Question for those who have replaced timing chain
#21
I have sat in front of a 2.2L Ecotec engine with the chain cover off and turned the crankshaft CCW. The chain does jump a tooth every few degrees. The way the guides are arranged makes the chain "bunch up" when turned CCW. Maybe you can get away with just jiggling the crank back and forth.
DON"T DO IT!!!!!!!!! Unless you are prepared to start over replacing the chain.
And, once again, just looking at the chain is a good enough measure; if there is observable slack it is too much. No need for expensive test equipment or sophisticated BS, just eyeballs.
If you have ever looked at the space between the sprockets you can see why; there are only a few links between them. It is a CHAIN not a BELT.
DON"T DO IT!!!!!!!!! Unless you are prepared to start over replacing the chain.
And, once again, just looking at the chain is a good enough measure; if there is observable slack it is too much. No need for expensive test equipment or sophisticated BS, just eyeballs.
If you have ever looked at the space between the sprockets you can see why; there are only a few links between them. It is a CHAIN not a BELT.
#22
For reference, this was the slack in my 2011 2.4 , that was enough to bust up the front guide and set a code P0016. This chain kit was from Evergreen, the parts all had GM part numbers, the bags for the chains also had GM numbers in the label. This was just 20,000 miles of normal driving. No need to look any further then just removing the valve cover! Order the parts , start tearing the engine down! Don’t order cheap junk off flea bay!
#23
I have experienced turning the crankshaft CCW and watched the tensioner move and the chain skips tooth .
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#26
Another point - it's probably easier to pull the valve cover and look, than everything involved with getting to the crankshaft bolt with a degree wheel. You have to pull a bunch of plastic splash guards and the Serpentine Belt, vast majority of people don't have a lift, most probably don't even have a good jack and jack stands.
#27
Thanks for all the replies and advice, event the tangent this took. Yeah, I know how to pull the cover and check the chain, my question was more about how much does a stretched chain affect performance. I base this on experience with US made small block V8's, where there is a noticeable degrade in performance from a stretched timing chain, and that it can be seen using a timing light. Electronic timing controls on modern cars pretty much rules out the timing light method, but if there is a drop in performance on the Ecotec that may be an indicator that it's time to pull the cover and inspect the chain.