WARNING!!
THIS JOB REQUIRES ADVANCED SKILLS LEVEL AND NOT FOR BEGINNERS.
2001 Mercedes Benz E-320 Timing Chain Replacement, without taking the engine out. It is not an easy job. If you don't know what you are doing, please don't start. This procedure could damage the engine instead of improving the horse power.
SAFETY IS FIRST
*** Disconnect the battery poles, secure the car with jack stands since you will work under it, wear long sleeves, gloves, and safety glasses as coolant and oil might drop onto your eyes. Try to have the minimum amount of gas in your tank just in case. ***
1-You need to drain/collect the oil and the coolant as well.
2-Remove the cooling fan to gain more space. (2 clips and 1 plug)
3-Remove the belt.
4- Remove the air filter assembly with MAFS.
5-Remove ignition coils, valve covers, and one spark plug out of each piston.
6-Remove the air pump, thermostat, coolant temp. sensor and hose, PS pump, compressor, belt tensioner, timing chain tensioner, crankshaft pulley, water pump, alternator, and radiator hoses.
7-Remove the lower oil pan bolts and drop it.
8-Remove the timing case bolts (surface bolts with different sizes and the bolts located along the three edges which are the inside left head, right head, and oil pan).
9-Using a Pry-bar to break the RTV sealant, pay attention not to scratch the surface between the timing case, engine block, and the heads as well.
10-Remove all the bolts holding one of the rocker arms and take it away.
9-Break the chain using a grinder or a chain breaker.
11-Compare the old and new chain lengths to see how bad it was stretched (usually it is around one link difference).
12-Put the new chain and make sure it is perfectly aligned as shown in video.
13-Simulate the chain tensioner and rotate the engine crank 14 revolutions and then everything should come back to the same exact location.
14- Clean the old RTV from the timing case cover using a sharp razor blade at approximately a 30 degree angle. Don't use massive force when doing so or it will make the surface uneven. Pay attention to the coolant seals. Do not use the blade on them.
15-Put RTV gasket maker on the case surface where it is necessary and also on the edges (making comparisons between the old and the new if you don't know exactly where to put the new RTV).
16-Loosen the upper oil pan bolts including removing the big bolts holding the oil pan to the transmission (I left this step to the very end since it is hard to put RTV between the oil pan and engine while the engine is mounted and I didn't want any dust or dirt between the two surfaces. You need to put it back really quickly to avoid an oil leak).
17-Put the timing case cover back and pay attention not to bend the head gaskets. I actually put it halfway and ended up tightening the upper oil pan and gently hammering it in to make it slide.
18-Replace all the parts on the car again in reverse order.
18-Ask a helper to crank the car while you listen and watch being very cautious as safety should be first just in case something should go wrong.
19- Enjoy your Mercedes!!!
