New valve cover gasket, cam seals and VVT-i pulley
02-21-09, 08:22 AM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
New valve cover gasket, cam seals and VVT-i pulley
So valve cover gaskets and VVT-i pulley have been leaking some oil on the wife's car for a while, GS300 with about 130k miles.
The car was running smooth with no complaints but it was leaking and I have had the parts on the shelf for almost a year...
I did not realize just how bad it was until I went in there and saw.
What a mess and I can't believe the car ran, oil filled all the spark plug holes from the old and very brittle valve cover gaskets.
I finished replacing the valve cover gaskets, VVT-i pulley, cam seals, and resealing the front cam caps last night.
I was also going to replace the timing belt but broke the 22mm socket trying to get the crank shaft pulley bolt off.
The timing belt looked good and it only has 30k miles on it so I decided to leave it for another day. Anyway I am still waiting on the Schley 64300 I ordered last week.
Everything went pretty smooth except when I was clipping the coil pack connectors on, the inside part of 2 of the 3 connectors were broken off. I finally got then seated but I am looking at getting new wire harness connectors for the coil packs.
I expected to take about 4 or 5 hours to do this and ended up taking me 9 hours from start to finish.
Here's a few pictures...
Do not look for quality tools at Harbor Freight...
Oil was being sprayed from the front of the VVT pulley along the red line...
Mopped up the oil and used compressed air to blow out the holes...
Upper intake, valve covers, cam gears, front cam caps removed...
cam cap #3 with VVT controller...
new VVT intake cam gear
The car was running smooth with no complaints but it was leaking and I have had the parts on the shelf for almost a year...
I did not realize just how bad it was until I went in there and saw.
What a mess and I can't believe the car ran, oil filled all the spark plug holes from the old and very brittle valve cover gaskets.
I finished replacing the valve cover gaskets, VVT-i pulley, cam seals, and resealing the front cam caps last night.
I was also going to replace the timing belt but broke the 22mm socket trying to get the crank shaft pulley bolt off.
The timing belt looked good and it only has 30k miles on it so I decided to leave it for another day. Anyway I am still waiting on the Schley 64300 I ordered last week.
Everything went pretty smooth except when I was clipping the coil pack connectors on, the inside part of 2 of the 3 connectors were broken off. I finally got then seated but I am looking at getting new wire harness connectors for the coil packs.
I expected to take about 4 or 5 hours to do this and ended up taking me 9 hours from start to finish.
Here's a few pictures...
Do not look for quality tools at Harbor Freight...
Oil was being sprayed from the front of the VVT pulley along the red line...
Mopped up the oil and used compressed air to blow out the holes...
Upper intake, valve covers, cam gears, front cam caps removed...
cam cap #3 with VVT controller...
new VVT intake cam gear
Last edited by FrankT; 03-13-12 at 10:48 AM. Reason: restore pictures!!
02-21-09, 09:21 AM
#3
Instructor
Thread Starter
I found that out about 2 weeks ago in JohnP's post believe me I would have loved to save $150. but I bought the pulley a while back
I will be taking the used one apart and putting in a new o ring, do you happen to know what size o ring?
I will be taking the used one apart and putting in a new o ring, do you happen to know what size o ring?
02-21-09, 12:06 PM
#4
FrankT I did the same thing about a month ago. I would have tried to rebuild the actuator if I knew about the rebuild. Orlando lexus did not have the actuator in stock so I had to wait a week to get it. 
Such is life, I know it's new now so it will last for a while. 
Nigel
Such is life, I know it's new now so it will last for a while. Nigel
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saleen90
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
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