TIMING CHAIN | REMOVAL, INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION

1. Remove the fan assembly (see Chapter 3) and the crankshaft pulley and damper (see Section 10).
2. Refer to Chapter 1 and drain the cooling system.
3. Remove the alternator (see Chapter 5).
4. On air-conditioned models, remove the air conditioning compressor and set it aside. DO NOT disconnect the refrigerant lines (see Chapter 3).
5. Remove the idler pulley and the alternator/air conditioning compressor bracket from the front of the engine (see illustrations 7.7a and 7.7b).
6. Remove the water pump (see Chapter 3).
7. Remove and set aside the power steering pump with the lines still connected (see Chapter 10). On some models it may only be necessary to remove the bolt securing the power steering oil cooler to help facilitate removal of the timing cover.
8. Loosen the oil pan bolts and remove the front to oil pan bolts, that thread into the timing chain cover ? they?re most easily accessed from below. On some models you may have to remove the oil pan (see Section 13).
9. Remove the remaining timing chain cover mounting bolts and separate the timing chain cover from the block and oil pan. The cover may be stuck; if so, use a putty knife to break the gasket seal. The cover is easily damaged, so DO NOT attempt to pry it off. Try to not tear the one-piece oil pan gasket. If the oil pan gasket is torn, the oil pan will have to be removed and a new gasket installed.
10. Inspect the timing chain stretch. Attach a socket and torque wrench to the camshaft sprocket bolt and apply force in the normal direction of the crankshaft rotation (30 ft-lbs if the cylinder heads are still in position complete with rocker arms, or 15 ft-lbs if the cylinder heads have been removed). Don?t allow the crankshaft to rotate. Note: on 1998 and later V6 engines it will be necessary to compress the timing chain tensioner show before inspecting the timing chain stretch (see step 17).
11. Place a ruler on top of the chain above the camshaft gear. Line up a mark on the ruler with the edge of a chain link. Apply the same amount of force used in step 10 In the opposite direction of rotation and note the amount of movement in the chain. If it exceeds 1/8 inch, a new timing chain set will be required. Always replace timing chain, camshaft and crankcase sprockets as a set.

These models are equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), more commonly called an airbag system. This system is designed to protect the driver and front-seat passenger from serious injury in the event of a head-on collision. It consists of an airbag module in the center of the steering wheel, a second airbag module above the glovebox area of the instrument panel, and an Airbag Control Module (ACM) which contains a microprocessor, energy-storage capacitor, safing sensor and an impact sensor. The ACM is located on the floorpan, under the center area of the instrument panel (see illustration 27.1).
AIRBAG MODULE The Airbag Module contains a housing incorporating the cushion (airbag) and inflator unit. The inflator assembly is mounted on the back of the housing over a hole through which gas is expelled, inflating the bag almost instantaneously when an electrical signal is sent from the system. The specially wound wire that carries this signal to the module is called a clockspring. The clockspring is a flat, ribbon-like electrically conductive tape, which is wound so it can transmit an electrical signal regardless of steering wheel position.
SENSORS The system has an impact sensor and a safing sensor in the ACM. The crash sensor is basically a ?decelerometer? switch that completes an electrical circuit during an impact of sufficient G force. The safing sensor detects collisions of lesser impact. Both sensors must signal the ACM in order for the airbag system to deploy.