Dodge Nitro. Manual - part 58

Engine base timing can be verified by the following procedure: 

1. Remove the cylinder head covers. Refer to the procedure in this article.  

2. 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. 170. 

Fig. 171: Camshaft Sprocket V6 Marks (#1 TDC, Exhaust Stroke) 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

3. 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. 
171.  

4. 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.  

5. If only one of the camshaft drive gears is off and the other is correct, the problem is confined to one 

secondary chain. Refer to Single camshaft timing, in this procedure.  

6. If both camshaft drive gear V6 marks are at the twelve o'clock or the six o'clock position the engine base 

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 Once the timing drive is rotated blue link-to-dot alignment is no longer 
valid.

1 - LEFT CYLINDER HEAD
2 - RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ENGINE 3.7L - Service Information - Nitro

  

timing is correct. Reinstall the cylinder head covers. 

COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT TIMING 

Fig. 172: Counterbalance Shaft Alignment Marks 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

1. Ensure that the engine is at TDC with both camshaft sprocket V6 marks in the 12 o'clock position.  

2. Look down the left cylinder head chain cavity. The timing dot (2) on the counter balance shaft drive gear 

1 - COUNTERBALANCE SHAFT GEAR
2 - TIMING MARK
3 - IDLER SPROCKET GEAR

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ENGINE 3.7L - Service Information - Nitro

  

should be in the 6 o'clock position. See Fig. 172. 

TIMING - SINGLE CAMSHAFT 

Fig. 173: Securing Timing Chain Tensioner Using Timing Chain Wedge 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

1 - CYLINDER HEAD
2 -SPECIAL TOOL 8379
3 - TIMING CHAIN

NOTE:

To adjust the timing on one camshaft, preform the following procedure.

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ENGINE 3.7L - Service Information - Nitro

  

1. Using the Wedge Locking Tool 8379 (2), stabilize the secondary chain drive. For reference purposes, 

mark the chain-to-sprocket position. See Fig. 173. 

Fig. 174: Removing/Installing Camshaft Drive Gear 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

2. Remove the camshaft drive gear retaining bolt. See Fig. 174(3).  

3. Carefully remove the camshaft drive gear from the camshaft. 

1 - SPECIAL TOOL 8379 TIMING CHAIN WEDGE
2 - CAMSHAFT DRIVE GEAR
3 - RETAINING BOLT
4 - CYLINDER HEAD

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ENGINE 3.7L - Service Information - Nitro