timing chain clicking?
timing chain clicking?
My timing chain was rattling like crazy I could hear it echoing from other cars in traffic and I would knock really bad under boost. afr's were still a bit leaner then usual. basically weird stuff was going on. I went to my local chevy dealership and picked up a timing chain tensioner. It looks like a bolt with a spring loaded actuator inside a hydraulic cylinder. more or less like a big 32mm bolt. it's on the passenger side in the head. If you haven't changed it, change it. I found out GM supposedly used the wrong tensioner on the assembly line in 06 and under. I'm not sure how true it is but comparing the new tensioner with the old one told me enough to know they have improved the design. Hope I was useful.
I thought that my timing chain tensioner was going bad but it turned out to be my serpentine belt tensioner. Here is a video of it making the noise.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoID=43649997
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoID=43649997
My timing chain was rattling like crazy I could hear it echoing from other cars in traffic and I would knock really bad under boost. afr's were still a bit leaner then usual. basically weird stuff was going on. I went to my local chevy dealership and picked up a timing chain tensioner. It looks like a bolt with a spring loaded actuator inside a hydraulic cylinder. more or less like a big 32mm bolt. it's on the passenger side in the head. If you haven't changed it, change it. I found out GM supposedly used the wrong tensioner on the assembly line in 06 and under. I'm not sure how true it is but comparing the new tensioner with the old one told me enough to know they have improved the design. Hope I was useful.
credit to sunburst ss for the correction
Last edited by ff_drift_lol; Mar 31, 2009 at 01:46 PM.
There is no need to remove the valve cover. Remove the existing "tensioner" with a 32mm 6 point socket, look out for some oil. Check out the new tensioner. It has a spring loaded actuator inside that can be pulled out. it should be locked down into place if not, push it closed with your fingers and rotate it clockwise til it locks back down. keep it out of the cylinder and line it up with the timing chain tensioner inside the hole you've just opened, try and twist it a little and once you feel it stop twisting you've seated it correctly. put some oil on the rubber grommet seal and put the cylinder over the inner actuator. tighten it to 55 ft-lbs. crank the engine a little try not to start it, if it does turn it off right away and start it again. you need to somehow prime the new tensioner since it is hydraulic. you'll hear it rattle like hell a little and after a second or 2 the noise should be completely gone. some minor noise is common from low oil temp. let it warm up and you shouldn't hear anything but the chain itself rotating. Sorry I don't have any diagrams or anything.
Thanks for the info. I hear a tick at cold start up but nothing once it's warm. I DO hear a rattle when i drive by barrier's and threw tunnel's I haven't narrowed it down but the tensioner is a good start. Plus i have a random misfire that can be seen on a tech 2 but has never set a code. You can hear it at idle it will make a puffft noise every 20 seconds or so.
Thanks for the info. I hear a tick at cold start up but nothing once it's warm. I DO hear a rattle when i drive by barrier's and threw tunnel's I haven't narrowed it down but the tensioner is a good start. Plus i have a random misfire that can be seen on a tech 2 but has never set a code. You can hear it at idle it will make a puffft noise every 20 seconds or so.
timing chains are just generally noisy. This stupid 70 dollar bolt can even effect your performance by huge numbers. Like I said change it now even if it's not noisy because it IS still broken. It's the wrong tensioner!
that's pretty normal. it's probably the old one though. the old one has a rubber grommet around the middle of it, the newer ones have a grommet/washer near the threads.
yeah my car makes this noise as well...it is bad on cold startup...i hear it the most when i am in like a drivethru next to the wall lol...the dumb thing is i have brought it to two dealerships and neither could RECREATE it...and god forbid I go in there with the TSB on it...so it is time to bring it to my mechanic friend and have it done right
yeah my car makes this noise as well...it is bad on cold startup...i hear it the most when i am in like a drivethru next to the wall lol...the dumb thing is i have brought it to two dealerships and neither could RECREATE it...and god forbid I go in there with the TSB on it...so it is time to bring it to my mechanic friend and have it done right 
yeah my car makes this noise as well...it is bad on cold startup...i hear it the most when i am in like a drivethru next to the wall lol...the dumb thing is i have brought it to two dealerships and neither could RECREATE it...and god forbid I go in there with the TSB on it...so it is time to bring it to my mechanic friend and have it done right 
I was watching my interceptor gauge and i was getting 2.5 to 3.0 kr in higher rpms it would blip for a sec then go away then blip again. What kinda kr were you getting whit youre old timing chain tensioner.
I was under the impression that they started using the newer design mid-year 06, meaning only a couple months before the 07s were built/sold.
There is no need to remove the valve cover. Remove the existing "tensioner" with a 32mm 6 point socket, look out for some oil. Check out the new tensioner. It has a spring loaded actuator inside that can be pulled out. it should be locked down into place if not, push it closed with your fingers and rotate it clockwise til it locks back down. keep it out of the cylinder and line it up with the timing chain tensioner inside the hole you've just opened, try and twist it a little and once you feel it stop twisting you've seated it correctly. put some oil on the rubber grommet seal and put the cylinder over the inner actuator. tighten it to 55 ft-lbs. crank the engine a little try not to start it, if it does turn it off right away and start it again. you need to somehow prime the new tensioner since it is hydraulic. you'll hear it rattle like hell a little and after a second or 2 the noise should be completely gone. some minor noise is common from low oil temp. let it warm up and you shouldn't hear anything but the chain itself rotating. Sorry I don't have any diagrams or anything.
http://www.crateenginedepot.com/stor...P2216C133.aspx
And do I need this part also?
http://www.crateenginedepot.com/stor...P2394C133.aspx
Thanks for all the info! Mine has been making noise on cold start up at idle for about 2 years now. No KR and it goes away at about 2k rpm. No loss in power.
Is the change out very hard? I know you described it but I really have no clue how this works.
Thanks again! I apprecite it!
dont know the build date right now but the dealer i got it from received it november of 06 so it has to be an early model
You can see it on the back of the head, you can get to it directly without removing anything else.
Proper procedure for replacing it also includes removing the valve cover, which is much more work than the tensioner itself, but i'd say 1.5-2 hours for a first timer. Not a bad job at all.


