Steps
- Disconnect the battery lines, remove the radiator cap and release the valve under the passenger's side to drain it.
- Remove the Mass Air Flow (MAF) and Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor assembly. Unbolt the radiator tray and remove it.
- Unbolt and detach the Manifold Air Temperature (MAT) tubes from the manifold. Remove the spark plug wires.
- Disconnect the wiring harness leading to the coil packs and remove the coil packs from the valve covers.
- Detach the hoses from the valve covers and remove the valve covers.
- Unbolt the rocker arms and pull the rockers out.
- Pull out each push rod and remove the rocker pedestal rails. Scrape them to remove any debris.
- Remove the belt tensioner bolt. Release the tensioner and slide the belt off.
- Use pliers to remove the springs from the hoses that lead to the water pump.
- Unhook the small hoses that lead to the radiator fill neck and disconnect these at the radiator end only.
- Detach the water pump from the engine block.
- Unclip the fan electrical connectors and the wiring harness from the fan shroud.
- Shift the Air Conditioning (AC) condenser up 2 inches (5.08 cm) to remove the radiator. Pulling the radiator out will take at least 2 people.
- Wedge a screwdriver into the flywheel to prevent it from spinning. Loosen the crankshaft pulley bolt.
- Install a 3-arm puller to the inner part of the pulley and make sure that the arms are attached securely.
- Tighten the bolt on the puller until the pulley comes loose. Unbolt the timing cover and remove it.
- Detach the cam gear belts and remove the gear.
- Thread 2 bolts into the front of the cam and rotate it. Unbolt the cam retainer and remove it.
- Assure that the valves stay closed to remove the cam and shift the AC condenser up.
- Grip the bolts at the end of the cam and pull it out. Rotate it gently throughout this process and keep it level.
- Clean the new cam using wet towels or brake cleaner. Lubricate both the cam and the engine.
- Transfer the bolts from the old cam into the new one. Shift the AC condenser out of the way again.
- Keep the cam level while you rotate it back into the engine. Replace the cam retainer plate.
- Replace the cam gear at the front of the cam, assuring that the chain is properly aligned. There should be one black dot on the face of the cam gear, and another behind the oil pump, on the front.
- Reinstall the camshaft bolt in the crank and use a wrench to rotate the camshaft until you see a black dot pointing straight up. Insert the cam alignment dowel into the fourth hole in the cam gear.
- Rotate the camshaft manually until the dowel coordinates with the cam gear. This should align the dots.
- Install the timing chain on the crank gear and be sure to keep the chain tense.
- Situate the cam gear until it is properly seated at the front of the cam and verify proper alignment.
- Bolt the cam gear to the cam and remove the spark plugs. Prevent the valves from collapsing by pressurizing the cylinder with an air compressor.
- Use a spring compressor tool to compress the valve springs. Assure that the valve stem remains above the retainer.
- Use magnets to remove the locks, which are exposed next to the valve stem.
- Detach the spring compressor and pull off the spring and the retainer.
- Install the new spring on the seat and replace the retainer. Use the spring compressor to compress the new spring.
- Replace the locks and decompress the spring assuring that the locks are properly aligned.
- Repeat this process for the remaining springs.
- Reinstall the pushrods, replace the rocker pedestal, and bolt the rockers back in. Turn the camshaft 180 degrees and assure that each bolt is secure.
- Check the alignment of the cam by manually turning the engine over. It should turn smoothly 3 to 4 times.
- Bolt the valve covers to the heads and refasten the electrical connections.
- Reinstall the spark plugs and wires. Replace the coils but not the wiring harness.
- Replace the timing cover.
- Reseat your pulley on the crankshaft. Thread the crank bolt into the pulley and torque it until it won't turn any further.
- Reinstall the water pump and reconnect both heater hoses. Compress the belt tensioner and replace the drive belt.
- Reinstall the radiator and refasten all of those hoses. Reconnect the tubes in the fill neck.
- Secure the wiring harness to the fan shroud and replace the radiator tray and the MAF assembly.
- Refill the radiator with a 50/50 mix of coolant and water. Inspect the engine for any loose connections and then reconnect the battery cables.
- Turn the ignition and let the engine run, without starting, for a few seconds. Reconnect the coil pack harness if there are no problems.
- Start the car to verify that the oil pressure is stable. Let the car idle, pressing the gas pump if it threatens to stall.
- When the engine is running at full temperature, replace the radiator cap.
