2000-2002 Rodeo Camshaft and Timing Belt Install

Ron’s DIY Auto Repair:
2000– 2002 Isuzu Rodeo or Honda Truck Passport V6-3.2L DOHC (6VD1)
Timing Belt Service and Repair, Procedures: Camshaft Sub-gear Preloading, Gear Timing & Camshaft Install.

CAMSHAFT SUBGEAR PRELOADING, GEAR TIMING, AND CAMSHAFT INSTALLATION

NOTE:
The V6 engine has a “non-interference” design. This means the valves never contact the pistons, even when the valves or camshafts are not correctly timed, or even if a valve is fully open and its piston is at top dead center (TDC).

The ratio between the camshaft drive gear and the camshaft gears is 1.33 to 1. This means the timing dots on a correctly timed camshaft will only align with the dots on the camshaft drive gears every 4th turn of the camshaft pulley.

The left and right intake camshafts are different. On the cam lobe side of the camshaft gear, the left intake camshaft is marked “LI,” and it has dual timing dots; the right intake camshaft is marked “RI,” and it has a single timing dot.

The left and right exhaust camshafts are the same. On the cam lobe side of the camshaft gear, both camshafts are marked “LE” and “RE and both have dual timing dots and a single dot.

1. Before you install the camshafts, preload the sub-gears (preloading must be done whenever you remove the bearing caps from a camshaft):

Make sure the spring is installed between the camshaft gear and the sub-gear.

With the camshaft held in a soft-jawed vise, attach the gear spring lever (T/N J-42656) to the sub-gear, then turn the sub-gear until its threaded hole lines up with the hole in the camshaft gear.

Lock the sub-gear to the camshaft gear with a 5 x 0.8 mm bolt through side facing the rear of vehicle.

Ron’s DIY Auto Repair
Resolved Question:
How do you know if cam shafts are in the right position can rotate the cams to get them to align with mark? Have tried several times and car still runs terrible.
2000 Isuzu Rodeo, V6, 3.2 L, DOHC
Ron’s DIY Auto Repair:
HI!
Ron’s DIY Auto Repair:
Did the belt break? Is this why you replaced it?
Or, did you just service the belt?
Friend:
Was just servicing the belt, took off, put back on in same configuration (I thought) and ran poorly. Internet said I might have been off by a tooth so tried aligning all according to book and now runs worse…have tried about 4 times.
Ron’s DIY Auto Repair:
I will give you the correct procedure.
Friend:
That would be great, thanks.
1998 – 2002 Isuzu Rodeo, V6-3.2L DOHC (6VD1)
Timing Belt Service and Repair, Procedures: Timing Belt Installation

NOTE:
Do not install the timing belt until you are sure the camshafts, camshaft pulleys, and crankshaft timing pulley are in their correct “timed” positions.

– Left and right engine callouts are from the driver’s seat.

1. With the green direction arrows on the timing belt pointing clockwise, slip the belt over the right camshaft (passenger side) pulley so its solid white line (the line closest to the direction arrows) aligns with the mark (typically green recessed mark) on the pulley. Secure the belt to the pulley with a small clamp or clip.

2. Wrap the timing belt around the bottom of the water pump pulley, and draw it tight.

3. Slip the timing belt over the left camshaft pulley so it’s other solid white line (the one farthest from the direction arrows) aligns with the mark on the pulley. Secure the belt to the pulley with a small clamp or clip.

4. Wrap the timing belt around the inner side of the idler pulley, and then slip the belt over the crankshaft timing pulley with its dotted white line aligned to the green mark on the crankshaft timing pulley.

NOTE:
For correct belt stretch, the doffed line must meet the green mark on the crankshaft timing pulley at the 9 o’clock position. If there isn’t enough slack to slip the belt over the pulley in the correct position, turn the crankshaft a few degrees counterclockwise, install the belt, then turn the crankshaft back to the 9 o’clock position.

5. Place the tensioner pusher in a soft-jawed vise, then slowly compress the tensioner pusher pin until it lines up with the two small holes in the tensioner pusher housing.

6. Insert a small drill bit or any hardened steel pin through the holes in the housing. This will hold the pin in its compressed position.

NOTE:
A new tensioner pusher comes with its pin held compressed by a special wire. If you install a new tensioner pusher save the wire for future use.

7. Install the tensioner pusher:

– Install the lower bolt loosely.

– Push the tensioner pusher up against the tensioner pulley, then install the upper bolt, and torque it to 25 N.m (15 lb-ft).

– Torque the lower bolt to 25 N.m (15 lb-ft).

8. Remove the wire or paper clip from the tensioner pusher, and remove the small clamp or clip from the camshaft pulleys.

9. Verify the timing belt is correctly installed:

Rotate the crankshaft two complete turns.

Align the crankshaft timing pulley notch with the mark on the oil pump housing.
Check the green marks on both camshaft pulleys; they should line up exactly with the valve cover timing marks.
#2 piston is at TDC when all other timing marks are matched up!

Full Size Image

NOTE:
After you rotate the crankshaft, the solid white lines on the belt will not align with the camshaft pulley marks; this is normal.

10. Remove the crankshaft bolt, and then install the lower, the right, and the left timing belt covers. Torque the cover bolts to 19 N.m (14 lb-ft).

11. Install the crankshaft pulley, and torque the bolt to 167 N.m (123 lb-ft).

12. Install fan pulley bracket and tighten fixing bolts to the specified torque.
Torque: 22 Nm (16 ft. lbs.)
1. Install power steering pump assembly and tighten to the specified torque.
Torque: M8 bolt: 22 Nm (16 ft. lbs.)
M10 bolt: 46 Nm (34 ft. lbs.)
14. Install cooling fan assembly and tighten bolts/nuts to the specified torque.
Torque: 22 Nm (16 ft. lbs.) for fan pulley and fan bracket.
Torque: 7.5 Nm (66.4 inch lbs.) for fan and clutch assembly.

15.Move drive belt tensioner to loose side using wrench, then install drive belt to normal position.
16. Install radiator upper fan shroud.
17. Install air cleaner assembly.

Full Size Image

– Preload the sub-gears on the other camshafts.

2. On the right cylinder bank, turn the camshaft pulley until its green mark is at 12 o’clock in relation to the head surface, at the center of the head.

Turning the pulley brings the timing dots on the camshaft drive gear into their correct position: to the left and right of the gear’s centerline.

Full Size Image

3. On the left cylinder bank, turn the camshaft pulley until its green mark is at 12 o’clock in relation to the head surface, at the center of the head.
Then turn the pulley counterclockwise until its green mark points close to the timing belt cover bolt hole.
Turning the pulley brings the timing dots on the camshaft drive gear into their correct position: to the left and right of the gear’s centerline.

4. Install the intake and exhaust camshafts in the right cylinder bank:

Set the camshaft marked “RI” into the intake side of the head. Make sure the single timing dot on the camshaft gear aligns with the timing dot on the camshaft drive gear.

These timing dots are very small stamped zeros that are difficult to see and can be confused with other holes on camshafts.

– Set the camshaft marked “RE” and “LE into the exhaust side of the cylinder bank, with “RE” at the 12 o’clock position. Make sure the single timing dot on the camshaft gear aligns with the timing dot on the camshaft drive gear. The peaks must match with the valleys of gears exactly.

5. Install the left cylinder bank intake and exhaust camshafts:

– Set the camshaft marked “LI” into the intake side of the head. Make sure the dual timing dots on the camshaft gear align with the timing dot on the camshaft drive gear.

– Set the camshaft marked “LE” and “RE,” into the exhaust side of the cylinder bank, with “LE” at the 12 o’clock position. Make sure the dual timing dots on the camshaft gear align with the timing dot on the camshaft drive gear.

6. Install the camshaft bearing caps in the same locations and directions they were before you removed them.

NOTE:
On the right cylinder bank, the directional arrows on the bearing caps should point towards the front of the engine. On the left bank, the arrows should point towards the rear of the engine. . #2 piston is at TDC when all other timing marks are matched up!

7. Install the bearing cap bolts, then torque them to 10 N.m (7 lb-ft) in the sequence shown below.

8. Remove the bolts used to hold the preload of the camshaft sub-gears.

9. If not already done, inspect the camshaft thrust clearances. If any clearances are not within specification, replace the cylinder head(s).
TIMING BELT REMOVAL

NOTE:
Left and right engine callouts are from the driver’s seat.

1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove air cleaner assembly.
3. Remove radiator upper fan shroud from radiator. .
Full Size Image

4. Move drive belt tensioner, to loose side, using wrench then remove drive belt.
5. Remove cooling fan assembly four nuts, then the cooling fan assembly.
6. Remove cooling fan drive pulley assembly.
7. Remove idle pulley assembly.
8. Remove serpentine belt tensioner assembly.
9. Remove power steering pump assembly.
10. Remove crankshaft pulley assembly using J-8614-01 crankshaft holder, hold crankshaft pulley remove center bolt, and then remove the pulley.

11. Remove the timing belt covers in this order: right, left, and then lower belt cover.

Full Size Image

12. Loosen (don’t remove) the tensioner pulley bolt.
13. Remove the idler pulley bolt, and let the idler pulley pivot towards the crankshaft timing pulley.
14. Remove the lower tensioner bolt and the tensioner pusher.
15. Carefully remove the timing belt from the pulleys.

ENGINE TIMING

Full Size Image

1. Turn the crankshaft timing pulley until its notch aligns with the mark on the oil pump housing. NOTE: The crankshaft timing pulley may have a green mark 150 degrees from its keyway. Do not use this mark to set the crankshaft position.

2. Turn the (passenger) right cylinder bank’s camshaft pulley clockwise with a socket and ratchet. (The pulley clicks and stops several times.) Stop the pulley when its green mark aligns with the valve cover timing mark.

You may need to rotate the camshaft pulley up to four complete turns before its green mark aligns directly with the valve cover timing mark.

3. Turn the left cylinder bank’s camshaft pulley clockwise with a socket and ratchet. (The pulley clicks and stops several times.) Stop the pulley when its green mark aligns with the timing belt cover bolt hole (mark will be approximately 90 degrees (or at the 9 o’clock position) from driver side valve cover timing mark.

NOTE:
You may need to rotate the camshaft pulley up to four complete turns before its green mark aligns directly with the bolt hole.

4. Rotate the (Driver side) left cylinder bank’s camshaft pulley clockwise another 1/4 turn to align its green mark with the valve cover timing mark.
5. #2 piston is at TDC when all other timing marks are matched up!