Timing Verification: Notes

Fig 1: Engine Top Dead Center (TDC) Indicator Marks

Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

1 - TIMING CHAIN COVER

2 - CRANKSHAFT TIMING MARKS

CAUTION: The 3.7L is a non free-wheeling design engine. Therefore, correct engine timing is critical.

NOTE: Components referred to as left hand or right hand are as viewed from the drivers position inside the vehicle.

NOTE: The blue link plates on the chains and the dots on the camshaft drive sprockets may not line up during the timing verification procedure. The blue link plates are lined up with the sprocket dots only when re-timing the complete timing drive. Once the timing drive is rotated blue link-to-dot alignment is no longer valid.

Engine base timing can be verified by the following procedure:

Remove the cylinder head covers. Refer to REMOVAL .
Using a mirror, locate the TDC arrow on the front cover. Rotate the crankshaft until the mark on the crankshaft damper (2) is aligned with the TDC arrow on the front cover (2). The engine is now at TDC. See Fig 1.

Fig 2: Camshaft Sprocket V6 Marks (#1 TDC, Exhaust Stroke)
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

1 - LEFT CYLINDER HEAD

2 - RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD
Note the location of the V6 mark stamped into the camshaft drive gears (1,2). If the V6 mark on each camshaft drive gear is at the twelve o'clock position, the engine is at TDC on the exhaust stroke. If the V6 mark on each gear is at the six o'clock position, the engine is at TDC on the compression stroke. See Fig 2.
If both of the camshaft drive gears are off in the same or opposite directions, the primary chain or both secondary chains are at fault. Refer to TIMING CHAIN AND SPROCKETS procedure in this article.
If only one of the camshaft drive gears is off and the other is correct, the problem is confined to one secondary chain.
If both camshaft drive gear V6 marks are at the twelve o'clock or the six o'clock position the engine base timing is correct. Reinstall the cylinder head covers.