Cam chain inspection

Mark_647

Hello all,

Am i right in saying that if you whip off the cam cover, you can inspect the top of the chain ? If that looks nice and oily, is that sign of a good condition chain ? The reason is that being a student, I cant afford to change it for about 2 months until i get into my propper full-time job and ti worries me about the chain ? Many thanks for your help !!

Mark nana.gif

vocky

all you need to do is check the coloured links

silver and copper = old 🙁

new chains are blue and purple 🙂

Mark_647

Ooo cool !! Cheers for that !! So do these special links change colour over time or something ? Ill whip the cover off over the weekend I think. Thanks very much vocky !! Great Help !! popc..

vocky

vauxhall changed the timing link colour to allow for easy identification 🙂

old style chain = 'silver + copper' 🙁

new type chain = 'blue +purple' 🙂

so if you've got a 'silver + copper' replace the chain kit :roll:

george

Photo of chain with timing marks shows chain taught between cam sprockets. Mine sagged a little but nowhere near enough to think there was enough slack for chain to have jumped a sprocket. Mechanic thought ok and did not replace. This was before I was aware of the z22se website and chain problems. Should it have been replaced, I suspect you are bound to say yes but is a small amount of slack ok? notsure.gif notsure.gif

vocky

slack = bad, make that very very bad 🙁

get it replaced asap :shock:

boothy2_2

is it easy to take the top cam cover off?

Mark_647

Cool, could I assume that if I have blue and purple, the new nozzle is fitted, or should I not trust Vauxhall ? lol

Taking the cam cover off is fairly easy, take of the coil pack, air con brackets on the left, the wires from the plastic runner thing on the front, and the few bolts around the perimeter of the cover and thats about it i think. Do not overtighten the bolts back up as its an aluminium block and it could turn expensive lol !!

I think thats about it, I had a look on what will need doing today. Im sure someone will correct me if im wrong !!

Hope this helps ! chill.gif

vocky

quite easy to remove cam cover, Mark has summed the removal up well 🙂

if the chain is the newer type then the oil jet should be too 🙂

Drakey

Think I`ll give that a go, another fingers crossed situation.

Mark_647

lol, uts fairly straight forward. Thanks very much Vocky, a very very good help !!!!

Cheers mate !!! cheers..

Drakey

If I give it a go at the weekend, how advisable is it to get a new gasket, or will the existing one be ok.

vocky

depends on how old the gasket is, I've reused one and then fitted a new gasket to another dunno..

Drakey

Thanks Vocky, I`ll try and do it early then, incase I do need to replace it.