).

CAUTION: Do not overtighten the slack guide bolts. It is normal for a gap to exist under the bolt seats when the bolts are tightened to specification.

9. Install the timing chain tensioner (primary) for the slack guide.

• When installing the timing chain tensioner (primary), push in the sleeve and keep it pressed in with the stopper pin.
• Remove any dirt and foreign materials completely from the back and the mounting surfaces of the timing chain tensioner (primary).
• After installation, pull out the stopper pin while pressing the slack guide.

10. Reconfirm that the matching marks on the sprockets and the timing chain have not slipped out of alignment.
11. Install the front timing chain case.