Yes, there shouldn't be any slack in the chain at all. I couldn't find a picture of the timing chain setup on All Data or ProDemand. But I found a picture of the kit. This kit does not include a picture of the camshaft VVT gear (second picture). But in the first picture you'll see in yellow is the main timing chain hydraulic tensioner. The chain guides are brown. The bottom chain set is a vibration dampener, and it has its own tensioner that is just spring loaded. So, the VVT gear could have failed, the main tensioner could have failed or one of the guides could have broken where they bolt on. Any one of those will cause slack in the chain. Since you have a code for VVT as well, if you're going to repair this all, I would replace the VVT cam gear as well. There's no sense of just replacing the tensioner to find out it was the VVT gear that failed, and the valve timing is still off. It's a big job doing these timing chains as you can see.
The motor mount must come out and you have to support the engine to get to the timing chain cover. You will need specific tools to get the harmonic balancer off (crankshaft pulley). Then the crankshaft position sensor, the timing chain tensioner, the drive belt tensioner (fifth diagram). The oil pan doesn't have a gasket, it's just an applied sealer that's put on.
Next the hangers for the engine need to be bolted on, remove the power steering line, the engine mount and bracket that are on the timing cover side (front of engine). Then you get to the timing chain cover.
After the cover is off, it's pretty much lining up the marks correctly. These diagrams are installation guides as well. So, diagram eleven is lining up the marks for the #2 chain, reinstalling the lowest gear on the vibration damper (which also drives the oil pump).
You'll have a 4mm pin to hold the bottom gear and then the torque spec 22ft. Lbs.
Diagram thirteen, rotate the crankshaft 90degrees to set the keyway up.
And finally, you'll be on to putting the main timing chain on with the lower and upper marks. Then the crankshaft position sensor plate with the "F" facing out.
Next it will finish up with sealing the timing cover back on and the torque pattern for the timing cover bolts. So, if you're going to do this job I'll post the last few instructions, but as you can see it's a lot of work. Toyota doesn't seem to provide each step in sequence either. Each timing cover bolt has a different torque spec and an order as well. After that it's putting the engine mount back in and the drive belt tensioner. Let me know if you're to attempt this and ill post the timing cover specs. I'm sorry it's not an easier setup.
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Monday, May 23rd, 2022 AT 8:43 AM