93 grand am 2.3l SOHC timing tensioner

While cranking engine oil is shooting out of tensioner plunger and access hole. Tensioner is out and chain is tight. Manual says that the long end (of plunger I guess cause it says to "recheck plunger. The long end should be towards the crankshaft when installed") Does this mean the plunger teeth should be facing crankshaft or what. It's a new tensioner and I just pulled the keeper out and the plunger popped out putting tension on arm to press against chain. How do I stop it fromm leaking. Please... it's only thing keeping me from getting engine back together. Thanks in advance if you know.

The tensioner only fits in one way. If you put a new one in with the shoe against the timing chain and it bolted in ok, then its in right. Check the part number with what you have and what you are supposed to have, make sure you have the right one for your car. When I changed mine, I discovered that I had gotten the wrong timing chain set, what was supposed to be a dohc set was for a sohc motor. Computer was wrong at the part store, nothing new. Get the correct part numbers from the dealership and have the parts store reference them for you. It sounds like the plunger in the tensioner might be coming all the way out, either its the wrong tensioner or a guide isn't installed correctly. Good luck.

Thanks for the info. Had to replace new tensioner as oil was pouring out from under plunger. No instructions on these but talked to mechanic who said the teeth should be facing crankshaft so plunger will stay in 'locked' position (will come out but not go back in). So when start car in morning tensioner position remains same as when shut off at night. Still, oil comes out of access hole while cranking at a pretty good rate. Is this to keep chain oiled and where does excess oil go to after chain is lubed. In other words...is that normal for oil to be coming out the access hole?? I'm still holding off on putting car back together till I know as there's so much labor involved to get to timing chain anyway. Thanks again and in advance if you know the answer.

The tensioner runs on oil pressure, so I would assume some oil would come out of it, but I'm not sure how much. How was the oil pressure in the car? Pressure sending unit is located on the top of the motor. As for where all that oil goes that comes out of the tensioner, it will drain back into the oil pan through the crank case.