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Timing chain tensioner?!?!?!?!

Sent to Car Experts June 07, 2005 12:27 p.m.

I recently had to replace the water pump on my 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24(2.4liter). In my car the timing chain drives the water pump, so you have to take a lot of stuff apart in the process. After it was all done my car was ok until it warmed up, after that it makes this loud ticking noise. We came to the conclusion that my timing chain tensioner became compressed after it was taken out, we bought a new one and on the box it says that it is packed and shipped compressed and must stay that way for installation, but after installed it must be reset. The secondary piston has to be released. The box does not tell you how to reset the tensioner, it says you have to look it up in a manual. The manual that we have for my car says nothing about how to reset it. So my question is, How do I reset it so that my car stops making this ticking noise?????

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $5

Answer
June 07, 2005 5:00 p.m. (4 hours and 32 minutes later)

REPLIED

It's like a hand grenade, you pull the pin.

Tech501 -- Auto Service Technician -- 96% Positive Feedback on 739 Car Accepts
38 years exp, ASE Mastertech with L1 Advanced Engine performance

Reply to Tech501
Sent June 08, 2005 9:25 a.m. (16 hours and 25 minutes later)

there is no pin!!

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
June 08, 2005 9:43 a.m. (18 minutes and 31 seconds later)

REPLIED

#5 in the illustration is the locking retainer.

Reload the timing chain tensioner assembly to its zero position ae follows:
1. Form a keeper from a piece of heavy gauge wire, as shown in the accompanying figure.
2. Apply slight force on the tensioner blade to compress the plunger.
3. Insert a small prytool into the reset access hole, and pry the ratchet pawl away from the ratchet teeth while forcing the plunger completely in the hole.
4. Install the keeper between the access hole and the blade.

View Full Image

Fig. 11: Reloading the tensioner to its ZERO position, then install to the chain housing

Install the tensioner assembly to the timing chain housing. Recheck the plunger assembly installation, it is correctly installed when the long end is toward the crankshaft. Install the tensioner retaining bolts; tighten to 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm).

Edited by Tech501 on June 8 2005 at 9:44am

Tech501 -- Auto Service Technician -- 96% Positive Feedback on 739 Car Accepts
38 years exp, ASE Mastertech with L1 Advanced Engine performance

Reply to Tech501
Sent June 09, 2005 10:54 a.m. (1 day and 1 hour later)

this is the answer that i have gotten from more than one person, but it doesn't make any sense. This does not go with what I have for my car.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
June 09, 2005 12:38 p.m. (1 hour and 44 minutes later)

REPLIED

That's the 2.4 tensioner. If you have something different, post a picture of it.

Tech501 -- Auto Service Technician -- 96% Positive Feedback on 739 Car Accepts
38 years exp, ASE Mastertech with L1 Advanced Engine performance

Reply to Tech501
Sent June 09, 2005 2:01 p.m. (1 hour and 23 minutes later)

I don't have a picture of it

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
June 09, 2005 2:40 p.m. (38 minutes and 25 seconds later)

REPLIED

What do you want me to do? I supplied you with the correct instructions and illustrations.

Tech501 -- Auto Service Technician -- 96% Positive Feedback on 739 Car Accepts
38 years exp, ASE Mastertech with L1 Advanced Engine performance

Reply to Tech501
Sent June 09, 2005 3:28 p.m. (48 minutes and 11 seconds later)

I dont expect anything more from you, I appreciate you trying to help, but those instructions dont really seem to help me. Maybe I just dont see it but those instructions don't really help. Thank you for trying to explain it to me.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
June 09, 2005 5:41 p.m. (2 hours and 13 minutes later)

ACCEPTED

One of our fellow specialists was able to access a pic of another style tensioner. This is probably what you have.

if it looks like this you press the plunger in all the way to release it.
View Full Image

Tech501 -- Auto Service Technician -- 96% Positive Feedback on 739 Car Accepts
38 years exp, ASE Mastertech with L1 Advanced Engine performance

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