Failed Balance Chain Tensioner

[evocarlos]

Roy Appleby
yes the engine needs to be at tdc for balancer chain alignment/fitting

 

[Roy Appleby]

When was your kit purchased / fitted Roy?

Hi matt it twas F.A.I I didn't buy it from you (unfortunately) I bought and fitted it in june 2013
but it's been noisy at start up and vibrating for a while,I got a secondhand manifold before I realised what it was more likely to be ,I changed my cat today and have got the power back,but the vibes are still there!

 

[Roy Appleby]

Roy Appleby
yes the engine needs to be at tdc for balancer chain alignment/fitting

Thanks I thought as much.......TDC.........and I'll be referring to the woodruff key at 12 o'clock
just waiting on my joints-the car's getting on so I'll be re-fitting the old GM tensioner
which works fine,I just hope that I don't find any broken down plastic in there !
Is running out of balance bad for the motor?

 

[evocarlos]

yes key facing up at the spark plugs
running with it out of time would cause the engine the have an unsteady idle and the fact the shafts would be fighting the movement of the engine would probably cause some power loss
cant say it would do any damage as ive not seen any destruct from it but consider at 6000rpm the balancer shafts are moving at 12000 rpm

 

[Roy Appleby]

yes key facing up at the spark plugs
running with it out of time would cause the engine the have an unsteady idle and the fact the shafts would be fighting the movement of the engine would probably cause some power loss
cant say it would do any damage as ive not seen any destruct from it but consider at 6000rpm the balancer shafts are moving at 12000 rpm
View attachment 59838

THANKS..............I'll open her up Monday!!

 

[hamac]

Hallo all,
Looks like I have the same problem with my Vectra, motor: Z22yh. I already changed the outside timing chain with tensioner, but the noise/ ticking is still there. From video I can say that the noise is the same, please see my video.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByYy8uFAoei3ZXNsM0lYT3FLUWs/view?usp=sharing
It is making noise on cold mornings and it went away after minute or two. It also doesn't matter if I put some gas. The cars is also a bit shaky when idle.
What do you think, is it the same problem? Faulty tensioner on balance chain?
I'm thinking of buying the balance timing kit and I'm hoping that it will solve those problems.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Dave Gilbert]

100% balance chain tensioner.

if your getting vibration it may have jumped

if you havnt allready I would replave the whole balance chain kit. Get GM its worth the extra 20quid or so.

 

[hamac]

Thanks for quick replay.
No, I didn't change the balance chain yet, so I will buy kit as you suggested.

 

[Dave Gilbert]

Problem with doing the balance chain is you have to remove the timing chain to get to it I believe

shame it wasnt done at the same time as the timing chain.

 

[HarleyPete]

Your right Dave Gilbert the balance chain runs behind the timing chain so you'd have to remove that in order to fit a new balance chain. As you say, it's a shame it wasn't done at the same time.

 

[HarleyPete]

Funnily enough, whilst I was researching about the chains (before Carl did mine) I came across a PDF on how to change them which I still have. I wonder if it would be any good to anyone. It's a guide for the Z22SE but it's no different to changing one on a Z22YH is it, it's just the kit that's different isn't it.

 

[KevinH]

That is actually a 'stickied' thread under the Cam Chains section (4th one down - "chain swap guide in pdf format").
https://z22se.co.uk/threads/chain-swap-guide-in-pdf-format.13125/

 

[HarleyPete]

Ahhhh lol, maybe that's where I got it from when doing research before I joined the forum...............

 

[hamac]

Works like charm after replacing the balance chain with tensioner and no more ticking start in mornings.
Thanks for help.

 

[KevinH]

Good to hear you changed it with no problems.

 

[Dave Gilbert]

Im glad you are sorted and that the info on here helped. Top job

 

[snowy]

My astra 2.2 has a horrible engine vibration and after reading this is it possible that the FAI chains fitted has a bad tensioner for the balancer chain?

Thanks

 

[evocarlos]

it would have a horrible rattle at the driver's wheel to if it had gone faulty

 

[snowy]

The vibration is so bad it's hard to tell what other noises there are.

I've just cleaned out the throttle body, although it didn't need it and changed the plugs. Makes no difference.

The entire car vibrates and does it with the clutch in and out, stationary or driving.

Any ideas??

 

[evocarlos]

front engine mount ?