I plan on driving to Ontario this summer (3 day drive) in my 97 2.2 Cavey and it was recommended that I get a new Timing Chain before I leave, but its a lot of work and I have no Idea how to do it, and information on what to do would greatly be appreciated
recommand by a guy who don't know squat about our engines.
Gilles
2.3 Ho
Timing chains are good for the life of the car
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Rob S wrote:Timing chains are good for the life of the car
Good to know, since I was kind of wondering if this would soon become a risk on my engine as well. Of course, that phrase could well be a double-truth, since a broken chain often spells the end of a car's life.
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Geeky wrote:Rob S wrote:Timing chains are good for the life of the car
Good to know, since I was kind of wondering if this would soon become a risk on my engine as well. Of course, that phrase could well be a double-truth, since a broken chain often spells the end of a car's life.
Yesterday had the timing checked on my car and it was way OFF the chain is still good but had they reset the timing and WOW does the car sound and run better. Used less GAS too. I would normally use 1/4 of a tank to drive home and I used half of that lastnight. NOT a word of a LIE.
I'm on my 3rd one on my 97. Anyone that says it'll last the life of the car is correct. Because when it goes it takes the motor out with it. The chains themselves don't wear at all. It's the guides and tensioner that need replaced on the LN2.
It's not a really difficult job, but if you haven't done anything like it before I suggest taking it in to a mechanic.
Also the parts (including gears, chain, tensioner, oil seal, and cover gasket) are fairly inexpensive at +/- $150.
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CAVETTE wrote:I'm on my 3rd one on my 97.
Home many miles on that car? How did you know it needed replacing each time?
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The chains themselves can break, but it's not all that common. Unless you have the head off for something else, I wouldn't recommend taking apart a running car to change the timing chain.
Rob
Sold 2/2/05
Usually the tensioner would let enough slack off the chain to get a rattling noise coming from the area. Change the tensioner and fix the problem. The car has approx. 155k miles, but I bought it used. The first time I replaced it was as a precautionary maintenance thing.
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CAVETTE wrote:Usually the tensioner would let enough slack off the chain to get a rattling noise coming from the area. Change the tensioner and fix the problem. The car has approx. 155k miles, but I bought it used. The first time I replaced it was as a precautionary maintenance thing.
Interesting. I've got almost 100k miles on mine, and I know it's never been touched. I've noticed more "ticking" that I figured was valve or rocker noise from my engine lately, but nothing that I'd figure was a chain rattle. Seems like something to keep in mind, for sure.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Thursday, April 12, 2007 9:07 AM
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REDGOTE wrote:The chains themselves can break, but it's not all that common. Unless you have the head off for something else, I wouldn't recommend taking apart a running car to change the timing chain.
Rob
Cough OHV cough.
He doesn't need the head off to change the chain, tensionner or guide
Gilles
2.3 Ho
Peter Russell wrote:I plan on driving to Ontario this summer (3 day drive) in my 97 2.2 Cavey and it was recommended that I get a new Timing Chain before I leave, but its a lot of work and I have no Idea how to do it, and information on what to do would greatly be appreciated
unlike cars with a timing belt, which requires replacement usually every 80,000 to 100,000 kms, engines that have timing chains do not require servicing in that area unless there are problems. but this is rare unless the design of the timing set is defective or the engine is deprived of oil because of sludge or whatever (eg. the chrysler 2.7 engine). if you take care of your car according to the manufacturer's instructions, timing chains usually outlast the car itself and never need to be replaced or serviced. if you're tech savvy with cars you can replace it as preventive maintenance, nothing wrong with doing that, but unless there are specific problems just leave it alone.
Geeky wrote:CAVETTE wrote:I'm on my 3rd one on my 97.
Home many miles on that car? How did you know it needed replacing each time?
Must be the tentioner because i'm on my 3rd one also, soon to be 4th. My motor loves to eat these up for some reason.
Dxray wrote:Geeky wrote:CAVETTE wrote:I'm on my 3rd one on my 97.
Home many miles on that car? How did you know it needed replacing each time?
Must be the tentioner because i'm on my 3rd one also, soon to be 4th. My motor loves to eat these up for some reason.
if someone cold make a roller type tensioner for the 2.2, i'd buy it faster than anyone. i really don't like the nylon shoe design thats in there now. doesn't seem very safe at all.
JBO Stickers! Get yours today!
Several of my friends are highly experienced auto experts...
As to the life of the timing chain and tensioner-guides in my 2002
Cavalier with 2200 pushrod engine, two of them complimented
me,,,
Their compliment : You'll never have to work on the timing chain
because you're using a synthetic 5W-30, it is so slippery, those
timing chain parts will NEVER wear out (my paraphrase)...
Because I have a 1996 Yamaha big bike with a slipping clutch
if I use this synthetic, I think I know what they're talking about...
Yeah I forgot to mention the km's. theres 232K on it now and Im not leaving for another 2 1/2 months or so theres no idea how many km's will be on her by then
Rich Grayo Jr. wrote:Dxray wrote:Geeky wrote:CAVETTE wrote:I'm on my 3rd one on my 97.
Home many miles on that car? How did you know it needed replacing each time?
Must be the tentioner because i'm on my 3rd one also, soon to be 4th. My motor loves to eat these up for some reason.
if someone cold make a roller type tensioner for the 2.2, i'd buy it faster than anyone. i really don't like the nylon shoe design thats in there now. doesn't seem very safe at all.
Roller tensioner, thats a great ideal. I'll have to look into this when i'm gonna do mine.
GM did make a double-roller chain for this engine when it was still just 1.8L back in '82, but they are hard to find and may have interference problems with your front cover. There is a thread about it somewhere here, but you'll need to search for it. Still, chains do stretch with use regardless of their duty rating and oil used. If it and/or the tensioner lets go, the oiling system will feed it to the lifters and cam first, then the crank, in that order. So if you think you have a ticking noise now...
Go beyond the "bolt-on".
Dxray, you're like me....there are MUCH better parts after market...
Like roller timing chains and sprockts...
Unfortunately there is not enough demand for what you and I would like to see
offered for "lowly" jbody type powerplants...
There is simply nobody big enough to spend the r & d to develop for the amount of
demand...
Oh well, morse type chain and sprockets are cheap...
Grunble, grumble...
