Ticking / Rattle for first few minutes when started cold on a Z22YH

insomniak

Member
Hi, I've got a Zafira 2.2 56 plate, petrol, automatic.

For quite a while now its been making a strange noise when started cold, this does go after a few minutes which I assume is once the engines warmed up a bit.

It also sounds like a bit like a diesel engine when its running which and it sounds like this all the time no matter how cold or warm the engine is.

I am not sure if I am imagining it or not but I feel the car might be lacking in a bit of power from how it used to feel.

I've had the car nearly 3 years and it has done 97,000 miles. It did come with a receipt saying the timing chain & balance had been done at the 80k mark and at the time I bought it it had around 85k on it, but ran lovely for a few months, then the auto gearbox went thanks to the radiator leaking coolant into the transmission fluid and cost £1400 to put right, it's also had a new high pressure fuel pump in the past year.

My thinking is that either the car never actually had the timing chain done and the hand written invoice complete with garage stamp is fake, or it was done but using either very cheap parts or the old kit without the modified bit?

The car also does have a slight oil leak which appears to be coming from the area below the chain.

The last oil change was in June 2013, but as the car has done less than 10k in this time I hadn't bothered to get it changed just yet.

I will try and video the the car tomorrow morning when I start it from cold and post a link to it on here so the noise can be heard properly.

So just wanted to ask a few questions:

1) Does this sound like a problem with the chain?

2) Could it be perhaps a hydraulic tensioner that it taking it's time to get to desired oil pressure?

3) If it is the chain does anyone know someone with reasonable distance of Romford, Essex who can fit new chains for a good price?
 

insomniak

Member
*Update*


I've just seen this video and the noise is very similar and I note it also says that the noise went away after a few minutes. So this does sound like it could be the culprit, so next question is:

Is fixing this the same cost as doing the whole timing chain kit and same amount of labour etc?

If not any ideas on price to put right?
 

HarleyPete

Senior Member
I would say that if yours is rattling that noticeably then you probably need the chains doing again. It could well be that they used cheaper chains that last time and as has been mentioned many times on this subject, they don't always last that well (especially if it hasn't had an oil change since 2013, I aim to do mine twice a year). I would recommend that if you do the chains, at the very least you go for a GM main chain and if you can afford it, a GM balance chain. That's what I did when I had mine done just over a year ago by the maestro that is evocarlos. He is the guru when it comes to these engines. You might be very lucky and just need a new tensioner but from what you've said I would hazard a guess maybe not. On the bright side, when done and with regular servicing, these engines can achieve some impressive longevity mileage wise (so far I think the best one (Z22SE rather than the Z22YH which we both have) is somewhere around 500,000 K or 300,000 odd mile in Australia). Hopefully Carl will be along soon with some more advice, I would also recommend (if your can and not an absolute stupid distance away) having Carl do them.
 
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KevinH

Senior Member
As Pete mentioned above, they might have been changed using cheaper pattern kits, but even so they should last longer than 17,000 miles. I know that a couple of members on here (one being Dave Gilbert ) had issues with a faulty balance chain tensioner from the FAI kits (shown in your video).

The latest spec GM kits have the modified timing chain tensioner from the Z20NET and a modified oil jet to lubricate the chain. The balance chain kit also has a slightly modified tensioner.

The genuine GM kits are the best option, they fit, they last and you'll have peace of mind.:)
 

patricks

Regular Member
Doesn't sound too healthy - well worth ur while to whip off the cam cover and check that the chain isn't slack and that the tensioner is activated............
 

HarleyPete

Senior Member
Can't but agree with vocky. That sounds real awful, as he suggests, get the chains changed a.s.a.p. mate before something serious happens. As patricks says, it doesn't sound healthy at all.
 

insomniak

Member
Thanks for all your replies, can anyone recommend someone to do the work? Im in Romford, Essex. Been quoted £650 for genuine parts and labour by Vauxcentre which is round the corner to me. Pretty sure they said the labour part of it was £250 + VAT.

Suppose its a bit to far for evocarlos ?
 
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HarleyPete

Senior Member
Well not that far mate, I travelled from Dorking in Surrey to have mine done. That price isn't bad really, when I enquired about mine the garage quoted me £900 all in and that was via a mate.
 

KevinH

Senior Member
It's definitely worth the journey to evocarlos if you can make it (risky with the rattle you have), but as everyone on here knows he does a brilliant job and shows you everything he's doing. :)
 

KevinH

Senior Member
It would be best if you 'pm' him to get a price.
This is done using the forum's Conversations utility by clicking your username at the top and then clicking 'conversations'. :)
 

richard165

Member
hi

If using 10w40 oil on winter mornings, cold I.e 0 to 2-3 degrees is it normal to have a slight ticking for a couple of seconds on first start?

thanks!
 
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