Cadillac Repair: TIMEING BELT, timing chains, star engine

Question
HOW DO YOU INSTALL THE TIMEING BELT ON A 1997 CADILAC DEVILLE  V8 4.6 L

Answer
Hi David,

     With the North Star engine it uses 3 timing chains instead of belts. There are several special tools...the most important one being a special flywheel holder to keep the crankshaft from turning because the harmonic balancer bolt needs to be tightened to aprox. 230 foot pounds of torque in order to allow the oil pump to function correctly.

     To write up the complete procedure here would take too long and I can't provide line-up photos for how the chains and gears are supposed to be. Therefore what I would suggest is to go to your local library and they might have the shop manual you need. Your local autoparts store might have the generic manual that gives the specs. But the best thing to do is go to the all data.com web site or autozone.com web site and subscribe to the all data repair manual. You will have all the info you will need to complete the repairs or find out if you have the tools and knowledge required to complete this repair. Also you can print out the procedure and take it to the car and should it get greasy reprint a new copy.

     Unless you have alot of miles like 200,000 there really isn't any reason to replace the chains. Why if I might ask do you want to replace them? Or did you just not realize it had chains and then forget about replaceing them?

     Let me know if I can be anymore help. Bill