help. has my timing chain snapped vectra c

johnnyhillen

I have a 2.2 petrol auto vectra c 2005. 43000 miles. Drove it off the drive to let another car off and drive it back on again. Turned the engine off. Ten minutes later went to leave the house and car wouldn't start. I can hear starter but that's it. Car isn't teeming to start. Doesn't seem to be any unusual lights on the dash.

I have read other posts and am concerned about timing chain snapping but don't know what symptoms there would be.

Thanks

evocarlos

if the starters spinning fast off the key the chain is broken
get a compression test done that will show for sure or remove the cam cover and have a look 🙂
if it is broken then there will be bent valves and broken valve guides guaranteed
heres one i did after a broken chain 🙂
https://z22se.co.uk/threads/cam-chain-fitted-part-1-day-1.24072/

johnnyhillen

I've just noticed I can't hear the noise of a fuel pump when trying to start up. It's my wife car and I'm not in it much so not sure how loud it would normally be.

johnnyhillen

The starter sounded no faster than normal.
There was no abnormal sounds bands etc which I'm sure would have been easy to hear if the pistons were hitting the valves.

I also noticed that i couldn't hear the fuel pump unless it is silent in a vectra. Don't drive it often so not sure. I pulled the fuse for it and made no difference in noise. She recently had an issue with fuel pissing out of the fuel filter which went on for a few weeks before she told me that she could smell petrol. Got it fixed but the extra strain ii imagine this would have put on the fuel pump could have caused it to finally go. Or at least that's what I'm hoping.

johnnyhillen

In going to check the fuel pump tomorrow then go from there. Fingers crosse that's it.

johnnyhillen

Forgot to say. I left it an hour and it seemed to try and fire one of the cylinders once but that's all.

johnnyhillen

There is definitely fuel getting to engine as I checked the valve beside the fuel rail. Starter motor is definitely turning the engine as the belts are turning. Spoke to a mechanic and he recommended changing the spark plugs which I did even though I couldn't under stand how they all could suddenly fail. Didn't seem to make a difference. Engine still cranks but won't start.

jwalker

Have you done a compression test yet

johnnyhillen

No don't have the equipment and phoned my mechanic be he wasn't able to come out today.

When I changed the plugs looked into the cylinders and could clearly see the top of all the pistons. There didn't appear to be any damage or even scratches that I would expect with contract with the valves not was there any noise at the time that would suggest a similar problem.

Just thought about this. If I remove the oil filter cap and get a look at the cams. If they are turning when the engine is being cranked then surely the chain is still in tact. Any thoughts

evocarlos

johnnyhillen said:
No don't have the equipment and phoned my mechanic be he wasn't able to come out today.

When I changed the plugs looked into the cylinders and could clearly see the top of all the pistons. There didn't appear to be any damage or even scratches that I would expect with contract with the valves not was there any noise at the time that would suggest a similar problem.

Just thought about this. If I remove the oil filter cap and get a look at the cams. If they are turning when the engine is being cranked then surely the chain is still in tact. Any thoughts

looking down the plug hole wont show if the valves have made contact with the pistons where they hit is on the outer edge

i dont think you can see the cams ether as there's a baffle plate in the rocker cover lid

it could be an issue with the coil pack but that would show eml

johnnyhillen

Tried to start the car today. It started but was running very rough and sounded very weak. Wouldn't rev over 1500 and cut out after 20seconds or so.

Im thinking a jumped timing chain but never hear a car with that issue running before so not sure.

Any thoughts

johnnyhillen

Tried to start cat today and it started as above. Tried to rev it and over about 30 seconds it began to rev almost normally. Low on power at low revs at load. Was at least able to get it home. I have started another post cause it is different symptom's

vocky

I would get the chain changed and see how it goes, it does sound like it could be a jumped chain

Matt

Even jumping a single tooth on the chain seems to cause quite severe running problems with the timing being out.