Camshaft

Removal & Installation

2.4L Engine

To Remove:

1. Remove the ECM (M/T) or PCM (A/T).
2. Remove the air cleaner assembly.
3. Remove the battery and tray.
4. Remove the ignition coil.
5. Remove the timing belt upper cover.
6. Remove the control harness connections.
7. Remove the PCV hose.
8. Remove the breather hose.
9. Remove the engine oil control valve.
10. Remove the engine oil pressure switch.
11. Remove the rocker cover and gasket.
12. Remove the spark plug guide oil seals.
13. Remove the accumulator assembly.
14. Remove the timing belt.
15. Remove the connector bracket and the camshaft position sensor support.
16. Remove the camshaft position sensing cylinder.
17. Perform the following to remove the camshaft sprocket:
    • Step 1: Use special tools #MB990767 and #MD998719 to loosen the camshaft sprocket securing bolt.
    • Step 2: Remove the camshaft sprocket.
18. Remove the camshaft oil seal.
19. Remove the intake and exhaust rocker arm shafts.

    CAUTION
    Do not disassemble the rocker arm and shaft assembly.

20. Remove the camshaft. It may be necessary to raise the transaxle assembly so the camshaft will clear the transaxle mounting bracket.

To Install:

1. Lubricate the camshaft with new engine oil and install it in the cylinder head.
2. Install the rocker arm shaft assemblies. Make sure the notch on the engine of each shaft is towards the front of the engine.
3. Install the camshaft oil seal.
4. Install the camshaft sprocket.
5. Install the camshaft position sensing cylinder.
6. Install the camshaft position sensor support.
7. Install the timing belt.
8. Install the accumulator assembly.
9. Install the spark plug guide oil seal.
10. Install the rocker arm cover.
11. Install the oil pressure switch.

    NOTE: Wrap tape around the threads of the engine oil control valve to protect the new control valve O-ring when installing the O-ring on the control valve.

12. Install the engine oil control valve.
13. Install the breather hose.
14. Install the PCV hose.
15. Install the control harness connections.
16. Install the timing belt upper cover.
17. Install the ignition coil.
18. Install the battery and tray.
19. Install the air cleaner assembly.
20. Install the ECM (M/T) or PCM (A/T).

3.8L Engine

Left Camshaft

To Remove:

1. Remove the timing belt.
2. Remove the thermostat housing.
3. Remove the PCV valve.
4. Remove the ignition coil.
5. Remove the engine control wiring harness clamp and bracket.
6. Remove the rocker arm cover and gasket.
7. Remove the spark plug guide oil seals.
8. Install clips such as MD998443 on the rocker arms as shown.
9. Remove the rocker arm shaft assemblies.

   CAUTION
   Do not disassemble the rocker arm and shaft assembly.

10. Remove the camshaft position sensor.
11. Remove the camshaft position sensor support.
12. Remove the camshaft position sensing cylinder.
13. Remove the camshaft sprocket.
14. Remove the camshaft.

To Install:

1. Lubricate the camshaft with new engine oil and install it in the cylinder head.
2. Install the camshaft sprocket.
3. Install the camshaft position sensing cylinder.
4. Install the camshaft position sensor support.
5. Install the camshaft position sensor.
6. Install the rocker arm shaft assemblies and remove the clips.
7. Install new spark plug guide oil seals.
8. Install the rocker arm cover.
9. Install the engine control wiring harness bracket and clamp.
10. Install the ignition coil.
11. Install the PCV valve.
12. Install the thermostat housing.
13. Install the timing belt.

Right Camshaft

To Remove:

1. Remove the intake plenum.
2. Remove the timing belt.
3. Remove the battery and tray.
4. Remove the heater and water hoses.
5. Remove the breather and blow by hoses from the valve cover.
6. Remove the ignition coil.
7. Remove the rocker arm cover and gasket.
8. Remove the spark plug guide oil seals.
9. Install clips such as MD998443 on the rocker arms as shown.
10. Remove the rocker arm shaft assemblies.

    CAUTION
    Do not disassemble the rocker arm and shaft assembly.

11. Remove the camshaft sprocket.
12. Disconnect the engine oil control valve and oil pressure switch connectors.
13. Remove the oil feeder control valve assembly.
14. Remove the camshaft and the camshaft oil seal.

To Install:

1. Lubricate the camshaft with new engine oil and install it in the cylinder head.
2. Install a new camshaft oil seal.
3. Remove the oil feeder control valve assembly.
4. Disconnect the engine oil control valve and oil pressure switch connectors.
5. Install the camshaft sprocket.
6. Install the rocker arm shaft assemblies and remove the clips.
7. Install new spark plug guide oil seals.
8. Install the rocker arm cover.
9. Install the engine control wiring harness bracket and clamp.
10. Install the ignition coil.
11. Install the PCV valve.
12. Install the thermostat housing.
13. Install the timing belt.