1998 Saturn SL2 Timing chain repair

JHENSARL3

MEMBER
1998 SATURN SL2
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
140,000 MILES

Should the shop cover the cost of this repair?

I have a 98 Saturn SL2 with 140,000 miles on it.

I took it to a locally-owned repair shop (that has a good reputation) because the accelerator was sticking. They said the throttle body needed to be cleaned.

After cleaning the throttle body (chemical and brush cleaning while on the car) they tried to start the car and heard a loud back-fire.

The car will not start. Only 25 pounds of compression in each of the cylinders.

They pulled the valve cover and discovered the timing chain has slipped.

The shop claims they did not cause the timing chain to slip, that it is just a coincidence.

Therefore they say I am responsible for the timing chain repair.

What other parts may have been damaged by this back-fire?

1 Reply

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

First of all thank you for the donation. If your car was running normal when you brought it in for the sticky throttle and then cleaned it then upon starting it popped and lost compression that's not a coincidence. They must have sprayed a lot of cleaner in the throttle body while it was on the intake and loaded the engine up with all that cleaner and made a big explosion when they tried to start it inside the engine.I would say it would be there cost to repair it. It could have just caused the chain to slip but if the valve were open when the pistons came up it could have damaged valve's as well. Since the shop has already said they won't pay for it then your going to have to take other action's. Here in california we have something called the bureau of automotive repair that is who you would complain to here in my state. You would contact them and tell them what happened and they would contact the shop and be a go between you and the shop. They get a lot more respect and result's then you or I would by ourselves. There must be something like that for your state what state do you live in?There is also the better business bureau you can even file a claim againist a business online even. There is also small claim's court but I would try the two other route's first I think they would be faster result's.