IMPORTANT! There is one oversight in this video. Before putting the valve cover back on we want to take a long screwdriver or socket extension and "strike" the chain on the tensioner side toward the tensioner. This will push the tensioner in and activate it 👍

@Burgerkinglover32

Ай бұрын

I was told this tensioner is activated with oil pressure is there i used an inspection camera to look inside the cylinder head and saw the tensioner piston touching the pivoting chain guide but I am not sure it's engaged the car still has a rattle on start up

@VikingDudee

20 күн бұрын

@@Burgerkinglover32 Oil pressure does indeed help keep tension, but when you install the tensioner its in a locked closed state, there's a spring in it, You need to press it in to release it, he did not show it in the video, I fished a pry bar down towards where the tensioner is and pushed on the chain and you can feel it push back if done right, Give it a few hard pushed to make sure. If i8ts not done right, it'll rattle all the time if not jump time, and or bend valves. If it still rattles on start up, may need a timing job, new guides, and chain, they do stretch with age, can use some Lucas to thicken the oil up a little and see if that changes anything, might as well change the water pump while you are in there, its cheap, and would suck to have to do that few months later. Other than that if you don't care enough about the car, just don't rev it when its rattling to avoid jumping time.

@Burgerkinglover32

10 күн бұрын

@@VikingDudee this was after I performed a timing job but I think I got it because rattle has went away

If you still hear the rattle AFTER you replace the tensioner then you have other issues like bad or worn plastic guides or worn pulleys, etc. so at that point it is BEST to inspect THE ENTIRE timing system and replace as necessary! My advice is IF you have to go that far then just put on a new compete timing kit and stop worrying all together! the water pump is also timing chain driven so be aware of that as well! just had these issues on my 08 LT coupe.

THIS GUY MADE A MISTAKE YOU HAVE TO TAP THE CHAIN TO ENGAGE THE TENSIONER

I only hear chain shatter when i turn off the vehicle and very rarely when i turn it on would this indicate i need to replace the whole thing or can i get away with just replacing the tensioner?

HI,I have p0016 code on 2.2 L4, and it make a noise on startup and than goes normal. Does this bring up the code. As new timing chain was replaced recently.

I thought you had to activate the tensioner by striking it from the valve cover opening with an extension or something long? Or is that just the balance shaft tensioner. I put all new chains/gears/etc on my cobalt a few years ago, my g5 I believe will be ok with just the tensioner. But it took 3 tries on the cobalt for me to get it right, had it 180⁰ out, ran, but it limp mode.

@ValleyMobileAutomotive

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment. That is correct. Striking it pushes the tensioner end in and releases the lock. That's not in the video but I have a pinned comment explaining that step. but it might be best to remove the video and edit an explenation in so there's no confusion.

I noticed when you put the new tensioner in it was still depressed. When or how do you get the tension back on the chain from the new tensioner? The new tensioner is pressed in right and not popped out yet?

@ValleyMobileAutomotive

Жыл бұрын

When you thread in the new tensioner it automatically releases. The notch in the front of the tensioner catches on the chain guide and unscrews the tensioner hold therefore releasing it.

Would you not have to reset tension on the chain after installing the new tensioner. All the forums I’ve read say to lightly tap the chain to activate the tensioner and reset tension.

@ValleyMobileAutomotive

Жыл бұрын

The tensioner automatically unlocks when you thread it in. It is spring loaded and will take out any initial slack in the chain. Oil pressure while the vehicle is running will take out additional slack.

@ericgagnon8934

9 ай бұрын

​@@ValleyMobileAutomotiveI just changed the tensioner and it didn't activate as I put it in, you have to push on it hard by pressing on the chain right on top of it then it releases the spring load.

The timing chain didnt have no slack in it before you put on the new tensioner

Question do you have to undo the plunger I noticed you had it still in the stock position it comes in how does it engage after install?

@ValleyMobileAutomotive

Жыл бұрын

Keep it in the locked position, the way it comes out of the package.. When you thread it in It automatically unlocks itself, nothing else is required 👍

What was the symptoms of a bad tensioner?

@ValleyMobileAutomotive

Жыл бұрын

Usually just a noisy timing chain rattle at start up then it goes away once the oil pressure builds. If you still have chain noise once the car is warned up you may need to replace the whole timing set. Of course check the oil level first 👍

@Irongalaxies

6 ай бұрын

@@ValleyMobileAutomotive I had all my timing components replaced in Nov of 22. Over a year later, it now rattles at idle, doesn't go away, could it still be the guide or did the shop screw up the job?

@AutoMotoMechanic

2 ай бұрын

​@@Irongalaxieseither they messed up, or a new part failure. Possibly they skipped a part during repair.

@tylerwiththecobaltss4door

Ай бұрын

​@Irongalaxies i am going throufh same thing. 17 months and 30k later mine is making a noise like a chain. Wondering what to do now. I have a 09 cobalt ss sedan (turbo)

@VikingDudee

20 күн бұрын

@@tylerwiththecobaltss4door Did you have the chain and stuff replaced? If it rattles all the time, might not hurt to take the valve cover off and grab a long screw driver or extension pry bar and press on the chain back towards the tensioner just to make sure they activated and released the tensioner. Other than that, I'd take it back to them, they did something wrong when they changed it. Or a new part failed.

Could you have done this without the valve cover removal and turning the engine over by hand?

@ValleyMobileAutomotive

Жыл бұрын

Removing the valve cover helps you see the timing marks to put the engine at TDC. This ensures the chain won't slip when the tensioner is removed.

@zerogameskill9670

Жыл бұрын

Probably the best 25$ for a new Valve cover gasket you will spend because like Valley replied your timing chain can pop off from this, people on the Cobalt forums recommend putting zipties on it just for safety.

@ValleyMobileAutomotive

Жыл бұрын

@@zerogameskill9670 Zip ties is a great idea! Thanks for the tip 👊

@87Lowbird

Жыл бұрын

I've just found many many posts/videos of people just pulling the tensioner out to installing the new one in 30 seconds with no issues. Lots of posts in 2.2/2.4 specific forums with people having good results this way. As long as the engine doesn't get turned over while the tensioner is out, there should be no risk of messing up the timing. Even in this video, you didn't lock the timing set in anyway. You just put a mark on it. Then nothing moved while the tensioners were r&r'd. How exactly would being at TDC keep the timing from changing during this process?

@ValleyMobileAutomotive

Жыл бұрын

@@87Lowbird It has to do with the position of the cam lobes over the valves. The crank won't move but once tension is removed from the chain the cams can potentially rotate under the spring pressure of the valves. When the timing is set to Cyl #1 TDC the valve springs and cam lobes are in a rest position. Making removing the tensioner safer.

Why do you even need to take off the valve cover?

@hybridyd1305

8 ай бұрын

To make sure the chain is in the correct position.

@VikingDudee

20 күн бұрын

Got to find TDC, so the valve springs wont press on the cam lobes and try to turn the chain, if you take the slack off by removing the tensioner and the valve springs are under tension, pretty good chance it could jump time, and next time you start the engine, it may not start or end up bending valve's if it tries. Can use zip ties on each cam to stop it, but its not hard finding Top dead center by looking at the marks on the chain, and you don't really need to replace the vlave cover gasket, I've done a few of these engines on the side and not one of them leaked from me re using the old valve cover gasket.

If nobody toched the timing chain, I can see no necessity to teke off the head cover.

@JohnieGS

4 ай бұрын

do u have a link to show me that please and thank you

@lexxflaber

4 ай бұрын

@@JohnieGS I haven't done it yet. My engine needs a new chain tensioner as well.

@VikingDudee

20 күн бұрын

@@lexxflaber No!!! Find TDC, take the valve cover off, its not hard! If you don't find TDC, good chance it will jump time as the cam lobs would be under tension from the springs and will try to force the chain in either direction. Can use Zip ties on each cam if you have a hard time finding the marks on the chain, I don't know why they used a black link, hard finding it in a high mileage car. Doesn't take but 5 min to remove the valve cover and the intake. I've worked on many cars over the years, and as simple as this to avoid having to do a timing job because you wanted to skip a step sucks. Good luck to ya!.