Cam Tensioner Failure
01-05-2013, 06:11 PM
#27
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Finally got to start reassembly of the engine today. Had a few adventures along the way though. Lapping all the valves ended up bring a brutal pain in the ass. Didn't have the correct compressor so was using one for an old school 350 chevy in a mickey mouse way. It was just getting the keepers back in that was hard. Mind you if i had to choose between doing that again or mudding and sanding an entire 20x20 room I'd pick the valve job everytime.
The broken bolt in the head for the guide ended up going to a machine shop to have them drill it out. Fought with it for quite awhile and it wouldn't come out. Decided it was easier to get someone with the right stuff then breaking off and easy out and making it that much worse to do. Wasn't bad only cost 40 bucks for that. The broken bolt in the block came out super easy. When i center punched it to drill it out it started to move. I ended up just walking it out with the punch.
Actually setting everything up to to put the chain on correctly was pretty easy too. I'm liking the painted chain.
Almost finished but I'm sick and a dog and had to quit for the day to crawl back into bed.
The broken bolt in the head for the guide ended up going to a machine shop to have them drill it out. Fought with it for quite awhile and it wouldn't come out. Decided it was easier to get someone with the right stuff then breaking off and easy out and making it that much worse to do. Wasn't bad only cost 40 bucks for that. The broken bolt in the block came out super easy. When i center punched it to drill it out it started to move. I ended up just walking it out with the punch.
Actually setting everything up to to put the chain on correctly was pretty easy too. I'm liking the painted chain.
Almost finished but I'm sick and a dog and had to quit for the day to crawl back into bed.
01-05-2013, 07:04 PM
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If i had to pick stuff that pissed me off about this car it would so far the timing tensioner and mostly because it cost my ******* money, and the shitty factory cd player.....and the spring breaking on the clutch pedal and my seized strut mount....and no arm rest. Also whoever invented the serp belt tensioner deserves a beating.
01-06-2013, 03:48 PM
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I ended up lapping the valves because I'd pulled the cams out to check to see how the valves were sealing by filling up the bowls with brake clean. I had 4 exhaust valves leak and one intake valve leak a bit. So figured cleaning them up would help with the seal. They kinda had some carbon buildup a bit on the exhaust valves.
The flexpipe for the cat on the stock downpipe cracked and was well working towards falling off when i replaced it.
Finished putting the car all together today. Started up and sounds good.
Over-all I'd say this whole job cost me about 1200 in parts for everything. The labour was mostly free as my helpers only demanded lunch and beer as payment.
In conclusion if your timing gear is making any noise, spend the money and get the the tensioner replaced.
The flexpipe for the cat on the stock downpipe cracked and was well working towards falling off when i replaced it.
Finished putting the car all together today. Started up and sounds good.
Over-all I'd say this whole job cost me about 1200 in parts for everything. The labour was mostly free as my helpers only demanded lunch and beer as payment.
In conclusion if your timing gear is making any noise, spend the money and get the the tensioner replaced.
01-06-2013, 04:30 PM
#42
The damn plastic piece for the sunroof switch breaks easily.
The stupid plastic interior piece where the windows switches are.
The stock head bolts don't hold up over time with higher power levels.
Electric power steering recalled on ALL Cobalts.
To be honest, the timing assembly is my biggest complaint because even though there are updated versions, the entire assembly still sucks. Even the updated tensioner still goes bad so when you start to hear that noise, fix it! lol
On the flip side though the head is very easy to take off.
01-06-2013, 07:49 PM
#43
It had been making noise for a bit. The belt tensioner where it mounts to the block had worn the bushing out on the tensioner. Id assumed its looseness was making the noise. Id blame this one on inattentive owner. Gm wants some insane bucks for valves. Any suggestions on websites to find ones a tad cheaper.
Mine does a random ticking when cold, but goes away fairly quick. But I know for a fact it is coming from the tensioner
01-06-2013, 08:59 PM
#44
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it was making a constant rattling noise. The tensioner is fairly cheap and to change isn't too bad of a job even with taking off the side cover if need be.
01-06-2013, 11:40 PM
#45
lol. Everything you said plus....Blew my stock muffler out on the dyno.
The damn plastic piece for the sunroof switch breaks easily.
The stupid plastic interior piece where the windows switches are.
The stock head bolts don't hold up over time with higher power levels.
Electric power steering recalled on ALL Cobalts.
To be honest, the timing assembly is my biggest complaint because even though there are updated versions, the entire assembly still sucks. Even the updated tensioner still goes bad so when you start to hear that noise, fix it! lol
On the flip side though the head is very easy to take off.
The damn plastic piece for the sunroof switch breaks easily.
The stupid plastic interior piece where the windows switches are.
The stock head bolts don't hold up over time with higher power levels.
Electric power steering recalled on ALL Cobalts.
To be honest, the timing assembly is my biggest complaint because even though there are updated versions, the entire assembly still sucks. Even the updated tensioner still goes bad so when you start to hear that noise, fix it! lol
On the flip side though the head is very easy to take off.
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