OEM 2004 Chrysler Pacifica Piston

2004 Chrysler Pacifica Piston Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Remove and Install a Piston in an Engine on 2004 Chrysler Pacifica?

  A: First, taked the cylinder heads and oil pan off to remove the piston. Remove the top of each cylinder ridge using a good ridge reamer and keep the pistons covered during the operation. You should take out the pistons and connecting rods from the top of the cylinder block, turning the crankshaft to center the connecting rods in the cylinder bore. Check the connecting rods and caps for numbers telling you which cylinder they are for; if there are none, mark them as needed. When the connecting rod cap is removed, slide protectors onto the rod and pull each piston-rod assembly out of the cylinder bore without harming the crankshaft journals. When the bearing has been pulled off, place the bearing cap again over the mating rod. To install, first put in the piston rings and inspect the connecting rod bearing cap bolts for necking; update the bolts if any show damage. Examine the connecting rod bolts for necking by setting a straight edge or scale next to the threads and changing out any that don't touch the edge. Stagger the distance between the bottom of each compression ring when assembling so it isn't aligned with the oil ring rail gap. Dip the piston head and rings into some clean engine oil, then slide the ring compressor over the piston and fix it by hand using the appropriate wrench so the ring positions don't move. Set bolt protectors over the engine's rod bolts, orient the crankshaft so that the connecting rod journal is in the center of the cylinder and move the rod and piston over the crankshaft journal. It is important that the arrow on the piston points ahead and that the oil hole on the connecting rod points to the area of highest pressure in the cylinder. Press the piston into the cylinder bore with a hammer handle and at the same time guide the connecting rod onto the journal. Put the rod caps in place, check and clean each connecting rod bolt, then tighten them to 27 Nm (20 ft. lbs.) and turn them an extra 1/4 turn. After installation of the valve train, reinstall the cylinder head(s) and the oil pan.