Ecotec Cavalier Timing Chain Tensioner Replacement How To

[@matthewkrivec]

Great video, just replaced the tensioner on my Saturn LW200. I deviated from your technique and would like to share this. After using zip ties to secure the cam gears to the chain, I used a bungee cord with a metal hook and threaded this through the exhaust cam gear sprocket and applied a healthy amount of torsion to keep the chain taught on the tensioner side. Then I carefully and slowly began threading out the old tensioner while watching the cam gear/chain as it will retract the chain guide towards the tensioner and maintain contact with it which prevents the tensioner piston/spring from falling into the engine well. The bungee keeps the chain taught preventing it from skipping a gear tooth on the lower crankshaft gear. The intake cam gear seemed stuck in compression cycle since I did not remove spark plugs, thus no movement could occur. All the chain slack will occur between the two cam gears, so the crankshaft sprocket will remain taut. Using a flashlight while threading out the old tensioner will you let visually see the guide keeping pressure on the piston so you can feel confident it will not drop into the engine well. Installing the new tensioner is easy as the bungee will subside as you thread it in. Now using a screw driver, push on the chain where it meets the tensioner piston and the activation will occur leaving you a nice, taut chain and you will have saved $1000 in labor and have a properly timed engine that is quiet. Splendid fix for a $30 tensioner part!

[@billydoyle9984]

That was Beautiful Thank You Very Much I will do EXACTLY what you said to my Sunfire GT Convertible You Are A Great Tutor!!!! Real Easy.

[@Frumplecock]

Thank you so much. Took the noise away from our Vue that we have had for two years. Made noise since we had it. This tutorial was excellent. If you don't know where to tap to release the tensioner, because it's hard to see in the video- get a rounded edge tool and push the chain where the tensioner pushes against it. This will release the tensioner. Didn't have a 1-1/4" socket, ground a wrench to size and made do. 🤙

[@damntheman3185]

Sweet thanks for the vid! My 04 cavy is definitely in need of a tensioner replacement. She rattles a bit for a second on start up. Cheers!

[@TeamSTCDonny]

Definitely a must for any eco that has the old style tensioners still before they fall apart, they literally explode and separate inside the engine. Hoping to save some ecos with this video!

[@damntheman3185]

#TeamSTC Donny out here doin the lords work! Haha. Hell, I may end up changing the whole timing/guide set along with the upgraded dorman guide bolt, depending on how it looks when I crack it open. Cloyes has a great how to video on it. We shall see.

[@TeamSTCDonny]

@@damntheman3185 doing the whole kit is a hell of a job with the engine in. If you do then go ahead and do the balance shaft tensioner also since it's open.

[@southernautodiy2643]

@@damntheman3185 cloyes does have a good video, tho the cloyes guides break in the ecotec so stick with factory or dorman

[@andresalvatore9337]

i realize Im kinda randomly asking but does anyone know a good place to watch new tv shows online ?

[@1111comment]

Used two 10" locking pliers, one on each cam shaft, and the magnetic wand against the tensioner from the inside on a 7th gen malibu. P0016/P0017 went away! Going to do an extra oil change and hope they don't come back. Thanks man.

[@aidenrobinson9172]

Great video for any Ecotec owner

[@sanchfire]

I have a 2.4L 2012 buick lacrosse - i got a noise at the timing chain location, i put a prybar to the valve cover, the alternator, and noise is much more evident at the timing chain area. I removed the drive belt and checked the pulleys.. all good there - turned the car on with out the drive belt and the same noise coming from that side of the valve cover.. i'm afraid to do this job...have too! thanks for posting the video looks like the same set up and hopefully its only the chain tensioner

[@chadoliver2966]

Great vid im buying my tensioner now over on rockauto

[@starclone4]

Thank you !!!! Interesting video..

[@adrianaflores9067]

Can I hire you guys? I need help with my cavalier

[@STCgarage419]

Are you in Arizona?

[@adrianaflores9067]

@@STCgarage419 no I'm in san diego

[@TeamSTCDonny]

lol bring to az stc is located here

[@sbond1963]

Thanks bro I'm assuming my 05 Chevy Classic with the 2.2 Ecotec is the same thing? Making that rattle startup noise

[@southernautodiy2643]

rattle on cold start? mine too, thinking about replacing mine as mine is the old style flat head

[@TeamSTCDonny]

all 2.2 ecos

[@thatdudeinblack8707]

Would a bad timing chain tensioner cause the engine not to start?

[@TeamSTCDonny]

it can cause internal damage needing engine replacement so good to do it before t goes bad

[@cswann8]

I'm doing a timing chain service on my GMC Terrain with the 2.4l Eco....the previous owner paid $1400 for this in Jan 2019 (only 12k miles ago) but the shop ripped him off on the job. The timing chain tensioner is really stuck and the shop just left the old one on. I'm very lucky I didn't end up with a trashed engine. But like they say: "If you want something done right..." But now I'm dealing with the stuck tensioner. I'm not a small guy and I put everything I had behind my 13" flex-head ratchet...no tamale. Anyone know if it's possible with some impact swivel extensions to get a impact on it?

[@tfboxy75]

I would try using a cheater bar (pipe on end of ratchet) if you don't have a longer breaker bar.

[@TeamSTCDonny]

no

[@cswann8]

@@TeamSTCDonny Thanks for the reply LOL. I got an Onyx Nano impact and zipped it right off. After that the timing chain service went smooth as butter.

[@jerrey2000]

How much approximately would a job like this cost with labour?

[@TeamSTCDonny]

nowadays 300-1000

[@evanscj86]

Your video was ok, it helped me, thank u

[@bromoenook356]

The new one for me won’t go in the hole I had to hammer it in then try to thread it but it just started shaving aluminum off the hole and threads in the block

[@TeamSTCDonny]

did something wrong, its super easy to do

[@alexdanielsolis228]

Your tensioner Is activated

[@Xeniamami]

My car was rattling when I first turned my car the other night I went to use my car and just wouldn't turn on sounds like low compression would changing this do the job or do I need a whole new timing chain ?

[@TeamSTCDonny]

If your timing chain goes the whole engine is bad and needs replaced. It is an interference style engine so if the timing goes then the valves hit the Pistons and ruin the internals. Now it could be a lot of things preventing it from running properly, maybe start by having someone with a scanner scan it to make sure it's not something as simple as a sensor or ignition coil pack. Also you can remove the valve cover Wich we covered in a previous video to check and make sure the chain has tension and isn't loose or broken.

[@Xeniamami]

Thank you I appreciate it!!!

[@Xeniamami]

One more question so I took it for a diagnostic they said my cylinders had 30 psi in all so no compression not sure if that is a forsure that it's the timing chain

[@TeamSTCDonny]

@@Xeniamami 30 psi is super low for an ecotec. Wouldn't hurt to pull that valve cover and check the chain for slack. Or their compression gauge is an old Pos and reading wrong, at 30 psi every cylinder doesn't make sense, even if the chain goes it would like take out one or two not all for cylinders and even so then it'd have no compression if all four Pistons had holes in them. Hope that helps some.

[@robertholsopple9451]

My 2005 Cobalt LS is rattling a tiny bit on some cold starts but mainly I notice the slight ticking sound when I'm accelerating mildly, when I leave off the gas pedal it stops. It has 110000 miles on the OEM tensioner and chain. I ordered a new style GM tensioner from the GM store online for like $20! Aftermarket is like 3x that price. Mabe was a misprint but I'm glad I found it at that price. I'm hoping that fixes my issue. My only question is, do i need to replace the cam cover gasket? It's only 6 months old. Can they be reused if they dont RIP taking off the cover?

[@bromoenook356]

My new tensioner was very hard to fit in the hole and it would not thread in it just started shaving aluminum on the threads of tensioner why is the fit so hard

[@TeamSTCDonny]

it fits perfect, so you have messed up threads or dirty threads

[@1111comment]

what do you mean explode? just the end dropping in?

[@TeamSTCDonny]

the pistons meet the valves its an interferance engine so would need a whole new engine

[@OdysseyBMX98]

Did you need to out the motor in TDC before hand?

[@STCgarage419]

Nope, not necessary as long as you peg the chain in place

[@richdbacks2001]

Great video thanks but you never gave a part number

[@southernautodiy2643]

why can't you just activate the tensioner and then put it in?

[@TeamSTCDonny]

because it has to push the chain into place you cant do that and rotate the bolt and torque it it will move the chain

[@WilliamStevenson-bx8fp]

Just buy a honda and throw that eco junk out lol

[@STCgarage419]

We have Hondas as well 😉