Advice on GM 2.2 Timing chain.. Can i do it?

[marsplex]

Im thinking about doing a preventative timing chain swap on my 2003 Saturn L200 with the 2.2 motor. She has 74K on it and i just dont want to deal with the unknown any more.

How hard is this job? My experience i would say i above shade tree, in the past year i have done the following to various cars:

Timing belt and water pump on a VW 1.8t
Timing belt and water pump on a VW 2.0
Front struts on a Focus SVT
Front and rear struts on a 2000 Infinity i30, control arms and tie-rods
Front and rear shocks, control arms, basically the entire suspension on an mk4 Golf
Valve body on a 2007 VW Jetta
Water pump on a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0
CV axles on a Passat, Maxama, SAAB 93
In my life have done motor swaps, tranny swaps, all kids of stuff.

So the timing chain on the ecotech should be easy right? I have never done a timing chain before.

Topic

[Bluesnut]

I’ve never done a chain on this particular model but based on your mechanical history it seems to me you’re qualified to do it.

Even as a mechanic, if there’s a job I’ve never done before I always pull up a little info on the net or in a manual before walking blind into something. There’s no shame in that. 🙂

Actually, if the car were mine I would not worry about it at only 74k miles as long as the engine oil has been changed regularly.
Maybe at 174k miles you might consider if it bothers you.

Not changing oil often enough or allowing it to run chronically low is what does most chains in and very seldom does a chain just snap. The early sign of a chain failure is usually a rattling which may not rhythmic and may even come and go. Hope that helps.

[John Hugon]

I agree with Bluesnut, I would not worry about it at only 74k miles and no noise coming from chain area. GM did have problems with the timing chain tensioner guides on that engine, but you start hearing noise at cold start up from the chain area.
In my opinion you wouldn’t have a problem doing timing chain on a Saturn

[wafrederick]

There are two chains actually,one for the balance shafts too that should be changed also.The 2.2 ecotec is an interference engine.You do have to drain the oil,take the oil filter out first so the old oil drains down into the crank case.Biggest thing is make sure the timing marks are right during assembly.Only gaskets you have to buy is a timing cover and valve cover gasket.

[Bluesnut]

I corrected my prior post. I meant to say 174k miles if it worries you, not 74k.

To be honest, I’ve always kept the oil changed in all my cars regularly and have never had to replace a timing chain even on 250-300k miles cars and not even on one which had a shade over 400k miles on it with the original chain still good.

[Charles]

I agree with Bluesnut. I purchased a chain kit for a 2.7L Dodge and some of the old parts were better than the after market parts. Only changed the timing chain account replacing the oil pump and water pump. I also have a 1.9L Saturn with 250K miles and the timing chain is fine. Just needs valve guide seals.

[Author]

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