Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Manual - part 83

TIMING BELT

ENGINE OVERHAUL

11B-23

1. Clean and then degrease the crankshaft sprocket, 

sprocket fitting surface of the crankshaft, and 
crankshaft sensing blade. Install the crankshaft 
sprocket and crankshaft sensing blade on the 
crankshaft.

2. Clean the bolt hole in the crankshaft, and then 

washer.

3. Apply a necessary minimum amount of oil to the 

threads and seating surface of the crankshaft bolt.

4. Hold the drive plate using the special tool 

Flywheel stopper (MD998781).

5. Tighten the crankshaft bolt to a torque of 167 N

⋅m. 

>>I<< OIL PUMP SPROCKET 
INSTALLATION

1. Prevent the counterbalancer shaft from rotating in 

the same method as in the removal procedure.

2. Install the oil pump sprocket.
3. Apply a thin coat of engine oil to the seating 

surface of the nut.

4. Tighten the flange nut to 54 

± 5 N⋅m.

>>J<< AUTO-TENSIONER INSTALLATION

1. If the auto-tensioner rod remains in its fully 

extended position, reset it to the retracted position 
as follows:
(1) Clamp the auto-tensioner in a vise at right 

angles to the jaws.

(2) Push in the rod little by little with the vise until 

the set hole A in the rod is aligned with the set 
hole "B" in the cylinder.

(3) Insert a piece of wire (1.4 mm diameter) into 

the set holes.

(4) Remove the auto-tensioner from the vise.

2. Install the auto-tensioner in position. Leave the 

wire installed until the auto-tensioner is 
completely installed.

>>K<< TENSIONER PULLEY 
INSTALLATION

Install the tensioner pulley with its holes aligned as 
shown in the drawing.

AK202738

MD998781

AC

AK300172

AK301074

A

B

AD

AK300154

AK300147

Tensioner 
pulley hole

AE

TIMING BELT

ENGINE OVERHAUL

11B-24

>>L<< TIMING BELT INSTALLATION

1. Bring the timing mark on the exhaust camshaft 

sprocket to a point one sprocket tooth away from 
the timing mark on the rocker cover in the 
anti-clockwise direction.
NOTE: If the timing marks were aligned, the 
exhaust camshaft would be turned anti-clockwise 
by one sprocket tooth and stay there by the force 
of the valve springs.

2. Align the timing mark on the intake camshaft 

sprocket with that on the rocker cover.
NOTE: The intake camshaft will be turned slightly 
clockwise from where the timing marks are 
aligned by the force of the valve springs and stay 
there.

3. Bring the timing mark on the crankshaft sprocket 

to a point one sprocket tooth away from the 
mating timing mark in the anti-clockwise direction 
like in the operation with the exhaust camshaft 
sprocket.

4. Align the timing mark on the oil pump sprocket 

with that on the cylinder block.
(1) Remove the plug from the cylinder block.
(2) Insert a crosspoint screwdriver with a shank 

diameter of 8 mm through the plug hole. If it 
can be inserted 60 mm or more, the sprocket 
is in the correct phase. If the insertion depth is 
up to 20 

− 25 mm, the screwdriver is blocked 

by the counterbalancer shaft. Then turn the oil 
pump sprocket one turn and realign the timing 
marks. Then check that the screwdriver can 
be inserted 60 mm or more. Keep the 
screwdriver inserted until installation of timing 
belt is finished.

(3) Turn the oil pump sprocket anti-clockwise by 

one sprocket tooth.

5. Install the timing belt on the exhaust camshaft 

sprocket, and hold it in place with a paper clip at 
the point indicated in the drawing.

AK304440AB

Timing marks

AK501745

Timing marks

AB

AK304563AB

Timing marks

AK202752

Crosspoint 
screwdriver

AD

Plug

AK202761

Timing marks

AD

AK202771

TIMING BELT

ENGINE OVERHAUL

11B-25

6. Turn the intake camshaft sprocket anti-clockwise 

to bring the timing mark on it one sprocket tooth 
away from the mating timing mark in the 
anti-clockwise direction. Then install the timing 
belt on the sprocket and hold it in place with a 
paper clip.
NOTE: The timing marks will be aligned when the 
belt is installed since the intake camshaft is turned 
slightly clockwise by the force of the valve 
springs.

7. Turn the exhaust camshaft sprocket clockwise to 

align the timing marks, and make sure that the 
intake camshaft sprocket timing marks are also 
aligned.

8. Install the timing belt on the idler pulley, oil pump 

sprocket, and crankshaft sprocket, in this order. 
NOTE: There should be no slack in the installed 
portion of the belt.

9. Install the timing belt on the tensioner pulley.

NOTE: Turning slightly the intake camshaft 
sprocket anti-clockwise will facilitate installation of 
the belt on the tensioner pulley.

10.Turn slightly the crankshaft sprocket clockwise to 

take up the slack in the idler pulley portion of the 
timing belt.

11.Check that each of the timing marks on the 

crankshaft, oil pump, and exhaust camshaft 
sprockets is one sprocket tooth away from its 
mating timing mark in the anti-clockwise direction.

12.Turn the tensioner pulley anti-clockwise using the 

special tool Tension pulley socket wrench 
(MD998767) to give tension to the belt and hold 
the tensioner in position by temporarily tightening 
the tensioner lock bolt.
NOTE: Take up the slack in the belt portion 
between the intake and exhaust camshaft sprock-
ets.

AK501746

AK501747

Timing marks

AB

AK202762AE

Crankshaft 
sprocket

Oil pump 
sprocket

AK501748AB

V.V.T. 
sprocket

Tensioner 
pulley

AK202763AB

Crankshaft 
sprocket

AK202764

MD998767

AD

TIMING BELT

ENGINE OVERHAUL

11B-26

13.Turn the crankshaft clockwise to make the timing 

mark align with the No.1 cylinder top dead centre 
mark.

14.Install the special tool Set screw (MD998738) and 

turn down the tool until the wire (inserted in the 
auto-tensioner when it was installed) can be 
moved freely.

15.Loosen the tensioner pulley lock bolt.

CAUTION

Prevent the timing belt from slipping as it 
becomes loose following rotation of the intake 
and exhaust camshafts. 
16.Turn the torque wrench attached to the special 

tool Tension pulley socket wrench (MD998767) 
anti-clockwise until the slack in the timing belt is 
taken up.

17.Turn the torque wrench clockwise from the 

position of step 16 until the torque wrench reading 
becomes 3.5 N

⋅m, then tighten the tensioner 

pulley lock bolt.

18.Remove the special tool Set screw (MD998738) 

that was installed in step 14.

19.Turn the crankshaft clockwise two turns, then let it 

alone for approx. 15 minutes.

20.Check that the wire (inserted in the auto-tensioner 

when it was installed) can be moved freely. If the 
wire can be pulled freely, the belt tensioner is 
adjusted properly. Remove the wire. At that time, 
check that the auto-tensioner rod extends by the 
specified amount.

Standard value: 3.8 

− 4.5 mm

CAUTION

Be sure to check the tightening torque of the 
crankshaft bolt anytime the crankshaft has been 
turned anti-clockwise. If the torque lower than 
specification, tighten the bolt to the specified 
torque.
21.If the wire cannot be pulled out freely, perform the 

steps 14 through 18 again to make the belt 
tension proper.

>>M<< PLUG CAP INSTALLATION

CAUTION

Do not reuse the washer.
1. Install the washer to the plug cap.
2. Holding the hexagonal portion of the camshaft 

with a wrench, tighten the plug cap to the 
specified torque of 32 

± 2 N⋅m.

AK202774

MD998738

AD

AK202775

MD998767

AD

AK202829

Extension 
amount

AB

AK403836