Timing Chain Replacement

1999 Cavalier, 2.2 What mileage should the timing chain be replaced? And is it difficult. I've done it on mazda and old fiat.
And any added advice when doing it?

Before it breaks is the best time to replace it :(........I have a customer that has a 2.2 ,96 with over 200K miles with the same timing chain. But that dont mean a thing !!! He only uses the car for beer runs and pickup parts for the Chopper Shop.

If you drive it hard, fast and furious.....over 100K would be a good indicator.

I like to take the engine out the car. I have heard of people doing it IN the car...but I have never done it.

If you have done other vehicles...it is pretty much the same. Go ahead and buy a Haynes Repair Manual. It will step you through it. It is also listed in
AutoZone.com for that vehicle.

Good Luck Mate, Cheers. ........JzJzz and the Man from Down Unda.

Thanks. I have about 120,000 miles on the engine now in the car. The car has 239,000 miles. Bought it used from a friend with a used engine installed. Engine had 11,000 miles on it.
Its a daily driver of 130 miles a day. Freeway driving 60 mph to 80mph. Then stop and go traffic. Change oil every 3000 miles so I do take care of the engine. May be due for timing chain in another 10,000 miles.
I have a manual. Looked at it and didn't say (or Im blind) at what interval. As for pulling the engine out of the car, I really don't have the garage space to do that. Can it be done in the car?
Depending on my time to do it, if I can't, what's a going rate for paying a shop? $300?
Thanks, really appreciate the info.

As for the transmission, it has 239,000 actual miles. Should I be looking at rebuilding it soon?

Hey Mate...It can be done in the car, but take your time and plan two days at least. Go to AutoZone.com..they have a detailed procedure.

Sound like you take good care of the car...but every mechanical item will fail at some point. Preventative Maintenance is alway the best. Unplanned breakdowns cost a lot more...but unless you have a crystal ball...you can not predict the future!!!
I have seen many Cavaliers with 2.2 eng and auto trans, with no trans issue over 200K miles...keep the fluid and filter changed. Heat kills transmissions...you over heat the engine, so is the tranny. Look for metal in the pan..that will be a sign of wear.

Cost of timing chain...Ask around...some wrenches specialize in that, and will do it cheaper.. 300 - 500 can be expected.

Good Luck Mate....JzJzz

Thanks for the info. I am looking around for a shop to do the work only because I can't seem to get to it. Don't want to lose the engine! Cheaper and best to rent a car for 3 days, get it done and be smiling again on the road.
Anyone know the telltale signs of when its failing?

belt break chains dont.

belt break chains dont.


Sure they can.

Sure they can.

not as often as t-belt do.Hardly ever here of a chain braking in this cars.

not as often as t-belt do.Hardly ever here of a chain braking in this cars.

i know.

I had 170K miles on a 2.2 OHV (original everything) when I sold it. The people I sold it to still drive it, and based on my 40K miles per year (we have almost the exact same commute, just to different sides of town), it should have at least 200K on it now.

The engine will start to run slightly bad before the chain breaks, and you'll start to hear a slight slaping since there's no tensioner in them. I've seen GM V8s go over 300K miles without replacing the chain... if you think about it, if "X" amount of metal has to wear off the chain before it breaks, "X" amount of metal will also wear off the bearings... that would be one loud engine

So I have about 150,000 on the engine now. I change oil every 3000 to 4000 miles. Use semi-synthetic Castrol 5-30w oil. Engine seems to run well. I do run full synthetic about every 6 oil changes. Means every 6 months. I change oil every month. Then Should be able to go another 50,000 without worries then?

I had 170K miles on a 2.2 OHV (original everything) when I sold it. The people I sold it to still drive it, and based on my 40K miles per year (we have almost the exact same commute, just to different sides of town), it should have at least 200K on it now.

The engine will start to run slightly bad before the chain breaks, and you'll start to hear a slight slaping since there's no tensioner in them. I've seen GM V8s go over 300K miles without replacing the chain... if you think about it, if "X" amount of metal has to wear off the chain before it breaks, "X" amount of metal will also wear off the bearings... that would be one loud engine

In the middle of replacing timing chain that DID break on 97 2.2 OHV Cavalier. It did start to run a little bad before it broke (assumed it was plugs since I hadn't changed them in a while), but no noise. And there IS a tensioner in there, mine was in pieces when we took the cover off. We think the tensioner went bad first and that helped cause the chain to break (overheating from a bad head gasket a year and a half ago probably didn't help either). But didn't hear any slapping either, just driving along and heard a little "pop" and the car died. Wouldn't start and no compression. But so far it hasn't been too bad except not having the right tools and having to buy or borrow them. And we are changing it in the car.

The 1998 and up 2.2s are non interferance engines,the valves will not bend if the timing chain breaks.The 1997 and down are interferance engines,you will pull the head off if the timing chain breaks finding bent valves if not caught in time on these 2.2s.

And there IS a tensioner in there

I was mistaken, there is a tensioner. Someone had told me there was not, and I just "parroted" that back. I since learned that there is. My bad, sorry for the misinformation.