Camshafts — Removal (Nissan Qashqai J10)

Note.

This section contains procedures for removing and installing the camshaft with the engine front cover installed. If the engine front cover was previously removed, the following steps must be modified:

• Step 8: After removing the camshaft sprocket, remove the camshaft covers (No. 2-5).
• Step 9: The exhaust camshaft can be removed at the same time as the intake camshaft.
• Step 10: If the intake camshaft sprocket mounting bolt is removed, lifting the camshaft is not necessary.

1. Support the bottom of the engine with a transmission jack, then remove the engine mounting bracket and right elastic mounting element.

2. Remove the cylinder head cover (rocker cover).

3. Remove the camshaft position sensor from the rear of the cylinder head.

Caution: Be careful not to hit the camshaft position sensor.

4. Set the piston of the first cylinder to the top dead center position of the compression stroke as follows:

Turn the crankshaft pulley (2) clockwise until the TDC mark is aligned (without color mark) (A) with pointer (1) on the front cover. The white color mark (B) is not used for engine maintenance.



Make sure that the timing marks on each camshaft sprocket are positioned as shown in the illustration.

Note: If the marks are not in the specified position, rotate the crankshaft pulley one more revolution to set the marks to the desired position.

Apply paint marks to the drive chain links.

5. Lock the chain tensioner plunger in the fully compressed position as follows: (after this, release the drive chain tensioner):

Remove the plug (2) from the front cover (1).



Press the chain tensioner lever (2) (B) through the hole in the front cover until it stops, then insert the locking pin (A) into the side hole in the cylinder block and fix the lever in the lower position.

Note.

• The tongue is released by fully pressing the lever, as a result of which the plunger (1) can move again.
• The figure shows as an example the use of a 2.5 mm hex key for fixing.

Caution: The locking pin must have a bend to prevent the pin from accidentally falling under the front engine cover.

Turn the crankshaft pulley (2) counterclockwise, securing the camshaft (1) by the hexagonal part (A) with a wrench. Having thus tensioned the drive chain, press the plunger inside the tensioner.



Remove the locking pin from the tensioner (2). Pull the lever (B) to align the hole in it with the hole in the housing. When the hole in the lever (C) matches the hole in the housing, the plunger (1) is fixed. If the protruding parts of the plunger ratchet and tongue are opposite each other, the holes do not match. At this point, it is necessary to properly hook them and align the holes by slightly moving the plunger.





Insert the locking pin into the housing hole through the lever hole, then lock the lever in the upper position.


Turn the crankshaft pulley (2) slightly clockwise to loosen the drive chain on the exhaust camshaft sprocket side (1).

Caution: To secure the camshaft, hold it with a wrench by the hexagonal part (A).

6. Remove the exhaust camshaft sprocket (1).

Attention.

• Hold the camshaft by the hexagonal part (A) and fix it.
• Do not rotate the crankshaft or camshaft separately from each other to avoid damage to the piston by the valves later.

Note: When the front cover is installed on the engine, the drive chain does not detach from the crankshaft sprocket and does not fall into the front cover. Therefore, there is no need to use a drive chain retainer.

7. Turn the intake camshaft sprocket forward until it stops.

Attention.

• The installation and removal of the intake camshaft sprocket must be carried out in the extreme possible stop position for the following reasons:
• Sprocket (C) and blades (camshaft couplings) (B) are designed to rotate and move within a certain angle range. When the engine is stopped and the blade rotation angle is reduced to the minimum, rotation will not occur due to the blades being locked on the sprocket side by the internal pin (A). If the camshaft sprocket mounting bolts are rotated in this situation, the locking pin may be damaged, causing failures due to increased horizontal load (shear forces) on the locking pin.

Loosen the mounting bolts in several passes and remove the camshaft cover (journals No.1) (1).

Note: Arrow points to the front of the engine.

Supply compressed air (under pressure of 300 kPa (3.1 kg/cm²) or more) into the lubrication hole (A) of the main bearing No.1 (on the second recess from the front thrust washer (B)) of the intake camshaft (1), as shown in the figure.

Note: The next step is performed with a constant supply of compressed air.

Attach the rubber tip (B) tapered to the top of the air gun (A) to prevent air leakage from the lubrication hole. Apply compressed air.

Attention.

• There are other lubrication holes on the groove side. Apply air only to the lubrication hole described above.
• Make sure the oil groove is not damaged by the tip of the air gun.
• Before applying air, remove all oil from the tip of the air gun to prevent subsequent oil splashing. Eye protection (goggles) should also be used.

Note: Compressed air supply is used to move the locking pin to the unlocking position.

While holding the intake camshaft sprocket with your hands, apply force clockwise or counterclockwise as desired, then rotate the intake camshaft sprocket counterclockwise (the direction of rotation shown in the figure by the arrow).

If the locking pin cannot be released manually, lightly tap the intake camshaft sprocket with a plastic hammer (A).



If the intake camshaft sprocket does not rotate counterclockwise even after performing the above procedures, check the air pressure and oil hole position.

While performing the above operations, as soon as a click is heard from inside the intake camshaft sprocket (sound of internal locking pin releasing), start rotating the sprocket counterclockwise until it stops.



Apply compressed air. If there is no click, the locking pin is unlocked as soon as the blade side (camshaft side) starts to rotate independently of the sprocket.



Make sure that the coupling is at the extreme maximum angle position by checking whether the groove of the locking pin (A) matches the hole of the locking pin (B) as shown in the figure.

Stop the compressed air supply and release the intake camshaft.

Insert the locking pin (A) into the corresponding hole in the intake camshaft sprocket and lock the sprocket in the extreme maximum position,

Caution: Do not apply force to the locking pin (spring resistance, etc.). Since the pin (A) is not fixed and can easily fall out, it is necessary to use electrical tape or scotch tape (B) to fix it.

Note: For example, a 2.5mm Allen key with an insertion length of approximately 15mm can be used as a locking pin.

8. Remove the camshaft covers (No. 2-5).

Note: Loosen the bolts in several steps in the reverse order to that shown in the figure.

Note.

• The arrow in the figure points to the front of the engine.
• The camshaft cover (No. 1) has already been removed by this time.

9. Remove the exhaust camshaft.

10. Remove the intake camshaft (1) with sprocket (2) as follows:

Raise the intake camshaft sprocket and install a thin tool (open-end wrench) on the mounting bolt (A).



Return the intake camshaft to its place in the cylinder head bearings.

While holding the hexagonal part (A) with a wrench, loosen the intake camshaft sprocket mounting bolt (2).



Raise the intake camshaft (1) and separate the camshaft and sprocket (2).



Remove the camshaft back.

Caution: Be careful not to damage the impulse disk at the rear of the camshaft.

Remove the intake camshaft sprocket (1).

Attention.

• Be careful not to drop the locking pin
• Tape the locking pin (B) with electrical tape (C) to prevent it from falling out.
• Be careful not to drop the camshaft sprocket with the phase shifter. Do not disassemble the phase shifter (do not unscrew the three mounting bolts (a)).

Note.

If, when removing the intake camshaft sprocket, the locking pin falls out and the timing stud is displaced, the following must be done:

• Install the intake camshaft and tighten the mounting bolts to prevent compressed air leaks.
• Apply compressed air to release the locking pin and turn the coupling to its maximum extreme position.
• Insert the locking pin.
• Remove the sprocket from the intake camshaft.

Caution: The internal locking pin may be damaged, so tighten the mounting bolts to the minimum tightening torque.

11. Mark the positions of the pushers and remove them, placing them in order without mixing them.

12. Remove the intake valve opening control solenoid valve (1).



13. Remove the generator with the bracket, remove the plug (2), and then remove the oil filter.