OEM 2007 Toyota Highlander Timing Chain

2007 Toyota Highlander Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to service and repair the timing chain on 2007 Toyota Highlander?

  A: The servicing of timing chain starts by taking off the hood sub-assembly followed by the front wheel RH and engine under cover No.1 and front fender splash shield front RH and front fender apron seal RH. You must drain engine oil followed by installing a new gasket before torquing the drain plug to 25 Nm (255 kgf-cm, 18 ft. lbs.). Start the procedure by taking off the exhaust pipe assembly front, engine moving control rod with bracket, engine mounting stay No.2 RH, engine mounting bracket No.2 RH, fan and generator V belt, engine cover sub-assembly No.1, disconnecting the engine wire, generator assembly, and vane pump assembly without detaching the hose. The maintenance procedure requires removal of ignition coil assembly with ventilation hoses No.1 and No.2 and cylinder head cover sub-assembly. Set the first cylinder to TDC to perform the compression check and use Special Service Tools: 09213-54015 and 09330-00021 to fix the pulley and loosen the bolt before using 09950-50013 and its variants to detach the pulley and bolt. The first step includes removing the crankshaft position sensor together with the oil pan sub-assembly and chain tensioner assembly No.1 and V-ribbed belt tensioner assembly. The technician needs to install engine hangers No.1 and No.2 before torquing bolts to 38 Nm (387 kgf-cm, 30 ft. lbs.) and removes the engine mounting insulator by hanging the engine with a chain hoist from these hangers while disconnecting the insulator FR and steaming the return hose clamp from the frame. Raise the engine while you remove its mounting insulator RH with its four nuts then eliminate both the RH components in sequence. First remove the stud bolt from the cylinder block which connects the drive belt tensioner then take out 16 bolts and 2 nuts to remove the timing chain or belt cover sub-assembly with careful prying of the timing chain cover. The required components for removal include the crankshaft position sensor plate No.1, chain tensioner slipper, chain vibration damper No.1, chain sub-assembly, and crankshaft timing gear or sprocket. The No.2 chain sub-assembly installation requires users to insert the crankshaft key to its left horizontal position and to rotate the drive shaft cutout toward the top before aligning the yellow-colored mark links with sprocket timing marks then installing the sprockets with chain to crankshaft and oil pump shafts. After tightening the oil pump driven sprocket nut momentarily then place the damper spring into its adjusting hole before installing the chain tensioner plate with nut torque at 12 Nm (122 kgf-cm, 9.0 ft. lbs.). Use a 4 mm (0.16 inch) diameter bar to temporarily fix the oil pump driven sprocket into place while setting its adjusting hole properly into the oil pump groove. Tighten the nut to 30 Nm (306 kgf-cm, 22 ft. lbs.). Install the chain vibration damper No.1 by torquing it to 9.0 Nm (92 kgf-cm, 80 inch lbs.) while the crankshaft is oriented at a 90 degrees angle counterclockwise with the key aligned to the top position.