I'm in the middle of an Engine swap in my 2000 Z due to the fact that I was stupid and neglected my oil and I blew the number 3 baring. Anyway I'm replacing the motor and I'm installing a new water pump on the replacment before I put it in and I had to take the timing chain tensioner out to pull the water pump and when I try to put it back in it will not reset so the question is how do I reset it?
I have the haynes manual but the description is so vuage that I'm lost
make sure the narrow end is in the casing and push down on the plunger until it clicks. It should lock in. Install all the timing components, and the last thing you do is take a screwdriver and push in on the plunger and it should pop out against the shoe. If it does not, you probably should get another one.
-da chinchilla
<img src="http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/jiggamon/avatar15569_2.gif">
ok so what if the tensioner is the last part I'm trying to install. there is no spring in there it looks as if it is held up by oil pressure.
2.4 CavaWeir (a.k.a. jiggamon) wrote:make sure the narrow end is in the casing and push down on the plunger until it clicks. It should lock in. Install all the timing components, and the last thing you do is take a screwdriver and push in on the plunger and it should pop out against the shoe. If it does not, you probably should get another one.
That was my thought too. I went to use a screwdriver to release it against the chain guide and it just sunk deeper into the housing...
I know with my Eco, the tensioner is a multiple piece spring loaded deal. This one didnt appear that way at all...
The spring is internal. There is an oil hole in the casing that libricates the spring in side so it keeps tension on the timing chain. Just fully collapse the pin, and push in on it to release it. Do it off the car a few times to see how it works. Once you get it, you will understand.
-da chinchilla
<img src="http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/jiggamon/avatar15569_2.gif">
there has to be a spring in there...how would the timing chain remain tight while cranking the engine...there is not enough pressure while cranking the engine. It is just a little check valve that lubricates the internals.
If you can provide a picture, I can help you out more.
-da chinchilla
<img src="http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/jiggamon/avatar15569_2.gif">
The timing chain tensioner is confusing on the 2.4L. Somewhere in the late 90's (like mid year 1997 I believe), the design changed. I have a Chiltions manual which has the old design in it (manual is for 95-99 J car), so the haynes may be the same.
The device works as follows, there is supposed to be two positions: fully engaged (the plunger sticks out of the enclosure [the piece with the two 8mm bolts] about 7/8 of an inch or so), and fully recessed (the plunger sits flush with the enclosure.) The thing that makes it frustrating is that the plunger stops in between due to some hydrolock of the oil, you have to slowly push it down (lots of effort) on a flat (not harder) surface, like wood. If it goes all the way in you can let it release to the fully recessed position, and if you push it down again far enough (below flush) it will pop back out to fully engaged. Do it a few times, if it can't do it, you have to go get a new one.
To get it to work once it is in the engine, you push down on the plunger with a screwdriver or wrench using the tensioner shoe as a little pry surface to get it to pop up, make sure it fully engages or else the timing chain is going to eat itself. I have had them stick in the recessed position.
yeah that is what I have been trying to explain. If it is sticky, or it sticks, you have to replace it.
-da chinchilla
<img src="http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/jiggamon/avatar15569_2.gif">
The thing that is so confusing is that the service manuals don't cover this well (they cover the old design), they say something like hold it down and put a screwdriver in the pin hole and then pull it out, etc etc. If you read that and look at the plunger one it makes no sense and you just scrach your head.
yeah the old style was crap. They should update the manuals though to provide information and a picture of the new style.
-da chinchilla
<img src="http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/jiggamon/avatar15569_2.gif">
Mike M wrote:The thing that is so confusing is that the service manuals don't cover this well (they cover the old design), they say something like hold it down and put a screwdriver in the pin hole and then pull it out, etc etc. If you read that and look at the plunger one it makes no sense and you just scrach your head.
thats what we were doing we had no idea what the book was talking about lol
