You won't be able to do this without a cam adjustment tool to lock the rear of the cams. There are some links for home made versions of the tool but it needs to be able to hold the cam while the CVVT actuator hub is torqued to 89 ft.lbs.

Here is how I did it, the second time, once I had the tool. I tried to do this without the tool and I could never get it right, the car would instantly post a P0014 code which disables the CVVT system on start-up.



1 ) Assure that the crankshaft is at the timing mark.

2 ) Install the cam lock tools.

3 ) Install the upper portion of the timing belt cover.

4 ) Install the intake camshaft sprocket, adjust the sprocket so that the timing mark is aligned with the timing mark. This should have the sprocket bolts at the midpoint of the slotted bolt holes.

5 ) Torque the intake cam sprocket bolts to 15 ft. lbs.

6 ) Install the CVVT actuator and the exhaust camshaft sprocket as a single unit with the sprocket bolts loose. Do not tighten the center bolt on the CVVT actuator.

7 ) Rotate the exhaust cam sprocket clockwise until the timing mark is 1 tooth before the timing mark. At this point the sprocket bolts should be all the way to the left hand stops on the slotted holes.

8 ) Tighten the center bolt on the CVVT actuator. Go slowly at first so as to avoid having the actuator rotate. Once the actuator bites on the end of the camshaft tighten the center bolt to 89 ft. lbs.

9 ) Install the center cap on the CVVT actuator unit. At this point the CVVT actuator unit should rotate, with resistance, in a clockwise direction.

10 ) Install the timing belt making sure that the belt is taught from the crankshaft sprocket, across the idler roller, and on to the intake camshaft sprocket. Before you thread the belt around to the exhaust camshaft sprocket you need to rotate the center cap on the CVVT actuator unit clockwise as far as it will go. Before the belt is threaded onto the exhaust camshaft sprocket, in addition to holding the CVVT actuator at the clockwise limit, the timing mark on the exhaust camshaft sprocket should be aligned to the timing mark.

11 ) Continue threading the timing belt until it is around the water pump and the tensioner. Adjust the tensioner until the indicator is in the window and then tighten down the locking bolt.

12 ) While the exhaust camshaft CVVT actuator is at its clockwise limit tighten the exhaust camshaft sprocket bolts to 8 ft. lbs (or snug, my torque wrench is worthless at that low of a setting). The exhaust camshaft sprocket bolts should not be at either limit in the slots.

13 ) Remove the cam adjustment tools and then rotate the engine by hand, clockwise, 2 revolutions and reset the tension on the tensioner. Check to assure that all of the timing marks are properly aligned.

At this point you should be ready to go. I start the car without the timing belt cover on so that I can re-check the tensioner after it runs for a few minutes.

...Lee