Dodge Intrepid Service Manual page 312

LH
VALVE TIMING (Continued)
side" of the primary chain, necessitating the double-
flexure type chain.
The chain is controlled by three fixed chain guides
and a pivoting tensioner arm (Fig. 112). These guides
utilize low-friction and long wearing nylon plastic
wear faces. To tension the primary chain, a fully
automatic spring-loaded, engine oil-fed, hydraulic
tensioner is used. The tensioner is mounted in the
right cylinder head with the plunger contacting the
pivoting tensioner arm. A mechanical ratchet mecha-
nism inside the tensioner prevents excessive chain
slack upon engine start-up as the chain wears. The
tensioner is designed with an internal oil reservoir to
assure noise-free performance, even during engine
start-up before oil pressure reaches the tensioner.
For lubrication the primary chain utilizes oil leak-
age from the front of the oil pump. This oil spills on
the crankshaft sprocket, which is then carried by the
chain throughout the primary drive.
1 – CAMSHAFT DAMPER (IF EQUIPPED)
2 – CHAIN GUIDE
3 – ACCESS PLUG
4 – CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR
5 – PRIMARY TIMING CHAIN
6 – CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET
The secondary timing chain drive system uses
two conventional roller-type chains, one at each cyl-
inder bank (Fig. 20). The purpose of the secondary
chain is to provide a mechanical driven connection
between the intake and exhaust camshafts. The
intake camshafts drive the exhaust camshafts. The
sprockets for both intake and exhaust camshafts are
a press-fit and are only serviced as an assembly with
the camshafts.
To tension the secondary chain a spring-loaded,
hydraulic tensioner is used at each bank and
attaches to each cylinder head between the intake
and exhaust camshafts (Fig. 20). The tensioner incor-
porates upper and lower chain guide faces. The lower
guide face is attached directly to the tensioner's
hydraulic plunger. Also, the tensioner uses an inter-
nal oil reservoir design to prevent engine start-up
noise. The secondary chains are lubricated via an oil
passage through the upper guide face on each ten-
sioner.
Fig. 112 TIMING DRIVE SYSTEM
7 – CHAIN GUIDE
8 – CHAIN TENSIONER ARM
9 – CHAIN TENSIONER
10 – CAMSHAFT SPROCKETS
11 – CHAIN GUIDE
ENGINE 2.7L 9 - 77