
(8) Install water pump (Refer to 7 - COOLING/EN-
GINE/WATER PUMP - INSTALLATION).
(9) Install power steering pump (Refer to 19 -
STEERING/PUMP - INSTALLATION).
(10) Install the serpentine belt (Refer to 7 - COOL-
ING/ACCESSORY DRIVE/DRIVE BELTS - INSTAL-
LATION).
(11) Install the cooling system fan (Refer to 7 -
COOLING/ENGINE/FAN DRIVE VISCOUS
CLUTCH - INSTALLATION).
(12) Position the fan shroud and install the bolts.
Tighten the bolts to 11 N´m (95 in. lbs.) torque.
(13) Fill cooling system (Refer to 7 - COOLING -
STANDARD PROCEDURE).
(14) Connect the negative cable to the battery.
TIMING BELT/CHAIN
TENSIONER
DESCRIPTION
The timing chain tensioner is a stamped steel con-
stant tension mechanical design. It is mounted to the
front of the engine, behind the timing chain drive.
OPERATION
The timing chain tension is maintained by routing
the timing chain through the tensioner assembly. A
nylon covered spring steel arm presses on the timing
chain maintaining the correct chain tension.
TIMING BELT/CHAIN AND
SPROCKETS
REMOVAL
(1) Disconnect battery negative cable.
(2) Drain cooling system (Refer to 7 - COOLING -
STANDARD PROCEDURE).
(3) Remove timing chain cover (Refer to 9 -
ENGINE/VALVE TIMING/TIMING BELT / CHAIN
COVER(S) - REMOVAL).
(4) Rotate crankshaft to align timing marks (Fig.
75) to #1 TDC.
(5) Remove camshaft sprocket attaching bolt and
remove timing chain with crankshaft and camshaft
sprockets.
(6) Slip crankshaft sprocket onto crankshaft and
compress tensioner shoe by placing a large screw-
driver between crankshaft sprocket and tensioner
shoe (Fig. 74). Compress shoe until hole in shoe lines
up with hole in bracket. Slide a suitable pin into the
holes (Fig. 74) and remove screwdriver.(7) If tensioner assembly is to be replaced, remove
the three tensioner to block bolts and remove ten-
sioner assembly.
Fig. 74 Compressing Tensioner For Chain
Installation
1 - SCREWDRIVER
2 - INSERT PIN HERE
Fig. 75 Alignment of Timing Marks
1 - TIMING MARKS
BR/BEENGINE 3.9L 9 - 57
TIMING BELT / CHAIN COVER(S) (Continued)

INSPECTIONÐMEASURING TIMING CHAIN
STRETCH
NOTE: Timing chain tensioner must be removed for
this operation.
(1) Place a scale next to the timing chain so that
any movement of the chain can be measured.
(2) Place a torque wrench and socket over cam-
shaft sprocket attaching bolt. Apply torque in the
direction of crankshaft rotation to take up slack; 41
N´m (30 ft. lbs.) torque with cylinder head installed
or 20 N´m (15 ft. lbs.) torque with cylinder head
removed. With torque applied to the camshaft
sprocket bolt, crankshaft should not be permitted to
move. It may be necessary to block the crankshaft to
prevent rotation.
(3) Hold a scale with dimensional reading even
with the edge of a chain link. With cylinder heads
installed, apply 14 N´m (30 ft. lbs.) torque in the
reverse direction. With the cylinder heads removed,
apply 20 N´m (15 ft. lbs.) torque in the reverse direc-
tion. Note the amount of chain movement (Fig. 76).
(4) Install a new timing chain, if its movement
exceeds 3.175 mm (1/8 inch).
INSTALLATION
(1) If tensioner assembly is being replaced, install
tensioner and mounting bolts. Torque bolts to 24 N´m
(210 in. lbs.).
(2) Place both camshaft sprocket and crankshaft
sprocket on the bench with timing marks on an exact
imaginary center line through both camshaft and
crankshaft bores.
(3) Place timing chain around both sprockets.
(4) Lift sprockets and chain (keep sprockets tight
against the chain in position as described).(5) Slide both sprockets evenly over their respec-
tive shafts and verify alignment of timing marks
(Fig. 77) with a straight-edge if necessary.
(6) Install the camshaft bolt. Tighten the bolt to 68
N´m (50 ft. lbs.) torque.
(7)Remove tensioner pin.Again, verify align-
ment of timing marks.
(8) Install timing cover (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/
VALVE TIMING/TIMING BELT / CHAIN COVER(S)
- INSTALLATION).
(9) Fill cooling system (Refer to 7 - COOLING -
STANDARD PROCEDURE).
(10) Connect battery negative cable.
(11) Start engine and check for oil and coolant
leaks.
Fig. 76 Measuring Timing Chain Wear and Stretch
1 - TORQUE WRENCH
2 - 3.175 MM
(0.125 IN.)
Fig. 77 Alignment of Timing Marks
1 - TIMING MARKS
9 - 58 ENGINE 3.9LBR/BE
TIMING BELT/CHAIN AND SPROCKETS (Continued)

ENGINE 5.2L
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page page
ENGINE 5.2L
DESCRIPTION...........................60
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING.................61
ENGINE DIAGNOSIS - INTRODUCTION......61
PERFORMANCE.......................61
MECHANICAL.........................63
LUBRICATION.........................66
CYLINDER COMPRESSION PRESSURE.....67
CYLINDER COMBUSTION PRESSURE
LEAKAGE.............................67
STANDARD PROCEDURE..................68
FORM-IN-PLACE GASKETS AND SEALERS. . . 68
REPAIR DAMAGED OR WORN THREADS....68
HYDROSTATIC LOCK....................68
CYLINDER BORE HONING...............69
REMOVAL..............................69
INSTALLATION...........................70
SPECIFICATIONS........................72
SPECIAL TOOLS.........................77
CYLINDER HEAD
DESCRIPTION...........................79
OPERATION.............................79
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING.................79
CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILURE........79
REMOVAL..............................80
CLEANING..............................80
INSPECTION............................80
INSTALLATION...........................80
CYLINDER HEAD COVER(S)
REMOVAL..............................81
CLEANING..............................81
INSPECTION............................81
INSTALLATION...........................81
INTAKE/EXHAUST VALVES & SEATS
DESCRIPTION...........................81
STANDARD PROCEDURE..................82
VALVES, GUIDES AND SPRINGS...........82
REMOVAL..............................84
CLEANING..............................84
INSPECTION............................84
INSTALLATION...........................85
ROCKER ARM / ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY
REMOVAL..............................85
INSTALLATION...........................85
ENGINE BLOCK
CLEANING..............................86
INSPECTION............................86
CAMSHAFT & BEARINGS (IN BLOCK)
REMOVAL..............................86INSTALLATION...........................87
CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS
STANDARD PROCEDURE..................88
CONNECTING ROD BEARING FITTING......88
CRANKSHAFT
DESCRIPTION...........................88
OPERATION.............................88
REMOVAL..............................88
INSTALLATION...........................89
CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARINGS
DESCRIPTION...........................90
OPERATION.............................90
STANDARD PROCEDURE..................90
CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARING FITTING.....90
REMOVAL..............................90
INSTALLATION...........................90
CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL - FRONT
DESCRIPTION...........................91
OPERATION.............................91
REMOVAL..............................91
INSTALLATION...........................91
CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL - REAR
DESCRIPTION...........................91
OPERATION.............................92
REMOVAL..............................92
INSTALLATION...........................92
DISTRIBUTOR BUSHING
REMOVAL..............................94
INSTALLATION...........................94
HYDRAULIC LIFTERS (CAM IN BLOCK)
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING.................95
HYDRAULIC TAPPETS...................95
REMOVAL..............................96
CLEANING..............................96
INSTALLATION...........................96
PISTON & CONNECTING ROD
DESCRIPTION...........................97
STANDARD PROCEDURE..................97
PISTON FITTING.......................97
REMOVAL..............................97
CLEANING..............................98
INSPECTION............................98
INSTALLATION...........................98
PISTON RINGS
STANDARD PROCEDURE..................98
PISTON RING FITTING..................98
VIBRATION DAMPER
REMOVAL..............................99
INSTALLATION...........................99
BR/BEENGINE 5.2L 9 - 59

FRONT MOUNT
REMOVAL.............................100
INSTALLATION..........................100
REAR MOUNT
REMOVAL.............................101
INSTALLATION..........................101
LUBRICATION
DESCRIPTION..........................102
OPERATION............................102
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING................104
ENGINE OIL LEAKS....................104
ENGINE OIL PRESSURE................104
OIL
STANDARD PROCEDURE.................104
ENGINE OIL..........................104
OIL FILTER
REMOVAL.............................105
INSTALLATION..........................105
OIL PAN
REMOVAL.............................105
CLEANING.............................106
INSPECTION...........................106
INSTALLATION..........................106
OIL PUMP
REMOVAL.............................107
DISASSEMBLY..........................107INSPECTION...........................107
ASSEMBLY............................109
INSTALLATION..........................109
INTAKE MANIFOLD
DESCRIPTION..........................109
OPERATION............................109
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING................110
INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKAGE............110
REMOVAL.............................110
CLEANING.............................110
INSPECTION...........................110
INSTALLATION..........................111
EXHAUST MANIFOLD
DESCRIPTION..........................112
OPERATION............................112
REMOVAL.............................112
CLEANING.............................112
INSPECTION...........................112
INSTALLATION..........................113
TIMING BELT / CHAIN COVER(S)
REMOVAL.............................113
INSTALLATION..........................113
TIMING BELT/CHAIN AND SPROCKETS
REMOVAL.............................114
INSPECTION...........................114
INSTALLATION..........................115
ENGINE 5.2L
DESCRIPTION
The 5.2 Liter (318 CID) eight-cylinder engine is a
V-Type lightweight, single cam, overhead valve
engine with hydraulic roller tappets. This engine is
designed for unleaded fuel.
Engine lubrication system consists of a rotor type
oil pump and a full flow oil filter.The cylinders are numbered from front to rear; 1,
3, 5, 7 on the left bank and 2, 4, 6, 8 on the right
bank. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 (Fig. 1).
The engine serial number is stamped into a
machined pad located on the left, front corner of the
cylinder block. When component part replacement is
necessary, use the engine type and serial number for
reference (Fig. 2).
Fig. 1 Firing Order
Fig. 2 Engine Identification (Serial) Number
9 - 60 ENGINE 5.2LBR/BE

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSES CORRECTION
3. Worn or incorrect gapped spark
plugs3. Clean plugs and set gap. (Refer to 8
- ELECTRICAL/IGNITION CONTROL/
SPARK PLUG - CLEANING).
4. Dirt or water in fuel system 4. Clean system and replace fuel filter
5. Faulty fuel pump 5. Install new fuel pump
6. Incorrect valve timing 6. Correct valve timing
7. Blown cylinder head gasket 7. Install new cylinder head gasket
8. Low compression 8. Test cylinder compression (Refer to
9 - ENGINE - DIAGNOSIS AND
TESTING).
9. Burned, warped, or pitted valves 9. Install/Reface valves as necessary
10. Plugged or restricted exhaust
system10. Install new parts as necessary
11. Faulty ignition cables 11. Replace any cracked or shorted
cables
12. Faulty ignition coil 12. Test and replace, as necessary
(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/IGNITION
CONTROL/IGNITION COIL -
REMOVAL).
ENGINE STALLS OR
ROUGH IDLE1. Carbon build-up on throttle plate 1. Remove throttle body and de-
carbon. (Refer to 14 - FUEL SYSTEM/
FUEL INJECTION/THROTTLE BODY -
REMOVAL).
2. Engine idle speed too low 2. Check Idle Air Control circuit. (Refer
to 14 - FUEL SYSTEM/FUEL
INJECTION/IDLE AIR CONTROL
MOTOR - DESCRIPTION)
3. Worn or incorrectly gapped spark
plugs3. Replace or clean and re-gap spark
plugs (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
IGNITION CONTROL/SPARK PLUG -
CLEANING)
4. Worn or burned distributor rotor 4. Install new distributor rotor
5. Spark plug cables defective or
crossed5. Check for correct firing order or
replace spark plug cables. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/IGNITION CONTROL/
SPARK PLUG CABLE - DIAGNOSIS
AND TESTING)
6. Faulty coil 6. Test and replace, if necessary (Refer
to 8 - ELECTRICAL/IGNITION
CONTROL/IGNITION COIL -
REMOVAL)
7. Intake manifold vacuum leak 7. Inspect intake manifold gasket and
vacuum hoses (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/
MANIFOLDS/INTAKE MANIFOLD -
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING).
9 - 62 ENGINE 5.2LBR/BE
ENGINE 5.2L (Continued)

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSES CORRECTION
ENGINE MISSES ON
ACCELERATION1. Worn or incorrectly gapped spark
plugs1. Replace spark plugs or clean and
set gap. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
IGNITION CONTROL/SPARK PLUG -
CLEANING)
2. Spark plug cables defective or
crossed2. Replace or rewire secondary ignition
cables. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
IGNITION CONTROL/SPARK PLUG
CABLE - REMOVAL)
3. Dirt in fuel system 3. Clean fuel system
4. Burned, warped or pitted valves 4. Install new valves
5. Faulty coil 5. Test and replace as necessary
(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/IGNITION
CONTROL/IGNITION COIL -
REMOVAL)
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTINGÐ MECHANICAL
ENGINE MECHANICAL DIAGNOSIS CHART
CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSES CORRECTION
NOISY VALVES/LIFTERS 1. High or low oil level in crankcase 1. Check for correct oil level. Adjust
oil level by draining or adding as
needed
2. Thin or diluted oil 2. Change oil. (Refer to 9 -
ENGINE/LUBRICATION/OIL -
STANDARD PROCEDURE)
3. Low oil pressure 3. Check engine oil level. If ok,
Perform oil pressure test. (Refer to
9 - ENGINE/LUBRICATION -
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING) for
engine oil pressure test/
specifications
4. Dirt in tappets/lash adjusters 4. Clean/replace hydraulic
tappets/lash adjusters
5. Bent push rod(s) 5. Install new push rods
6. Worn rocker arms 6. Inspect oil supply to rocker arms
and replace worn arms as needed
7. Worn tappets/lash adjusters 7. Install new hydraulic tappets/lash
adjusters
8. Worn valve guides 8. Inspect all valve guides and
replace as necessary
9. Excessive runout of valve seats
or valve faces9. Grind valves and seats
BR/BEENGINE 5.2L 9 - 63
ENGINE 5.2L (Continued)

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSES CORRECTION
CONNECTING ROD NOISE 1. Insufficient oil supply 1. Check engine oil level.
2. Low oil pressure 2. Check engine oil level. If ok,
Perform oil pressure test. (Refer to
9 - ENGINE/LUBRICATION -
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING) engine
oil pressure test/specifications
3. Thin or diluted oil 3. Change oil to correct viscosity.
(Refer to 9 - ENGINE/
LUBRICATION/OIL - STANDARD
PROCEDURE) for correct
procedure/engine oil specifications
4. Excessive connecting rod
bearing clearanceMeasure bearings for correct
clearance with plasti-gage. Repair
as necessary
5. Connecting rod journal out of
round5. Replace crankshaft or grind
journals
6. Misaligned connecting rods 6. Replace bent connecting rods
MAIN BEARING NOISE 1. Insufficient oil supply 1. Check engine oil level.
2. Low oil pressure 2. Check engine oil level. If ok,
Perform oil pressure test. (Refer to
9 - ENGINE/LUBRICATION -
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)
3. Thin or diluted oil 3. Change oil to correct viscosity.
4. Excessive main bearing
clearance4. Measure bearings for correct
clearance. Repair as necessary
5. Excessive end play 5. Check crankshaft thrust bearing
for excessive wear on flanges
6. Crankshaft main journal out of
round or worn6. Grind journals or replace
crankshaft
7. Loose flywheel or torque
converter7. Inspect crankshaft, flexplate/
flywheel and bolts for damage.
Tighten to correct torque
LOW OIL PRESSURE 1. Low oil level 1. Check oil level and fill if
necessary
2. Faulty oil pressure sending unit 2. Install new sending unit
3. Clogged oil filter 3. Install new oil filter
4. Worn oil pump 4. Replace oil pump assembly.
5. Thin or diluted oil 5. Change oil to correct viscosity.
6. Excessive bearing clearance 6. Measure bearings for correct
clearance
7. Oil pump relief valve stuck 7. Remove valve to inspect, clean
and reinstall
8. Oil pump suction tube loose,
broken, bent or clogged8. Inspect suction tube and clean or
replace if necessary
9. Oil pump cover warped or
cracked9. Install new oil pump
9 - 64 ENGINE 5.2LBR/BE
ENGINE 5.2L (Continued)

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSES CORRECTION
OIL LEAKS 1. Misaligned or deteriorated
gaskets1. Replace gasket
2. Loose fastener, broken or porous
metal part2. Tighten, repair or replace the part
3. Front or rear crankshaft oil seal
leaking3. Replace seal
4. Leaking oil gallery plug or cup
plug4. Remove and reseal threaded
plug. Replace cup style plug
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION
OR SPARK PLUGS OIL FOULED1. CCV System malfunction 1. (Refer to 25 - EMISSIONS
CONTROL/EVAPORATIVE
EMISSIONS - DESCRIPTION) for
correct operation
2. Defective valve stem seal(s) 2. Repair or replace seal(s)
3. Worn or broken piston rings 3. Hone cylinder bores. Install new
rings
4. Scuffed pistons/cylinder walls 4. Hone cylinder bores and replace
pistons as required
5. Carbon in oil control ring groove 5. Remove rings and de-carbon
piston
6. Worn valve guides 6. Inspect/replace valve guides as
necessary
7. Piston rings fitted too tightly in
grooves7. Remove rings and check ring end
gap and side clearance. Replace if
necessary
BR/BEENGINE 5.2L 9 - 65
ENGINE 5.2L (Continued)