2002 grand am timing chain replacement

is there a link on how to do this. or should i just buy a manual.

maybe it is not the chain. a buddy was driving the car when he heard a bop then it died at first he thought he blew a hose but nothing was leaking and the hoses looked fine, but when you try to start it it makes a whining noise almost like the starter has dropped but that wouldnt make the car die would it. here is a video of me trying to start it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKt-A9ZRYcQ

I have NOT experienced this with a Grand AM but have had other vehicles where the belt/chain would jump and they sounded like that when you tried to start them. Does it sound different to you than it used to sound?

sounds as though the crank isnt turning over which in my mind would mean something with the starter

kallenbach_05 thanks for the reply, would the starter problem make the car die tho while driving it.

no bad starter will not cause engine to die,

remove oil cap, tell someone to crank the engine for you while you are looking inside for the anything moving. If you don't see things moving inside then the chain fell off or is broken.

1st yes on getting a manual.what engine 4 or 6?how many miles.like already said see if the crank is turning are belts turning?pull plugs to see if there is any compression.
i'm thinking crank is turning but not cam.Good Luck,Mike

its a 4cyl. and has about 95k miles on it.

after watching your video for the second time I would say that the problem is in starter (the pinion is not pushed forward so that the small starter's gear can engage the flywheel) so it sounds like the starter is free spinning or the pinion is engaging the flywheel but due to the internal starter mechanical problem it can not turn the flywheel and is free spining in place.
Engine died because of something else.

you said that you heard a "bop" and engine died. Hopefully internal engine parts are not stuck so that your starter can not turn the flywheel. See if you can turn the crankshaft by hand using ratchet.

check engine oil level, check coolant level.

3100 thanks for the reply. while the wife turned the key i listened under the hood and the sound was definitely coming from the starter. i couldnt see into the valve cover to see any movement because the hole is covered with just a slot for the oil. checked all the fluids and all seems good. getting a manual and gonna get started goin down the list. first i will check and see if i can turn it with a ratchet. once again thanks.

i pulled the valve cover off and the chain is broken, couldnt pull it all the way out tho. also pulled the plugs, they look like they havent been changed in awhile. now i will be trying to rotate the crank to see if i can move it and if i can i will find top dead center for the 1st cylinder and begin replacing the chain.

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv298/scarecrow0529/100_2795.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv298/scarecrow0529/100_2794.jpg

Isn't there marks or dots on the gears to get them to the proper timing position? I know when I did a timing chain and gear on a GMC pick-up, that is how it was done. I did not have to check cylinder 1 to TDC.

Pull the head,you have bent valves and it will do this on 1996 and up 2.4 quad 4s including jumping time since it is an interferance engine.

just drained the oil.

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv298/scarecrow0529/100_2797.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv298/scarecrow0529/100_2799.jpg

If i remember right, the 2002 4 cylinder is the quad 4 which is an interference motor. if this is so...then forget replacing the timing chain cuz the motor aint gonna run.

edit: nvm wafrederick already covered this. guess i should have read all the replys

1996 to 2003 2.4 quad fours are interferance engines.By looking at the picture,it is the 2.2 ecotec engine,not the quad 4 which do have timing chain problems once in a while.Quad 4s do not have a valve coverThe 2.2 ecotecs are cheap to find at any auto salvage yard and easy to find,not worth fixing when the timing chain breaks also bending valves.I have replaced 2 ecotecs,timing chain broke on them and it was cheaper to replace the engine due to price of them used.There are 2 hidden bellhousing bolts,not one on the ecotecs.

There are 2 hidden bellhousing bolts,not one on the ecotecs.

what does this mean.

thanks for the replies guys. so what does that oil tell ya. is it the head gasket or the head itself.

a used engine would be what around 300 to 500 bucks. wouldnt it be cheaper to fix the one i have if i do all the work myself. or am i in way over my head. thanks again.

It is easier to replace the engine,the ecotec.You will pay at least $300 to $400 for an used 2.2 ecotec.You will spend more money finding an used head and getting a gasket set including the timing chain set which is dealer part only probally.I mean by the hidden bellhousing bolt you cannot see very well.

well it looks like we are gonna go the used engine route. any suggestions on some leads to get me started never bought a used engine before. does it have to be the exact same engine or will other engines go in it. thanks

There are 2 hidden bellhousing bolts,not one on the ecotecs.

what does this mean.


that means that there are two bolts that you can't easily see when trying to separate engine from trans during engine removal process.

you want to replace with the same engine the years may be interchangable but scrap yard will have that info.Good Luck,mike