Safety Warning

DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.

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HOMESERVICE MANUALSMAZDA20086 S SPORT, 4D HATCHBACK, STANDARDREPAIR AND DIAGNOSISEXTERNAL PAGESDIFFERENT CARSECTION 62 (ENGINE CONTROLS [SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING])VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SYSTEMVARIABLE VALVE TIMING ACTUATORMAZDA6 (2.3L)

2008 Mazda 6 s Sport, 4D Hatchback, Standard

Mazda6 (2.3L)

2008 Mazda 6 s Sport, 4D Hatchback, StandardSECTION Mazda6 (2.3L)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mazda Protege5, 2003 Mazda Protege, 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata, 2003 Mazda MPV, and 2003 Mazda 6. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Disconnect the negative battery cable.
Remove plug hole plate.
Remove high-tension leads.
Remove Oil Control Valve (OCV) 2-pin harness connector.
Remove ventilation hose.
Remove cylinder head cover.
Confirm groove on rotor and notch on cover of variable valve timing actuator are aligned and fitted. See Fig 1.
- If groove and notch are not aligned, turn crankshaft clockwise two rotations. Verify that groove and notch are aligned.
- If groove and notch are still not aligned, replace variable valve timing actuator.
- If, when turning crankshaft, there is a hitting noise from variable valve timing actuator each time cam passes fully lifted position, it means that variable valve timing actuator is not secured. Replace variable valve timing actuator. Refer to VARIABLE VALVE TIMING ACTUATOR under VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SYSTEM in REMOVAL, OVERHAUL & INSTALLATION article.

Fig 1: Identifying Variable Valve Timing Actuator Alignment Mark - Mazda6 (2.3L)

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

RENDER: 1.0x

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When to See a Mechanic

Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:

• You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
• Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
• The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
• You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
• You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.