21 replies to this topic

[slindborg]

After hearing a funny hollow tappping noise between 1500-2500 rpm I was reliably informed that my timing chain was on its way out... I was already paranoid about this anyway as its a TA engine but the chassis number isnt in the recall range so vauxhall didnt give a flying fluck and i couldnt be arsed with arguing with them over it lol. Ill write a tweeked "guide" (read that as how i did it) to go along with the TIS instructions and also the MK4 astra haynes manual helped no end too (we have a mk4 astra anyway lol) It was an Old chain, Old Tensioner (which was maxed out) OLd guides and Old tiny jet that was part blocked. Also the chain timing marks didnt line up with the engine timing marks which would suggest to me that the chain was fitted incorrectly (miles out not jumped one link out). So as i had it all at TDC the new chain kit proved the timing was right etc. The whole job took me about 8 hours on saturday (so call it 4-5 hours of normal work time lol) and started it on sunday... that was the scariest start ever lol. She runs a lot smoother now and has less of that over run chugging/rattle that nost N/A's seem to have. The plugs were nasty as feck so i dont think they had been changed since its last GM service 3-4 years ago.... Im thinking that the servicing that the previous owner had done wasnt actually done and the bloke just stampped the book etc ( gash!!!! All in not a fun job but its a CRITICAL one

[rabidh]

Was it a clam-off job, or did you manage it with the clam on? Its kindof encouraging to hear it only took you 8 hours though... Who knows, if it happens to me I might get it done in a week

[slindborg]

Clam on.. none of this taking body work off lark!!!!! It was helped with the fact that I had cut my arch liners to get them out for the engine mount change a while back and never repaired them lol. Obv if I were to do the job again it would take far less time as Ive a good idea what to do now the only nusance is having to take off the top drivers side mount and take a bolt out of the rear lower mount to drop the engine enough to get one bolt out.. grr @ stupid packaging.

[Scotsdave]

Stuart, How many miles has your engine done?

[luna_s]

congrats should be a potential warning to N/A owners, the engine is practically a time bomb...... do it now while its cheap, im rebuilding the engine myself and its going to cost circa 1300-1500 (then again im putting uprated bits in).

[slindborg]

38.5K the veccy tends to lunch its chain at 41K as they have massive service intervals www.z22se.co.uk is a very very usefull site with tons of info/helpful people. ITs down to the engine number for the "liability" of chain issues really. Mine was actually TA 10000... kind cool to have the 10,000th engine lol

[RobNA]

Congratulations Stuart Glad you got it all done without any mishaps

[slindborg]

no misshaps as "yet" lol. Im still mega paranoid about some of the noises etc But ive done 100miles and I'd assume that the chain would let go if it was unlubed for that much time. Rob, if and when you want to do your mounts, give me a shout if you want a hand

[RobNA]

Rob, if and when you want to do your mounts, give me a shout if you want a hand

Thanks, I will almost certainly take you up on that offer

[Sicey]

Stuart, I have my car booked into plan's this Friday for them to fit a new pre-tensioner kit, should they be able to spot if the chain is knacked or requires replacing? how much is a new chain btw? I am hoping the new tensioner kit will eliminate some of the annoying cold startup/low speed rattling and prolong the life of the engine but if it's not much extra cost/work to put a new chain on it might make sense to do this as well? What do you think? John

[luna_s]

Itll be extra work, but seriously consider getting the whole thing done, the rattle sounds like a stretched chain

[slindborg]

the chain "kit" as listed in that memo thats floating about the site was about £75+vat from autovaux (so got a genuine GM kit), plus about £20-30 in the gaskets to do a tidy job. If they are changing the tensioner "kit" what exactly are they changing? if its only the tensioner I'd be a little concerned...... If they are doing the tensioner and tensioner rail then its not a huge ammount of work more to do the whole chain. I keep hearing a few odd noises now but im sure thats due to deliberataly listening out for them lol

[Kenni]

My engine falls below the modified engine range. But on the Honestjohn website it stated, if the rusty hexagon bolt near the cam had 'nicks' on the corners, it means the lubrication problem has been reciftied. Did your engine have this bolt with 'nicks'. I'm not too sure if im engine has larger oil jets but it has the modified bolt. As another member mentioned, the bolt could just signify a newer tensioner...damn it! I just noticed that the Z22se engine was made in different plants. Mine starts with 110##### which ones are affected.

Edited by Kenni, 14 March 2007 - 04:32 PM.

[wmg100]

How much would this cost if you can't do it yourself?

[slindborg]

mine didnt have nicks in the hex...... IIRC vauxhall wanted about £6-800 for a timing chain job for the VX. If your engine number is in teh range and you dont mind a fight (im too lazy and needed the car too soon) then try them with the memo. if your engine number has the letters TA at the start you know its a "bad" one lol

[ollster]

Not sure what you mean by TA, the actual field remedy is here:

-----------------------------------

Timing chain Ref: 03-P-24

-----------------------------------


Vauxhall TIS

Field Remedy: 1532
Subject: Engine Z22SE - Broken Timing Chain
Models: Engines: Option:
Astra-G 2000...2002,VX220 2000...2002,Speedster 2000...2002,Zafira 2000...2002,Vectra-B 2000...2001 Z22SE,Z22SE,Z22SE,Z22SE,Z22SE
Complaint: Engine damaged by broken timing chain.
Cause: Missing or unsufficient lubrication of the timing chain.
Production: Modified timing chain and lubrication nozzle have been introduced in production as of the following engine-No: 11065400 (March 2002).

Remedy:
Note: Please check first if the car is included in Service Campaign 03-P-24.

In case of customer complaint please use for the necessary repair the timing
chain kit. This kit contains the modified timing chain and lubrication nozzle.
Note: This Quick Information is valid for all Z22SE engines upon customer
complaint.
Spare-Parts: Qty: Part-No.: Catalog-No.:
Timing Chain Repair Kit 1 12577385 56 36 400
Gasket, Cover, Oil Pump 1 90537915 06 46 295
Gasket, Cylinder Head Cover 1 90537319 06 07 494
Gasket, Oil Pump to Cylinder Block 1 24435052 06 46 902
Seal, Ring, Crankshaft Front 1 90571925 06 38 199
Screw, Hex. HD., Damper to Crankshaft 1 90537363 06 14 927

Labour Times: TC: Hours:
U3 153 20 Install timing chain service kit Astra G, 92 3.0 Astra G Coupe, Astra G Convertible
U3 153 21 Install timing chain service kit Zafira A 92 3.3
U3 153 22 Install timing chain service kit 92 3.7 Vectra B (w/o A/C) 001 Additional work Vectra B(with Air Condition) 92 1.1
U3 153 23 Install timing chain service kit 92 4.6 Speedster, VX220
U3 153 24 Repair engine 92

The costs for this repair will be covered for vehicles until 31.12.2007 and
a mileage lower than 100.000 Km.
The regular warranty procedure should be used for claiming Set-up-time.

My engine fell outside of the affected range **65644, but i am still a little paranoid, as i can here a bit of chain noise on overrun

[slindborg]

TA is the plant that fitted the naughty oil jet... its just an extra check really. I still get chain noise on over run... every na vx that i test drove had that noise lol.

[ollster]

Thats good, sounds as if mine should be ok then, its serviced every 6000 miles and is run on motul oil so should be ok. Where is this TA, i dont recall seing this as part of my engine number on the oil filter housing

TA is the plant that fitted the naughty oil jet... its just an extra check really.

I still get chain noise on over run... every na vx that i test drove had that noise lol.

[slindborg]

i saw the TA part on the sticker on the cam pulley end of the cam cover.... no offence but changing the oil every 6K is a bit OCD lol unless you only do 6K a year then its nearly tollerable... mind you ive been putting a fresh oil filter in every 2 months since the oil change in november due to it not having a change for 2 years prior to that.

[ollster]

Finally ive been diagnosed!!! yeh i only do about 6 or 7 k a year

Olly

i saw the TA part on the sticker on the cam pulley end of the cam cover....

no offence but changing the oil every 6K is a bit OCD lol unless you only do 6K a year then its nearly tollerable...
mind you ive been putting a fresh oil filter in every 2 months since the oil change in november due to it not having a change for 2 years prior to that.