2003 Cadillac CTS engine timing

Tiny
BMORIN73
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 CADILLAC CTS
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 109,650 MILES
Hello I have a 2003 cadillac cts with a 3.2 L v6 and recently had the serpentine belt shred up and after replacing it drove 5 minutes and the car died and after further diagnosing and scanning for codes I had a camshaft position sensor code that said out of range so I replaced it and nothing.I come to realize some strands of the serpentine belt walked in the timing belt cover and wrapped around the crankshaft sprocket and looks to have caused the timing belt to jump some teeth on the crankshaft sprocket. I reset the timing marks on the cover for the four cams and the crankshaft and the timing was way off so I replaced the timing belt and reset the marks and all looks well and there are no more codes at all. Now my question is could there be any internal damage to the valves or anything else that could cause it not to start at all because when I turn the car over it makes a strange whistle noise that sounds like a valve stuck open or something not normal
Monday, December 29th, 2008 AT 1:32 PM

17 Replies

Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
When the belt let go you may have had valves "kissing" the tops of the pistons leading to a bent valve or two. A compression test will verify this. Also, are you sure you everything timed out right?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 AT 10:21 PM
Tiny
BMORIN73
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Yes I am near positive I set the timing right, the marks on timing cover and cams are matched along with the crankshaft mark all match up dead on the marks, the motor was making this same noise when it was off time before changing the belt so you are most likely right that the pistons and valves have kissed, I am going to run the compression test tomorrow and post the results to you. Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 AT 11:10 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
Yes, a comp test should tell you everything you need to know. Good luck.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 AT 12:02 AM
Tiny
SPIFFY32283
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I had the same exct issue with my 2003. I was wndering how u made out, my car guy seem to think I need new engine
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
BMORIN73
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hey spiffy32283, it turned out that the valves and pistons had kissed and left multiple bent valves on each head so I replaced both heads and problem was solved so I recommend compression test on each cylinder as you might not need to replace both heads. Good luck with it
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 AT 9:20 PM
Tiny
FRAYDOG313
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hey bmorin73 I think the same thing happened to me! I gotta question for u my guy who works on the car said something about taking the heads off and rebuilding them by sending them to someone who shapes the heads is that likely to work or is replacing them the way to go and u said u replaced both heads the piston heads? Also y didn't my shop offer to replace the heads on them they say either rebuild it or junk the engin or even the whole car! I'm getting pressure test tomorrow please let me know what I need to do to get my car fixed I paid 12gs for this car last year and would hate to eat that cost! I want my motor fixed with out having to replace with a new one! Help! Get back to me asap thanks!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 AT 5:53 AM
Tiny
FRAYDOG313
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Please someone get back to me asap
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 AT 5:54 AM
Tiny
BMORIN73
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hey fraydog313 you can have the cylinder heads rebuilt but it will probably run several hundred dollars per head to rebuild which will work fine and probably the best option but I just bought a pair of heads from a salvage yard for $400 for a set and it worked out just fine. It wasnt the heads that was the original problem it jumped time cause the belt broke. It would be best to pull off both heads and visualy inspect them for bent valves and then replace if necessary
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 AT 8:39 PM
Tiny
FRAYDOG313
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Ok that is what they will do. The com test proved that it is needing rebuilting! They say they can do a valve job for 3000$ or replace Engin for used 90k 5gs or new 7500$ man or they said they could put new cylinder heads on there! They haven't said if they could find used ones yet. I'll ask. But it's gonna cost from 3,000-8,000 if I can rebuild I can live with 3,000 but had car a year and paid 12gs it has 64k it was like new but j cannot junk it no way
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 AT 9:06 PM
Tiny
FRAYDOG313
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Oh and my belt broke too and it jumped time as well by the way just two days ago! I hope it can be rebuilt cause what point of getting used motor and a new one is 7500
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 AT 9:09 PM
Tiny
BMORIN73
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Thats crazy money sounds like the cadillac dealer, this car wasnt mine it actually was a friends and I did the whole job for him at $800.00 hope you can get it done cheaper it does sound way overpriced as it dosnt need a new engine and used cylinder heads will work perfectly fine as my friend uses his car every day and I fixed it 2 years ago
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 AT 1:41 AM
Tiny
FRAYDOG313
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Ok if it can be fixed with out replacing I will go that route this car has been tooken care of so good it doesn't make sense
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 AT 1:43 AM
Tiny
FRAYDOG313
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Also could you maybe be able to find me used heads? That could help a lot I could pay you using paypal and you can then get them ship them and I could give you some extra for your help then I can bring them to the shop and let them do it
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 AT 1:44 AM
Tiny
BMORIN73
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Yeah the belt is supposed to last at least 70,000 miles but most people push it to 100,000 and dont usually have a problem so it is strange that it broke already.I hope it works out for the best for you please keep me posted on how it goes for you. Good luck
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 AT 1:49 AM
Tiny
BMORIN73
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
There is a nationwide parts search called www. Car-part. Com thats how I found the ones I bought. Very easy to use and the part is listed as a cylinder head left and right ( drivers side is left and passengers is right )
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+3
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 AT 1:56 AM
Tiny
FRAYDOG313
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
OK IM ON IT ILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS EITHER WAY I THINK ABOUT 3000 IS THE BEST IMA MAKE MY WAY OUTTA IT LOL ILL BE IN TOUCH
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 AT 10:08 AM
Tiny
THIS IS MIKE
  • MECHANIC
  • 686 POSTS
Thanks for the follow up information, sharing ideas is how we can all save money.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 AT 8:56 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Camshaft Timing Content

VIEW MORE