Cylinder Head

Removal & Installation

2.4L Engine

To Remove:

1. Loosen the cylinder head bolts using a cylinder head bolt wrench (special tool #MB991654). Loosen each of the bolts gradually and evenly in a few steps.

   Cylinder head bolt wrench (#MB991654)

2. Remove the cylinder head assembly.
3. Remove the cylinder head gasket.
4. To remove the retainer locks, use a valve spring compressor (special tool #MD998772 or #MD998735) to compress the valve spring, then remove the retainer lock.
5. Release the tension on the spring and remove the valve, spring, retainer, etc. Make note of the locations of the removed parts so they can be installed in the correct locations during reassembly.

   Valve spring compressor (#MD998735)

6. Remove the valve spring retainers and valve springs.
7. Remove the intake valve.
8. Remove the exhaust valve.
9. Remove the valve stem seals.
10. Remove the valve spring seats.
11. Remove the intake valve guide.
12. Remove the exhaust valve guide.
13. Remove the intake valve seat.
14. Remove the exhaust valve seat.
15. Remove the cylinder head.

To Install:

NOTE: Apply clean engine oil to all moving parts before installing them.

1. Install the cylinder head.
2. Install the exhaust valve seat.
3. Install the intake valve seat.
4. Install the exhaust valve guide.
5. Install the intake valve guide.
6. Install the valve spring seats.
7. To install the valve stem seals, use a valve stem seal installer (special tool #MB998774).
8. Install the exhaust valve.
9. Install the intake valve.
10. When installing the valve spring, make sure the colored end (larger side) is pointed upward toward the valve spring retainer.

    NOTE: The valve spring for the intake is painted light blue. The valve spring for the exhaust is painted orange.

11. Install the valve spring retainer.
12. To install the retainer lock, use a valve spring compressor (#MD998735) to compress the valve spring.
13. Release the tension on the spring then make sure the retainer locks are properly seated.

    Valve spring compressor (#MD998735)

14. Install the cylinder head gasket.
15. Install the cylinder head assembly.
16. Before installing the cylinder head bolts, make sure the shank length of each bolt does not exceed 3.91 in (99.4 mm). Before installing each bolt, coat the threads and washers with clean engine oil.
17. Use a cylinder head bolt wrench (#MB991654) to tighten the bolts to 58 ft-lbs (78 Nm) in the sequence shown.

    Cylinder head bolt wrench (#MB991654)

    Cylinder head bolt tightening sequence (2.4L)

18. Completely loosen all bolts in the reverse of the tightening order.
19. Retighten the bolts to 15 ft-lbs (20 Nm) in the sequence shown.
20. Make a straight line mark across each bolt head and cylinder head. Tighten the cylinder head bolts 90° in the specified order.

    Cylinder head bolt alignment (2.4L)

    CAUTION
    Make sure each bolt is tightened EXACTLY 90°. If a bolt is under tightened, it might not be correctly fastened, and if it is over tightened, loosen it fully and retighten it.

21. Tighten the bolts another 90° in the specified order. Make sure the alignment marks you made on the cylinder head bolts and the cylinder head line up correctly.

3.0L Engine

To Remove:

1. Remove the cylinder head bolts using a cylinder head bolt wrench (special tool #MD998051).
2. Remove the washer.
3. Remove the cylinder head assembly.
4. Remove the cylinder head gasket.
5. To remove the retainer locks, use a valve spring compressor (special tool #MD998735 or #MD998772) to compress the spring, then remove the retainer locks.
6. Release the tension on the spring and remove the valve, spring, retainer, etc. Make note of the locations of the removed parts so they can be installed in the correct locations during reassembly.

   Valve spring compressor (#MD998735)

   NOTE: Be sure to make note of the correct location of removed parts to ensure their proper placement during installation.

7. Remove the valve spring retainers and valve springs.
8. Remove the inlet valve.
9. Remove the exhaust valve.
10. Remove the valve stem seals.
11. Remove the valve spring seats.
12. Remove the inlet valve guide.
13. Remove the snap ring.
14. Remove the exhaust valve guide.
15. Remove the inlet valve seat.
16. Remove the exhaust valve seat.
17. Remove the cylinder head.

To Install:

1. Install the cylinder head.
2. Install the exhaust valve seat.
3. Install the inlet valve seat.
4. Install the exhaust valve guide.
5. Install the snap ring.
6. Install the inlet valve guide.
7. Install the valve spring seats.

   CAUTION
   When installing the valve stem seals, be sure to install the correct ones by checking the color of the seals. Intake seals are gray and exhaust seals are grayish green.

8. Use a valve stem seal installer (special tool #MB991999) to install a new stem seal onto the valve guide.
9. Install the exhaust valve.
10. When installing the valve spring end, be sure its identification color is facing toward the spring retainer.
11. Install the valve spring retainer.
12. When installing the retainer lock, use a valve spring compressor (special tool #MD998735 or #MD998772) to compress the valve spring and insert the retainer lock into the correct position.

    CAUTION
    Do not compress the valve spring excessively because this can cause the bottom end of the retainer to damage the stem seal.

13. Install the inlet valve.
14. Install the cylinder head gasket.
15. Install the cylinder head assembly.
16. Install the washer.

    CAUTION
    Be sure to attach the head bolt washer in the direction illustrated.

    Cylinder head bolt installation (3.0L)

17. When installing the cylinder head bolts, use a cylinder head bolt wrench (special tool #MD998051) to tighten the bolts in the sequence shown in 2 or 3 steps. Torque bolts to 80 ft-lbs (108 Nm).
18. Back off of the bolts, then tighten them again to 80 ft-lbs (108 Nm).