Camchain?HELP

drpau

Aaarrghh. Got into my VX220 earlier and engine sounded a bit rattley compared to usual :shock: , I remembered what Ive read on here about camchains. I made a recording before switching the engine off, drove like a granny to get home. I will not be starting it up again.

Heres the clip - I hope this is good enough quality.

http://www.supload.com/sound_confirm.ph ... 739764.wav

Im on 36900miles. 2001.

Any advice is greatly appreciated guys cryb..

old_cruiser

Get that looked at ASAP mate, does sound like the classic timing chain issue I have to say, is there any mechanics that can get out to you rather than driving it, which I'd certainly be reluctant to do until investigated, hope you get it sorted mate
Cheers Pete

vocky

get the cam chain replaced if it's noisy

I couldn't play the sound file, could you put it on youtube

drpau

vocky said:
get the cam chain replaced if it's noisy

I couldn't play the sound file, could you put it on youtube

Thats the thing Vocky, to my untrained ear Im unsure if it is or it isnt, it just sounds a tad tractor like and rattley , Ill try and put it up on youtube now mate....

drpau

[Yv0hQtedld0[/media]]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv0hQtedld0
]([media=youtube)

there you go mate......

vocky

that does sound like a slack chain, difficult to tell might be the lifters, use a long screwdriver and stick your ear to the handle and the pointy bit onto the cam cover, you will soon know whats wrong 🙂

drpau

vocky said:
that does sound like a slack chain, difficult to tell might be the lifters, use a long screwdriver and stick your ear to the handle and the pointy bit onto the cam cover, you will soon know whats wrong 🙂

But I would have to turn it over for that wouldnt I. I thought thats a bit risky??

vocky

of course the safer way is to remove the cam cover and see if the chain is tight, usually it will have some degree of play when it's duff.

drpau

The man with the answers! Cheers Neil, so if I whip it off (coil pack then rocker cover) and have a look and see if theres a bit of slack that should paint a clearer picture. I will do it tomorrow and post a vid of what I find :-). Really appreciate the pointers.
I did find this http://www.speedsterclub.nl/bibliotheek/films/opel/ which shows them whipping the chain off in about 10 mins lol. Easy then. haha.

Paul

old_cruiser

Excellent video though, paints a clearer picture of what's going on under that cover.
Cheers Pete

drpau

Yeah pretty impressive eh, drool.gif

Well I took the rocker cover off to have a butchers, Ive attached a video clip of me fingering :oops: the chain, vocky tells me this is too much deflection (so I assume it should be solid as, whereas I could move the chain a tiny bit).

I found it quite daunting taking it off (and some of the 10mm bolts were a pain to get at :roll: ) but it was metal to see the inside of my engine :shock:

[1N_AoMKcfIE[/media]]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N_AoMKcfIE
]([media=youtube)

old_cruiser

Have to say mate , doesn't really seem like to much deflection, my feeling is that if that chain was completely tight with no deflection at all there would be a potential for it snapping at that point, others may disagree, but that's my thoughts anyway mate, might be worth phoning up Vx dealer and sking to speak to a senior mechanic who has changed these chains and verify it, incidently these engines have two chains,I thought i.e one primary and one secondary, so could be the other one that's giving the noise.
Cheers Pete

drpau

I didnt think it was too much deflection myself Pete but I know fook all about engines so I bow to anyone with superior knowledge (I posted it up on Vx220.org and Vocky said he thought it moved too much). Maybe its just the tensioner thats on its way causing the rattle but Im so paranoid about it now it feels like I should get it done just for peace of mind. And I suppose if you are doing the tensioner you may as well do the chain and then the jet too and then you are covered. My local mechanic is working me out a price, Ive given him the TIS chain guide ( I hope he doesnt think Im trying to teach him to suck eggs, just trying to be helpful!), field remedy for snapped cam chains on the Z22se and the parts list with numbers. Hes gonna give me a price on it tomorrow. Hopefully not too steep.

old_cruiser

Best of luck with that mate, sounds to me like you best get it all done for piece of mind as like you these things play on my mind and you eventually start feeling paranoid as you mention, cars eh!! nothing but a worry most of the time and they don't build 'em like they used to just feel so more fragile etc especially with all the electronics going on, lets go back to simple carbs and points etc at least I know where I am with those!!
Anyway let us know how you get on.
Cheers Pete

drpau

Well, Im no further on 🙁 , the guy I mentioned hasnt got back to me, I nipped in to see him twice last week, each time he said he would ring me tomorrow and he never did so there goes that option. Nipped to a vauxhall specialist on friday and they said they had never done a 2.2 chain before and reckoned it would cost from 500 to 700£ moon.. . They said me best bet was a former Vauxhall guy round the corner, I went to see him earlier and doesnt seem hes too interested in the freakin job either, concerns about it fitting on his ramp and that if it wouldnt go on his ramp then he wouldnt do it :? . He said he was gonna speak to a couple of guys and asked me to ring him back tomorrow AM, so I am no further on at all, nobody wants to do the job it seems. Thought it would be a fairly straightforward job for any mechanic!? Starting to get a bit pissed off with it all. Its not like I can get it to Benny as Im up near warrington :roll:

cry..

old_cruiser

What a nightmare mate have you tried contacting a local Vx dealer just to see what they would charge?
Cheers Pete

george

Believe me the mechanics who want to work on this engine are as rare as the proverbial hens teeth. I've been looking for one for over a year (mechanic that is). If anyone knows one in Yorkshire please let me know. Don't fancy moving Benny? This engine carries such a reputation no one wants to work on it.

Still looking for someone to mend my smoking 3 cylinder engine!

drpau

Well, spoke to the guy, he says it will be 700£ plus VAT (822 with vat) if he has to remove the clam and about 550£ plus vat (646) if he doesnt have to remove the rear clam cos I said that I had heard removal of the rear clam wasnt needed.... What do I do dunno.. (p.s that includes both chains).

MikeS

amazing how they come up with these prices

i reckon it takes max 4 hours labour plus parts

vauxhall charge over 100 quid an hour labour plus vat

the going rate should be around 500 quid imo

but u gotta find someone who is comfortable replacing the chains 😛

drpau

I should have said, that includes both cam chain and balance shaft chain kits (he said these were 110 each plus vat I think).