Starting

DARRELL GREENE

MEMBER
2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM
2.2L
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
14,000 MILES

Put timing chain and sprockets had everything lined up put back together tried to start it it hit one time and sounds like it has jump time. Check the compression and one and four cylinders has low compression. What could be wrong?

Wednesday, August 30th, 2017 AT 4:52 PM

9 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,019 POSTS

Either the chain moved or it was not lined up correctly. What was the original reason for the timing chain replacement? Noise, mileage or did the original fail?

Low compression could be that the valves are out of time so they are open during the compression stroke or it could be that the chain was off enough that the pistons hit the valves and bent them enough that they don't seal now. If the other chain failed this is a very likely result.

I would pull the cam cover off and check the valve clearance and do a leak down test. If it has bent valves it should be easy to notice. Then it becomes decision time.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, August 31st, 2017 AT 12:48 AM

DARRELL GREENE

MEMBER
5 POSTS

It was making a pecking sound I took the valve cover off and the top timing chain guide was cut off. Got one and put it on and then would not start. So I checked the timing and it had slipped too or three teeth. Got timing set took apart and the timing chain tension-er had came apart, but my wife ran it low on oil. Put the new timing set on evening the was old not hurt when I matched them. I do not know what the problem is now.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, August 31st, 2017 AT 7:50 AM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,019 POSTS

The valve timing on these are very close and two to three teeth the wrong way can easily bend some valves especially if a guide had failed with the tension-er. From your description I would bet you need to pull the head and replace some valves. But I would look it over first by pulling to cover and checking the clearances. If you find that the normal valve clearances are say.003 and you find valves with something like.030 instead it is a safe bet they are bent and not sealing.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, August 31st, 2017 AT 11:53 AM

DARRELL GREENE

MEMBER
5 POSTS

I know that I have to have a gauge to check the valve clearance, but I have not ever done that my self. What do I have to do to check them?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, August 31st, 2017 AT 4:45 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,019 POSTS

Pull the rocker cover. Then rotate the engine so the valve you are checking should be fully closed. Then use the gauge to measure the clearance.

In this case you probably will not need the gauge, if the valves are bent enough they leak there will be enough clearance for the rocker to move a lot.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, August 31st, 2017 AT 8:27 PM

DARRELL GREENE

MEMBER
5 POSTS

I was checking the values with my fingers and all of them had some play but when I got to the number four cylinder the intake rockers came out with my fingers any suggestions keep on going and just rebuild the engine or take a chance and get another one and it is a good one what would you do

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Friday, September 1st, 2017 AT 2:55 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,019 POSTS

I would pull the head and see what the bottom end looks like. If the bottom end looks OK, rebuild it. Check out the head, if it didn't hurt the guide bosses, go through it and drop it back on.
Or go pull one at a you pull it yard. Look for a car that was wrecked in the doors or tail. That way you know it was probably running just before it became scrap.

In my case it would depend on the rest of the car. They rot fast in my part of NY. If the body was really good I'd probably just find a low mileage engine and drop it in.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Friday, September 1st, 2017 AT 4:21 PM

DARRELL GREENE