Quesiton - timing chain

Smokedya95stang · 03-28-2003, 11:50 PM

Hey guys,

My girlfriend has a 1995 1.9 efi-ohc
engine.
Sorry guys i know nothing about saturns iam a mustang guy.
Anyway.
Her engine makes a really loud sound when in idle or driving.
A mechanic friend of myn said it could be the timing chain hitting its cover.

The sound does cause a slight vibration throughout the engine.
The sound is pretty loud, its a deep tone... i cant really describe it. Its not a squeak, squeal, hissing.. i hope somone knows what iam talking about.
and what this may be.
The car drives fine, just makes that annoying sound.
Can anyone tell me where the timing chain is, how to get at it, any how to sites...

Any sites on this particular engine.....
anyway guys, thanks alot for any help.
later.
charles

Darth Detroit · 03-29-2003, 12:41 AM

There is no timing belt.

Sounds like an exhaust leak. IF the chain was hitting the cover it would be making a metallic grinding noise. Form what I read up on them. they are pretty maintentence free. A 95's chain shouldnt have streached that much. Besides, if it did you would have problems from HELL!

Anyway. Does the car hesistate?

Sorry about the Mustange.

I beleive we all own one sooner or later. I had a 1976 Cobra II. Black and Gold, louverd blinds, ground effects, front and rear spoiler, with an 8-track tape in the dash! All original and only 2,000 miles.

Smokedya95stang · 03-29-2003, 01:08 AM

Yea this is def. not an exhaust leak.
So there is no timing chain on these engines?

Anyone know a trouble shooting page i can look at some q/a's like from a haynes manual i really dont wanna go out and buy one just for this car.

Anyway... anyone know what else it could be?

Darth Detroit · 03-29-2003, 01:47 AM

It has a chain, not a belt. And ther is NO adjustment for the timing. If there was a problem with the timing, you wouldnt be able to start the car. You have to tear apart the engine to see the chain, and the markings. Chiltons doesnt say a whole lot for something like this, with troubleshooting the noise. If its internal, yer done. What about a manifold leak around the header? Hmm... last thing I can think of is mabey a thrown bearing. Those can growl at ya!

**Ssicarman** · 03-29-2003, 02:36 AM

Not that it makes a big differance but is it a single over head cam or a double over head cam? Hows the mileage--high, low?? The timing chain--front of the engine behind the aluminum cover just behind the serpentine belt--will make a metalic rattling noise when it is shot. What usually happens is the the giudes for the chain get so worn thet the chain tensioner is no longer able to provide enough tension and the chain is loose and rattles. Unfortunately noises are one of the hardest things to try and diagnose over the net. ONe way to go may be to remove the valve cover and do a visual inspection of the chain and sprocket (s) and try to see if there is a lot of play in the chain. If oil change maintenance has been lacking on the car then it very well could be the chain.

wolfman · 03-29-2003, 06:18 AM

I will only add that I have often described the sound of a loose/worn timing chain on the running engine as "as though it were a real small diesel engine running in there" ESP at idle.

Joeybagodonuts · 03-29-2003, 02:47 PM

saturn timing chains are still very common to fail, espcially if the previous owner neglected to do their oil changes ON TIME.
we have seen 97's come in with 75k with rattling chains, id suggest using a stethoscope (cheap ones are at auto stores for under 10.00) you can pinpoint around the location till your fairly comfortable that you now know what it is and where its coming from, its amazing how well a stethscope helps you pinpoint problems.

Smokedya95stang · 03-30-2003, 08:05 PM

So if i was to go about changing this timing chain, where can i buy one for cheap. I know where to get mustang parts dirt cheap, but not saturn...lol
And the most important thing i want to know is how should i go about changing it.
Ive never worked on this saturn, or any saturn at all, period.
Any how to help on where to start, what to take off, ect would be very usefull if anyones done this before. Thanks.

Joeybagodonuts · 03-30-2003, 08:27 PM

best advice i can give to you is GET SATURN FACTORY on this! some parts your safe going aftermarket, but first point, i have checked around, and by the time you buy the chain, gears, tensioner the aftermarket kits were MORE then the SATURN KIT! go saturn on this
point two, once we bought a car that was misdiangosed as a timing chain, well this HACK ASS shop bought the cheap stuff, well we bought the car to sell it, we did the head gasket, valve job etc, we figured well normally wed use saturn but hey, its a brand new kit, well leave it in BIG MISTAKE, since we give a year warranty on our cars, 6 months later the car came in with the chain rattling away! DOIKS! sucked, had to do it using saturn parts.
ill always tell people when and where they can save money but in some instances such as this, factorys the only way to go! (any other parts let ME know, lol)

Smokedya95stang · 03-30-2003, 08:31 PM

well i guess ill be going factory

But now i need some info on how to do it

Iam trying to get rid of it and sell it, and i know nobody is gonna wanna buy it with the engine sounding like that.