OEM 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder Timing Chain

2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to service and repair the timing chain on 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder?

  A: Service and repair of the timing chain begins with cooling system fluid drain while removing the rear suspension upper brace and engine under covers along with drive belt and generator and drive belt idler through 2 bolts and 2 nuts removal. A jack positioned beneath the oil pan with a wooden or rubber block needs installation before removing the 3 bolts and 3 nuts from the RH engine mounting insulator. The service starts with ignition coils and cylinder head cover removal after disconnecting 2 PCV hoses and noise filter and heated oxygen sensor (bank 1 sensor 1) connector followed by taking out 9 bolts, 2 nuts and 2 seal washers then disconnecting the engine wire and removing both parts with their gasket. Begin the replacement process by removing the bolt that attaches the oil dipstick guide and disconnecting its two wire connectors and two connectors then align the No. 1 cylinder with TDC/compression using crankshaft pulley timing mark 0 on the timing chain cover while maintaining alignment between the camshaft timing sprocket and VVT timing sprocket point marks. Use the Special Service Tools listed as 09213-70011 and 09330-00021 followed by 09950-50012 to remove the crankshaft pulley. The drive belt tensioner along with the RH engine mounting bracket must be taken out before proceeding with removal of chain tensioner, water pump and crankshaft position sensor and timing chain cover by prying off the 11 bolts and the nut together with ensuring no contact surface damage occurs. Disassemble the crank angle sensor plate from the chain tensioner slipper while maintaining continuous contact with the hexagonal head wrench part of the camshaft during sprocket loosening. Technical inspection of the timing chain and sprockets needs to involve vernier caliper measurements of elongation and diameter while idler drive belt rotation should be smooth and chain tensioner slipper and vibration damper wear needs to be measured before verifying chain tensioner plunger movement. The installation requires the use of Special Service Tools: 09950-60010, 09950-70010 to replace the crankshaft front oil seal through method a or b together with the drive belt idler bearing. Install the camshaft timing sprocket and VVT timing sprocket before setting the No. 1 cylinder at TDC/compression to properly align and install the chain vibration damper together with the timing chain and crankshaft timing sprocket. Set up the chain tensioner slipper then add the crank angle sensor plate followed by the timing chain cover and water pump while using specified seal packing (Part No. 08826-00100 and 0882-00080). The bolts require specific torque values during final installation. The RH engine mounting bracket with Part No. 08826-00080 seal packing needs installation alongside drive belt tensioner and crankshaft position sensor, crankshaft pulley using Special Service Tools: 09213-70011, 09330-00021 before torqueing the pulley bolt. First place the chain tensioner then set its tension before inspecting the valve timing and installing the oil dipstick and guiding parts before placing the gasket and packing (Part No. 08826-00080) onto the cylinder head cover. The service process concludes by installing RH engine mounting insulators together with ignition coils followed by No. 2 cylinder head cover along with drive belt idler and generator before placing engine under covers while filling with engine coolant before starting the engine to examine for leakage.