i did this last weekend , i would recommend replacing the lower timimg cover. if it gets damage could lead to oil leak in the future and most of the job consist on removing the cover. there is no instructions to removing the tensioner by itself. i will recommend not removing the damper on the cams(i did not remove it) there is a tsb that states , when removing the damper timing ill move and you will have to reset timing,
ones the lower cover is remove remove the lock from the tensioner(there is a small metal piece on the top of the tensioner that locks the teeth when you try to press in on it)you can lock it by using a small drill bit.
install the new tencioner check timing marks . recommend turning the engine by hand a few times to get oil flowing to tencioner.
good lock
about 3.5 hours to install with a lift and engine brace
What did you use to keep tension on the chains while you removed the tensioner? Why did you even have to get near the cams? Isn't the tensioner under the bottom cover and the cams under the top cover? Or are you talking about the balance shafts.. What timing marks are you checking..the links on the chain to the gears, or the pulley mark? Don't you have to rotate the TSI like 160 times or something ridiculous to see if the timing marks on the chain line up?
One fairly big question I have is taking off the balancer. By reading Nuespeed's directions on putting on their power pulley they mention in huge bold text to line up the mark on the pulley and then to make sure nothing moves when you take it off. Anyone know why this is? Is it just so you get the toothed back of it lined up again upon reinstallation? Thats the only reason I could see.
Thanks in advance for answering any of these. I'm getting geared up to do this and don't think it should be a bad job at all, just trying to get a few questions in order. My plan was to remove the bottom cover, ziptie the guides together so I can keep tension, remove the old tensioner and replace with the new one without moving anything. Button it back up and it should be good to go.