holiday help timing chain

T

travisn

New member
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Points
0
first off, thank you for helping in advance.

I'm going out to visit family for the holidays, and just found out my little brother has done some face-palm decision making. he has a 2004 sunfire and missed some oil changes. it has sheared off a bolt on a timing chain sprocket. he is beyond broke, and doesn't have a chance to pay for it to get fixed at a shop, and has recently moved in with my parents with his fiance and baby... so big brother I am, gets to come out and try to fix his car. I haven't worked on small engines in a really long time... hoping some people on here can give me some tricks and tips for this engine. he has the std 2.2 L ecotech. I don't know which bolt, or even which gear its on... and I'm guessing he has probably bent some valves as well. is there a way to check the valves without pulling the covers? I was thinking doing a compression test and that would tell me, but then again I'm not sure what else he has done to the engine... ie rings or head gasket. my parents don't have a lift or ability to pull the engine, so everything is going to be done with it still mounted.

and now is your turn... open to all ideas from now until about dec 24th. I will have about 3 maybe 4 days to complete this project after I take a 2 day drive to get there...
 
also, if you have part numbers, diagrams, or kits to reference it would be great!
 
this is just one of many videos on youtube showing how the job is done. Tpically you replace the chain, gears, tensioner and guides. If the chain is no longer turning the cams you will do more damage by trying a compression test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx0atiA-x_o
 
That video link did not work, I think I'll pull the valve covers to watch the rockers to find top dead center, I can't think of a way other than that to make sure I'm getting the timing set correctly... then using the old chain (hoping it's not shredded) and someone ( my brother) keeping tension in it, spin it by hand and do the compression test... as for the bolt, maybe weld a bolt to it to get it backed out.

thanks for the input so far!
______________________________
 
Last edited:
Ok, got everything done, his engine is up and running again. He sheared off the upper bolt to the left chain guide. That guide broke into about 80 pieces and also took out his upper chain guide as well. Pulled the valve cover, front engine cover, and pan off, cleaned everything out, replaced cam sprockets, sprocket bolts, chain, crank sprocket, tensioner, and all guides and oiler. Put everything back together, New oil and element, New plugs, and new belt... Had a rough start at first, needed to blow out some cleaner, then fired right up no problem and runs smooth.
 
Glad you got it sorted out
 
Engine was at 142k miles when the bolt snapped, but the guide broke originally a couple k miles ago... Had some old damage along with new damage
 
travisn said:
Engine was at 142k miles when the bolt snapped, but the guide broke originally a couple k miles ago... Had some old damage along with new damage
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. I got 183,000 miles on the body. Previous owner said my car has a junkyard motor. His daughter overheated the old motor when she installed a dvd player and hotwired the fuel pump and fan system. I have put all back to factory settings except for the flush valve/bleeder I have just installed. If maintained well, does anyone know the life of the 2.2L timing system?
 
I had it in a Cavalier and got rid of the car at 172k with no issues of any kind with the engine. At the time oil and filter changes were done at every 3k.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top