Car shakes at idle after timing chain replacement

K3v1n_z22se

Hi all mates i'm kevin and i have an astra coupe 2.2, about a month ago i was getting a horrible noise from the chain so i went to the mechanic to replace it, after that i got the car but it shakes at idle and strugles to start on hot, but when its hot it idles fairly well please mates what do you think it can be? Thanks for reading it i hope its not very bad because i love this engine

IDI_AMIN

It's possible the timing was not done correctly.

There should not be problems with starting after timing chain replacement , unless it's been done incorrectly.

Go back to the mechanic who done the work, get him to check over it.

K3v1n_z22se

Thank you so much for the answer mate yesterday i went to the mechanic and he said its normal because he installed the upgraded kit but i dont think so, is there any way to know if the timing chain is installed properly whitout open the head? Could be another thing or it is the chain for sure?

KevinH

Was the balance chain (which drives the the water pump and balance shafts) changed at the same time?
It's prudent to do so, otherwise to renew it afterwards the timing chain has to be removed again.

IDI_AMIN

K3v1n.z22se said:
Thank you so much for the answer mate yesterday i went to the mechanic and he said its normal because he installed the upgraded kit but i dont think so, is there any way to know if the timing chain is installed properly whitout open the head? Could be another thing or it is the chain for sure?

You could take the cam cover off. Feel the chain, Check if the tensioner is activated properly, if you know how.

Could be out by a couple of teeth even

There is 2 chains in there also, was it just one that was renewed or were there 2. Probably just one by the sounds of it

Get as much info as possible like what brand of timing chain was used. If it's the cheapest out there, could be a lot of hassle

Is it worse or better than before the chain was done, is the noise away

K3v1n_z22se

IDI AMIN said:
You could take the cam cover off. Feel the chain, Check if the tensioner is activated properly, if you know how.

Could be out by a couple of teeth even

There is 2 chains in there also, was it just one that was renewed or were there 2. Probably just one by the sounds of it

Get as much info as possible like what brand of timing chain was used. If it's the cheapest out there, could be a lot of hassle

Is it worse or better than before the chain was done, is the noise away

Thanks again to both of you you're helping me a lot, it sounds better but i can still hear the chain when its cold, the mechanic said that all was new but im afraid that he bougth the worst chain or he dosn't adjusted well, this afternoon i'll go again to see if he can fix the damm car rigth and without pay more for his errors, a lot of thanks again you're saving me from a scam

IDI_AMIN

You should try and get a 1 min video up, Then we've got a good idea for sure what the problem is.
Definitely go back to the mechanic that done the work if it's not right.

Ask plenty of questions. There's a lot of mechanics out there that are not proper mechanics
He's either not done it properly or not done it at all, in my opinion.

K3v1n_z22se

IDI AMIN said:
You should try and get a 1 min video up, Then we've got a good idea for sure what the problem is.
Definitely go back to the mechanic that done the work if it's not right.

Ask plenty of questions. There's a lot of mechanics out there that are not proper mechanics
He's either not done it properly or not done it at all, in my opinion.

Hi mate thank you so much I've just returned from the mechanic he sais is gonna fix it for free because the timing chain was bad installed, the tuesday i'll get the car i hope its just that, i could break something because of the chain?

KevinH

It could be that the timing chain tensioner wasn't activated correctly or as mentioned above the chain may have jumped a tooth or two on installation, which can happen.

It would be worth asking the mechanic to check for slack in the balance chain too.

🙂