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Re: Can I tell if t-chain bad by pulling off valve cover? Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Tue, 20 Mar 2001 08:52:02
In Reply to: Can I tell if t-chain bad by pulling off valve cover?, Old9000, Tue, 20 Mar 2001 02:20:05 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I don't think it's the timing chain, but to answer your question:
Pulling the valve cover is the best way to tell if a timing chain needs work. Remove the valve cover, and manually turn the engine over to TDC for cylinder #1. Look at the cams where the sprockets are. You'll see alignment marks on the cams and on the pillow blocks (bearing blocks). If the lines line up, the chain hasn't 'stretched' (worn). If the alignment is off, the chain is probably tired, or in the worst case, has jumped a tooth. Also, inspect the chain visually for wear - same for the sprockets.
This is the best and only way to diagnose a timing chain that I know of.
Before you do that, I recommend a cheaper diagnostic trick. Get yourself a couple of feet of hose - maybe 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Start the engine, and hold one end of the hose up to your ear, and move the other around the belt end of the engine. Just don't stick the hose in a belt. This is your cheap and dirty stethescope. It will isolate that grinding noise pretty quickly.
From the description of a 'grinding' noise, I'll bet the problem is a bad bearing in one of the idler pulleys. Your car probably has two belts - one for the AC, one for the serpentine belt. The idler pulleys don't last forever, and when the bearing goes, you get a nice grinding noise. The rubber hose stethescope will help isolate that.
If it is an idler pulley, you've got three choices. Most expensive is to buy one from a dealer. Astonishingly expensive (on the order of $70). Next, you can buy one mail order from the folks that advertise at the bottom of this page. I've had good luck with Sobstory, but that doesn't mean the other guys aren't as good. Probably get a pulley for about $15 -$20. Lastly, you can pull the pulley, press out the bearing, and take it to an autoparts store. You can pick up a bearing really cheap. You just need the tools to press out the old one and press in a new one.
Good luck!
, Tue, 20 Mar 2001 08:52:02 <-- Viewing This Message, Tue, 20 Mar 2001 13:04:07, Tue, 20 Mar 2001 13:24:15
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