How to turn the camshaft on a VVT?
Look at the PDF to see if your gear is unlocked or not. Once the gear is on and the chain is lined up over it tighten the bolt down to 63ft lb. Once the gear is bolted down you can then turn the gear and / or the camshaft a bit until the vvt gear locks itself.
How to remove VVT-i gear from Death Rattle?
Take a 14mm hex socket and remove the service plug from the timing cover. Then using a 17mm socket wrench and a large adjustable wrench over the camshaft remove the vvt-i gear bolt. You can then pry off the gear from the camshaft. Once the timing chain is removed hold it up with a rubber bungee cord.
How to remove a VVT-i gear bolt?
You can now pry away the tensioner from the front of the car to pop it off. Take a 14mm hex socket and remove the service plug from the timing cover. Then using a 17mm socket wrench and a large adjustable wrench over the camshaft remove the vvt-i gear bolt.
Look at the PDF to see if your gear is unlocked or not. Once the gear is on and the chain is lined up over it tighten the bolt down to 63ft lb. Once the gear is bolted down you can then turn the gear and / or the camshaft a bit until the vvt gear locks itself.
Is the VVTi cam gear cold startup Rattle harmful?
Your mechanic sounds like a meme. He replaced everything timing related that was not the problem when clearly there is a manufacturing defect with the VVT-I gear. If he looked it up on google it is not hard to find the TSB Toyota posted back in 2013 addressing this exact issue.
You can now pry away the tensioner from the front of the car to pop it off. Take a 14mm hex socket and remove the service plug from the timing cover. Then using a 17mm socket wrench and a large adjustable wrench over the camshaft remove the vvt-i gear bolt.
Take a 14mm hex socket and remove the service plug from the timing cover. Then using a 17mm socket wrench and a large adjustable wrench over the camshaft remove the vvt-i gear bolt. You can then pry off the gear from the camshaft. Once the timing chain is removed hold it up with a rubber bungee cord.