Timing chain help

Tigerfan2k2

Hi people, I would love some guidance if you could give it please.

I have a zafira 2.2 direct Sri on a 57 plate with 43k on the clock. it was just about to have a service.

I drove it to work yesterday and all was fine. Got in it 8 hours later and it wouldn't start. Just turning over etc.
The AA man said it could be the cam chain and we eventually towed it to my local garage. They have listened to it and are going to compression test it and have a good look Monday morning. He said my options will be about 3k for a new fitted engine, 1.5 or so for a second hand one or 800 for a new cam chain to be fitted. I know I can get a z22yh kit for about 150 so I reckon I could get this lower. He said he would have to lift the engine out to do the job. Is there any guidance I could give him so that he didn't have to do this?

Also, should I expect that there will be substantial engine damage as it was running fine, left and then wouldn't go?

How much should I be looking to pay?

Thanks in advance.

fingers21

If its the chain, its done damage! I had the same thing with my astra the other day, older than your car at a 51 plate, but only done 60k with full service, went out, started car one morning, it started and cut out after about a second and a half, then died. After that, it just spun over REALLY quick and sounded like nothing in the engine was turning. I took the rocker off to see the snapped chain and damage, to find, there was nothing wrong with it. So, my next thought was the starter had bust and wasn't turning the flywheel. But when i put my key in to check for any fault codes, I flicked the key to far and the engine fired up on the button! Strange! Never found the problem and have had no issues since! It runs a dream as it always did.

Maybe, monday morning, you try to start it and you get as lucky as i did?!

vectra2k9

if the chain has snapped the valve and valve guides will need replacing not a hard job TBH

Tigerfan2k2

Hi again,

A quick update and a plea for advice again.

Back in early Jan we managed to get the top of the engine replaced, new timing chain and valves etc and it has worked like a dream since UNTIL yesterday.......

I tried start the car in the morning and it had a very low battery and it set off a little, burped and farted and then died. I jumped it off using a battery charger/booster. It now has virtually no power in 1st gear and with any load in the car (more than 1 person) it barely sets off. Once in the higher rev range it is ok (not brilliant, but ok). It is also idling lumpily. Also, and rather worryingly, the barkes are not as hot any more either and I only had the rear ones sorted two weeks ago. I took it to the garage that fixed it last time and they changed the battery first off (22% working) and put more transmission fluid in. They did a compression test and it was coming out at 8 bar instead of 18 bar. They have said that it could be a slipped chain and if it is caused by any of the parts they fitted last year I will be covered by warranty. They also said that the brakes would be affected by low compression.

Could a slipped chain cause this loss in compression? It sort of makes sense as the engine was obviously not up to compression when it started, farted and died the first time I started it.

Getting seriously narked with this car now.

Any help and guidance would be greatly appreciated again.

Cheers.