Well the tensioner needs to be replaced. Pulled the valve cover off and started looking around. The tensioner won't be in until tomorrow thanks to memorial day.

But my is issue is whether my timing could have been thrown off since the chain is so loose. Its seems that that could be the case since the car threw a code which prompted me to check it out. Im pretty sure its a misfire code cause it seems to fit but I have no way to check until i get my hands on a code reader.

My question is how do I go about checking whether timing is off as this is something i have never done before, yes i know i can screw it up. For the most part I know that the arrow on the gear has to coincide with the colored piece on the chain.

 

highly unlikely it skipped a link unless you were driving without the tensioner installed or stalling the engine

 

read the code p0300 which is random misfire but that is generic looking now for the exact

 

Curious, how long are these things supposed to last for? I've had my car since 64k miles, up to 103k now..and never replaced any of the timing ****...

 

pull the valve cover
pull the passenger wheel off
pull the inner fender out
get a socket that fits the crank pulley with a longer than normal ratchet.

there is a mark on the crank pulley, a small slit, and a mark on the front cover. spin the motor around until this mark lines up and the ext cam is at 10:00 and the intake cam is at 2:00 on the marked points on the cam gears. it will take some time to get the colored links to line up with these marks. red and green up top i think. you'll know it. also, check the lsj build book for pics of the colored links