Genuine Dodge Avenger Timing Belt

Dodge Avenger Timing Belt Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Belt-Timing
  68001309AA
  Q: What precautions should be taken when working on timing belt on Dodge Avenger?

  A: Caution is advised as this design is an interference engine; if the timing belt breaks, damage to the valves and possibly the pistons will occur, necessitating the removal of the cylinder heads. It is recommended to replace the water pump simultaneously with the timing belt due to the work involved in accessing the belt and because the water pump is driven by it, with a factory recommendation to replace the timing belt at 100,000 miles. Begin by disconnecting the negative battery cable from the remote ground terminal, then remove the cooling fan assembly and the accessory drivebelt. Next, remove the valve covers and loosen the rocker arm shaft bolts, followed by loosening the lug nuts on the right front wheel and raising the vehicle securely on jackstands to remove the wheel. After removing the right front wheel and inner fender liner, place a block of wood between a floor jack head and the oil pan to support the engine, then remove the right engine mount. Proceed to remove the crankshaft pulley and the drivebelt tensioner, then take out the power steering pump mounting bolts, positioning the pump aside without disconnecting the fluid lines. Remove both the lower and upper timing belt covers from the cylinder heads, marking the direction of rotation on the belt if it is to be reinstalled. Temporarily install the crankshaft pulley bolt and turn the crankshaft to align the timing marks on the crankshaft and camshaft sprockets, ensuring the crankshaft sprocket arrow aligns with the TDC indicator and the camshaft sprocket marks align with the rear cover marks. Unbolt the timing belt tensioner and remove the belt, then compress the tensioner in a vise until a drill bit or Allen wrench can be inserted to lock it in place, allowing a total bleed down time of approximately four to five minutes without forcing it. With all timing marks aligned, install the new belt starting at the crankshaft pulley and proceeding counterclockwise to the left camshaft sprocket, maintaining tension as it is fed under the water pump pulley, over the right camshaft sprocket, and past the tensioner. Install the tensioner while holding the tensioner pulley against the belt, tightening the tensioner bolts to the specified torque. Remove the locking tool from the tensioner, allowing it to tension the pulley on the belt, and tighten the rocker arm shaft bolts in the proper sequence. Rotate the crankshaft pulley through two complete revolutions to ensure the timing marks remain aligned; if not, repeat the installation process. The remainder of the installation follows the reverse order of removal. Finally, start the engine and check for leaks, noting that noise may occur upon initial startup due to air in the timing chain tensioner, which can be resolved by raising the idle to 1,600 - 2,000 rpm for ten minutes to purge the air, with the noise expected to last no longer than 15 minutes after startup.