OEM 2002 Toyota Highlander Timing Chain

2002 Toyota Highlander Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to replace the timing chain on 2002 Toyota Highlander?

  A: The first step for timing chain replacement requires removal of the hood sub-assembly together with front wheel RH, engine under cover No. 1, front fender splash shield front RH and front fender apron seal RH. The correct order of work includes pulling out oil drainage followed by installing both a new gasket with drain plug and torqueing them to 25 Nm (250 kgf-cm, 18 ft. lbs.). Start by taking out the exhaust pipe assembly front then proceed to remove the engine mounting stay No. 2 RH and engine moving control rod with bracket by detaching its 3 bolts and finish by removing the engine mounting bracket No. 2 RH. The project requires removal of the fan and generator V belt along with the generator assembly before separating the vane pump assembly by leaving the hose intact. Engine cover sub-assembly No. 1 along with ignition coil assembly and ventilation hoses must be unscrewed before proceeding. Disassemble the cylinder head cover sub-assembly through engine wire harness clamp removal followed by eight bolt and two nut extraction. Start by setting the No. 1 cylinder at TDC/compression stage before using SST 09213-54015 (91651-60855), 09330-00021 to loosen and SST 09950-50013 (09951-05010, 09952-05010, 09953-05020, 09954-05021) to remove the crankshaft pulley. Rephrase the following sentence. Reset the crank position sensor and oil pan sub-assembly through bolt removal of 12 pieces and 2 nuts, and carefully trim off the applied sealer with tool SST 09032-00100. To detach chain tensioner assembly (chain tensioner assembly No. 1) you need to remove two nuts yet you must not turn the crankshaft without the chain tensioner present. Attach Engine Hangers 1 and 2 while installation of Bolt 91512-61020 (final torque setting 38 Nm). The transverse engine mounting insulator removal requires the engine chain hoist attachment to engine hangers followed by removing two nuts to disconnect the engine mounting insulator. A complete removal of the transverse engine mounting bracket becomes possible after disconnecting all 3 bolts. The timing chain cover sub-assembly can be removed with a screwdriver after removing the drive belt tensioner stud bolt, 14 bolts, 2 nuts from the assembly. The first crankshaft position sensor plate and chain tensioner slipper join chain vibration damper No. 1, chain sub-assembly, and crankshaft timing gear together with sprocket. During No. 2 chain sub-assembly installation position the crankshaft with a 90° counterclockwise turn to match the oil pump drive shaft gear with the groove then secure position with a 4 mm bar before removing the bolt, nut, tension plate and spring. The installation of No. 2 chain sub-assembly requires a crankshaft key placed in the left horizontal position followed by timing mark alignment and temporary oil pump drive shaft gear tightening. Set the damper spring inside the adjusting hole before putting on the chain tensioner plate and tightening both components to 12 Nm (122 kgf-cm, 9 ft. lbs.). The oil pump drive shaft gear needs alignment with the groove before fixing it in place while tightening a nut to 30 Nm (301 kgf-cm, 22 ft. lbs.). The crankshaft needs counterclockwise rotation by 90 degrees to achieve top crankshaft key alignment during this procedure. Fasten chain vibration damper No. 1 with 9.0 Nm torque (92 kgf-cm, 80 inch lbs.) before putting on chain sub-assembly while aligning marks and employing SST to fix the sprocket. You should position the crankshaft sensor plate No.1 on the front side with the "F" mark facing forward while using 19 Nm (194 kgf-cm, 14 ft. lbs.) to torque the chain tensioner slipper. Screw in 14 bolts and 2 nuts to secure the Timing Chain Cover Sub-assembly after using part No. 08826-00080 or equivalent seal packing applied to the specified bead shape and completely cleaning the contact surface of oil. The technician installs the specified torque V-ribbed belt tensioner assembly alongside the transverse engine mounting bracket and transverse engine mounting insulator with proper torque specification. The oil pan sub-assembly installation requires clean surfaces without oil before applying seal packing and securing it using 12 bolts and 2 nuts. Secure the chain tensioner assembly (chain tensioner assembly No. 1) along with crank position sensor and crankshaft pulley by using SST to fix the pulley bolt at 170 Nm (1733 kgf-cm, 125 inch lbs.) and aligning the pulley set key. Installation of each component including engine mounting bracket No. 2 RH, engine moving control rod with bracket, engine mounting stay No. 2 RH, exhaust pipe assembly front, front wheel RH, hood sub-assembly requires torque settings as per specifications alongside engine oil addition, and oil leak inspection.