Timing chain — removal and installation (Nissan Note E11)

Removal

Description of works

1. Remove the engine and transmission assembly from the vehicle. See section "Removal and installation".

2. Separate the engine from the gearbox. See chapter Manual transmission.

3. Remove the components remaining in step 3 and proceed to step 5.

Note: The reason for performing work on the engine itself is indicated below.

When removing and installing the oil pan (upper), it is necessary to remove the gearbox.

For this reason, when removing and installing the front cover, the integrity of the engine support due to the supports is damaged.

1. Remove the front right wheel and the protective cover from the front right fender.

2. Drain the engine oil.



3. Remove the following components:

• drive belts and tension pulleys; see section "Drive belts";
• valve cover; see section "Valve cover";
• front exhaust pipe; see chapter Accelerator, fuel system and exhaust system;
• starter; see chapter Electrical equipment;
• oil pan (lower and upper) and a coarse oil filter; see above section "Oil pan and coarse oil filter";
• right headlight; see chapter Electrical equipment.

4. Perform the following operations and remove the right engine mount stand and the right engine mount brackets (upper and lower):

• a. Secure the engine in one of the following ways:;
• Install lifting eyes on the engine and secure with a winch. See section "Removal and installation".
• Support the bottom of the transmission with a jack, safety stand, etc.

Caution: When supporting the bottom with a jack, do not scratch the gearbox.

• b. Remove the right engine mount stand and the right engine mount bracket (upper and lower). See the section "Removal and installation".

5. Remove the generator. See chapter Electrical equipment.

6. Remove the front cylinder head cover. See the section above "Camshaft".

7. Remove the auxiliary bolts (1) from the cylinder head.



8. Set the piston of cylinder No.1 to TDC in the compression stroke.

• a. Turn the crankshaft pulley clockwise
• b. Make sure that the cam lobes of the intake and exhaust camshafts of cylinder No.1 are facing outward
• c. Make sure that the timing marks (1) stamped on the intake and exhaust camshaft sprockets are aligned as shown in the figure.

Otherwise, rotate the crankshaft pulley one more revolution and align the marks as shown in the figure.



9. Remove the crankshaft pulley as follows:

• a. Secure the ring gear holder (special tool) in the mounting holes for the starter and secure the crankshaft (see fig.).

After removing the oil pan (upper), the crankshaft counterweight can also be secured with a hammer handle, etc. Do not allow foreign particles to enter the engine.

• b. Loosen the crankshaft pulley bolts so that they move away from their original position.

Caution: Do not remove the crankshaft pulley bolts as they will serve as a fulcrum for the pulley puller.

• c. Insert the crankshaft pulley puller jaws (1) into the crankshaft pulley holes and remove the crankshaft pulley (2).

Caution: Do not hook the puller jaws onto the edges of the crankshaft pulley, as this will damage the internal dampers.

10. Remove the drive belt tensioner pulley bracket assembly from the front cover. See Section "Drive belts".

11. Remove the front timing chain cover as follows:

• a. To clear the space around the front cover during removal and installation, remove the oil pump drive sleeve (2), around which the front oil seal (1) is located.

Remove at a right angle using long pliers or two screwdrivers, etc.

Caution: Do not damage the surface of the oil pump drive sleeve.

• b. Carefully remove the front cover.

Remove bolts A-C as shown in the figure.

Attention:

• To avoid bending or damaging the front of the cylinder head gasket, remove it so that it is gently separated from the top of the front cover and the bottom of the gasket.
• If damaged, replace the cylinder head gasket.

• c. Remove the O-ring from the cylinder block.

12. Remove the front cover mounting pins (1) from the cylinder block.

Heat the mounting pins with a fan heater (2) and remove them with pliers (3).

Note: This operation is performed in preparation for installing the front cover. If the timing chain is to be removed, it can be performed later.

13. Remove the front oil seal from the front cover.

Insert a screwdriver behind the seal, pry it up and remove it.

14. Set the intake camshaft sprocket to the maximum advance position. See section "Camshaft".

Note: The following operations are performed to remove the timing chain and other related components.

15. Remove the timing chain tensioner. See section "Camshaft".

16. Remove the sprocket from the camshaft. See section "Camshaft".

Note: There is no need to make marks between the camshaft sprocket and the timing chain.

17. Remove the timing chain, the chain guide at the bend and the tensioner guide.

18. Remove the sprocket from the crankshaft.

Check after removal

Check the timing chain for cracks or excessive wear. Replace if necessary.

Installation

Attention:

• Using a scraper, completely remove the sealant from the contact surfaces and wipe with clean gasoline.
• After installation, remove any protruding sealant.

1. Perform the following operations and install the timing chain and related components.

When installing sprockets, timing chain (1) and other components, refer to the figure.

Place the sprockets with the alignment mark on the front side of the engine.

• a. Install the timing chain and crankshaft sprocket (2).

You can verify that the #1 cylinder piston is at TDC on the compression stroke by checking to see if the crankshaft key is facing straight up.



Place the timing chain behind the front end of the camshaft so that it does not fall off.

• b. Install the chain guide at the bend (3) and the tensioner guide (4).
• c. Install the sprockets on the camshafts. See section "Camshaft". When performing this operation, align the marks on the camshaft sprockets and the timing chain.
• d. Install the timing chain tensioner. See section "Camshaft".
• e. Check again that the alignment marks have not shifted.
• f. Temporarily install the oil pump drive sleeve, crankshaft pulley and tighten the crankshaft pulley mounting bolt by hand until the crankshaft can be turned.
• g. Turn the crankshaft clockwise as viewed from the front of the engine. Set the intake camshaft sprocket to the maximum retard position. See Section "Camshaft".
• h. Turn the crankshaft clockwise several times and check for any abnormalities.
• i. Remove the components temporarily installed in step "f".

2. Press the front oil seal into the front cover.

Press in with the marking on the seal facing the front of the engine.

Using a suitable drift, press the seal until it is flush with the end face of the cover.



Make sure the outer edge of the seal is not damaged and is free of burrs.



3. Install the front cover as follows:

• a. Install the O-ring (1) into the cylinder block.

• b. Using a screwdriver, apply sealant to the contact surface between the lower surface of the cylinder head gasket (2) and the cylinder block (two places shown in the picture).

Use brand name sealant or equivalent.

• c. Apply sealant evenly to the back of the front cover (the place shown in the picture).

• d. Apply a thin, even coat of sealant to the entire top surface of the front cover.

Use brand name sealant or equivalent.

• e. With the oil pump internal gear positioned with the recess at the top of the crankshaft [with a gap between the top of the front cover and the bottom of the cylinder head gasket (3)], slide the front cover (1) as close to the cylinder block as possible (left side of the picture).
• f. Lift the front cover at an angle and install it so that it simultaneously touches both the bottom of the cylinder head gasket (3) and the front of the cylinder block (2) (right side of the picture).

Attention:

• Do not damage the cylinder head gasket (3).
• When installing, do not allow the sealant bead to be interrupted by moving away from the specified area.

• g. Install the front cover by tightening the bolts by hand so that it does not move.
• h. Press the dowel pins (1) into the cylinder block through the front cover.

• i. Tighten the front cover mounting bolts by hand.

A (length of the rod under the head: 25 mm), B (40 mm), C (50 mm).

• k. Tighten the auxiliary cylinder head bolts finger tight.
• l. Tighten the front cover mounting bolts and auxiliary cylinder head bolts to the specified torque.

4. Install the oil pump drive sleeve(1).



When installing, align with the flats of the internal gear of the oil pump.

If they do not align, turn the internal gear with a screwdriver.

Caution: Do not damage the seal lips.

5. Install the drive belt tensioner pulley bracket assembly. See section "Drive belts".

6. Place the pulley on the crankshaft.

When installing, make sure that the lip of the front oil seal is not inverted and that the compression spring of the cuff is in place.

Secure the crankshaft in the same manner as when removing it and tighten the mounting bolts.

Caution: The bolt seating surface is coated with a special torque stabilizing grease, so do not wipe it off or apply oil.

7. Install the front cover onto the cylinder head.

Apply the sealant evenly as shown in the picture.

Use brand name sealant or equivalent.



8. Install the right engine mount bracket and the right engine mount strut. See Section "Removal and installation".

9. Install the remaining components in the reverse order of removal.

Post-installation check

To allow the sealant to cure, perform the test at least 30 minutes after the last operation of installing components on the sealant.

After warming up the engine, check for engine oil leaks from the components.