Hi everyone

My gf's car started having a rough idle and at start up a pretty crazy slapping sound coming from the valve cover. After some research It was determined that its most likely a timing chain issue because of the chain tensioner.

I pulled the valve cover off and found the chain pretty loose, no problem. But then I notice the the red chain link is way off target .

As you can see in the pics the green link is off by 1, and the red is off by 2.

I'm hoping this this is just a matter of removing the tensioner, moving the exhaust cam back to the 10o'clock poistion and the green one to the 2o'clock position then installing a new tensioner.

 

I can't say I see what you're seeing. If this were the original chain, the exhaust camshaft sprocket would get the silver link and the intake, copper link. The crankshaft sprocket would then get the other silver link. If the chain actually jumped a tooth, you'd get horrible compression numbers.

 

I'm getting 0 compression???

 

Jeez, chances are you've got work cut out for you, it being an interference engine and all. What I don't understand is that the timing chain usually makes plenty of racket before it jumps teeth. It otherwise looks clean, though, and thus probably worth fixing.

 

Yeah the thing is the car runs perfectly fine without any strange noises. I'm getting 0 compression on all 4 cyls, I hooked up my air compressor to the #1 at TDC, and could hear feel air coming out of the other spark plug holes.

 

I don't know what kind of resources you have but the timing chain service on the L61 is pretty well described Revised Timing Chain and Service Procedures For GM 2.2L L61 Ecotec: Engine Builder. I guess you can get the intake and exhaust sprockets lined up correctly and then check the compression to see if you need to do a head job as well.

 

Found the problem, the intake valves are stuck open.

 

Ouch, that's tough. I'm getting a headache just thinking about it.