seannc

Hi, I've got a 96 Cav with the 2.2L engine. It's got over 280,000km on it (approx. 170,000 mi) and runs well. I frequently change the oil, plugs, filters etc. One thing I haven't done is replace the timing chain. At this point in the car's life, is it recommended I do so before it fails? I know failure of this part can lead to major valve problems. My concern is that replacing an engine part in a car this old, especially when that part is apparently problem-free, could lead to further headaches. Thanks for your input!

Nitrous_Boy

they say to replace it every 60,000 miles actually. but it is a bitch to do.

seannc

The mechanic's manual says it's about a 5.5 hr job. He quoted me a price of about $400 for parts and labor.

Nitrous_Boy

Not too bad i guess. I'd do it myself for that price. If you knwo your motor it will take maybe 3 hours. the hardest part is sometimes getting to it

seannc

I went ahead and got it (and the water pump) replaced. Good thing too. When the mechanic got in there, he found the timing chain tensioner was broken.

Nitrous_Boy

i had the same problem with mine about a year ago. Good thing you caught it now

seannc

Not sure if you saw my post in the diagnostic forum, Nitrous_Boy, but a new problem has sprung up since I got the timing chain replaced. I'm hearing a rattling sound in the front end on the passenger side. Louder at idle. I described it before as a "knocking" but I think rattling is more accurate. Imagine shaking a pebble in a beer can....Anyway it definitely did NOT exist before the replacement was done.

I'm scared they didn't install the chain properly and now my valve is bent or something awful like that. I'm taking it back in first thing Monday, but in the meantime, might you have an idea what's going on?

Nitrous_Boy

does it sound like a ticking like maybe someone taking drum sticks to a tree. In that case it could also be your belt tensionor. but make sure and take it back to them before you do anything to it.

seannc

It sounds a little more high pitched than a drum stick to a tree...sounds a little like a bolt being shaken around in a metal box if that makes any sense. The intensity varies too.

Nitrous_Boy

was this a good shop that you took this to

seannc

Well, they've got a good reputation around town. They replaced my auto tranny last summer and did a fine job with it. They've done good work for me in the past.

Nitrous_Boy

to me it doesn't sound good. i read your other post about the problem as well. I would take it up to them to see what they think. without hearing it, it's hard to place. but man if a bolt is in there for whatever reason i'm telling you thats not good. Check your oil as well. make sure that it is pure oil. the knocking could possibly be comming from teh pump as well. Maybe something got in there or something of that nature, you know what i mean. if you want to get brave you can try to better locate where the noise is comming from

seannc

So you're thinking some major damage could have been done? Care to venture a guess? Would they be responsible for correcting whatever it is they've done to my car? I did check the oil between my fingers and it didn't feel grainy. Is it safe to drive a few miles back to the garage? I'm not too handy myself so I doubt I'd be able to handle finding the location of the noise myself. But out of curiousity, how would I do that? Sorry for all the questions.....I'm just panicking right now. Here I was trying to prevent something terrible happening by getting my timing chain replaced....and something terrible happens after I did!

Nitrous_Boy

do you have some sort of a messanger?

seannc

yahoo, MSN, and ICQ. Do you have yahoo?