AJ16 timing chain replacement.
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Joined: Jul 2021
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From: Auckland, New Zealand
AJ16 timing chain replacement.
Hi All,
I've got my engine stripped and ready to replace the timing chain tensioners and dampers as I had a bit of a resonant rattle at 1200-1800 RPM that I deduced was the timing chains. Now I've got the timing cover off, replacing these is very straightforward.
However, it looks like my primary (lower) tensioner had seized as this is what I found when I got the timing cover off:
How the car was still running right with a chain that loose I don't know!
As a precaution I now want to change the two timing chains as well, which I have, but reading the manual this seems like a pretty involved job calling for specialist tooling to break the oil pump chain and also the need to rotate the engine with the chains off to get to it which sounds suspect, perhaps the procedure assumes that the cylinder heads are removed?
Anybody here done this operation? It really shouldn't be too hard to replace the chains. I have a cam locking-timing tool and can tdc the #1 cylinder as I assume this is the correct position to do this all in. It just seems that needing to remove the oil pump chain before removing the timing chains is a giant fly in the ointment. I'm also assuming to remove the secondary (upper) chain requires the removal of the cam sprockets to get the chain out of the engine?
Can find lots of resources here on replacing the tensioners but very little on replacing the chains themselves.
Any help gratefully received.
I've got my engine stripped and ready to replace the timing chain tensioners and dampers as I had a bit of a resonant rattle at 1200-1800 RPM that I deduced was the timing chains. Now I've got the timing cover off, replacing these is very straightforward.
However, it looks like my primary (lower) tensioner had seized as this is what I found when I got the timing cover off:
How the car was still running right with a chain that loose I don't know!
As a precaution I now want to change the two timing chains as well, which I have, but reading the manual this seems like a pretty involved job calling for specialist tooling to break the oil pump chain and also the need to rotate the engine with the chains off to get to it which sounds suspect, perhaps the procedure assumes that the cylinder heads are removed?
Anybody here done this operation? It really shouldn't be too hard to replace the chains. I have a cam locking-timing tool and can tdc the #1 cylinder as I assume this is the correct position to do this all in. It just seems that needing to remove the oil pump chain before removing the timing chains is a giant fly in the ointment. I'm also assuming to remove the secondary (upper) chain requires the removal of the cam sprockets to get the chain out of the engine?
Can find lots of resources here on replacing the tensioners but very little on replacing the chains themselves.
Any help gratefully received.
Last edited by Esprit; Jan 5, 2023 at 06:25 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 3,695
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Hi All,
I've got my engine stripped and ready to replace the timing chain tensioners and dampers as I had a bit of a resonant rattle at 1200-1800 RPM that I deduced was the timing chains. Now I've got the timing cover off, replacing these is very straightforward.
However, it looks like my primary (lower) tensioner had seized as this is what I found when I got the timing cover off:
YouTube video
How the car was still running right with a chain that loose I don't know!
As a precaution I now want to change the two timing chains as well, which I have, but reading the manual this seems like a pretty involved job calling for specialist tooling to break the oil pump chain and also the need to rotate the engine with the chains off to get to it which sounds suspect, perhaps the procedure assumes that the cylinder heads are removed?
Anybody here done this operation? It really shouldn't be too hard to replace the chains. I have a cam locking-timing tool and can tdc the #1 cylinder as I assume this is the correct position to do this all in. It just seems that needing to remove the oil pump chain before removing the timing chains is a giant fly in the ointment. I'm also assuming to remove the secondary (upper) chain requires the removal of the cam sprockets to get the chain out of the engine?
Can find lots of resources here on replacing the tensioners but very little on replacing the chains themselves.
Any help gratefully received.
I've got my engine stripped and ready to replace the timing chain tensioners and dampers as I had a bit of a resonant rattle at 1200-1800 RPM that I deduced was the timing chains. Now I've got the timing cover off, replacing these is very straightforward.
However, it looks like my primary (lower) tensioner had seized as this is what I found when I got the timing cover off:
YouTube video
How the car was still running right with a chain that loose I don't know!
As a precaution I now want to change the two timing chains as well, which I have, but reading the manual this seems like a pretty involved job calling for specialist tooling to break the oil pump chain and also the need to rotate the engine with the chains off to get to it which sounds suspect, perhaps the procedure assumes that the cylinder heads are removed?
Anybody here done this operation? It really shouldn't be too hard to replace the chains. I have a cam locking-timing tool and can tdc the #1 cylinder as I assume this is the correct position to do this all in. It just seems that needing to remove the oil pump chain before removing the timing chains is a giant fly in the ointment. I'm also assuming to remove the secondary (upper) chain requires the removal of the cam sprockets to get the chain out of the engine?
Can find lots of resources here on replacing the tensioners but very little on replacing the chains themselves.
Any help gratefully received.
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Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 4,641
Likes: 1,314
From: Kansas City
See TSB Below
03.1-09 (jagrepair.com)
The upgraded tensioner will have the large arrow cast into the face
See PDF below
03.1-09 (jagrepair.com)
The upgraded tensioner will have the large arrow cast into the face
See PDF below
Last edited by Parker 7; Jan 5, 2023 at 09:34 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 539
From: Scotland
If you have the cam locking tool, you have all you need to do the top chains. Well worth doing given the strip down you have already performed.
I would be inclined to leave the oil pump chain well alone, as it is very well lubricated, and is unlikely to need replacing.
Be careful sliding the timing cover back in to make sure you don’t catch the edge of the head gasket. Ask me how I know…….!
I would be inclined to leave the oil pump chain well alone, as it is very well lubricated, and is unlikely to need replacing.
Be careful sliding the timing cover back in to make sure you don’t catch the edge of the head gasket. Ask me how I know…….!
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Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 56
Likes: 17
From: Auckland, New Zealand
If you have the cam locking tool, you have all you need to do the top chains. Well worth doing given the strip down you have already performed.
I would be inclined to leave the oil pump chain well alone, as it is very well lubricated, and is unlikely to need replacing.
Be careful sliding the timing cover back in to make sure you don’t catch the edge of the head gasket. Ask me how I know…….!
I would be inclined to leave the oil pump chain well alone, as it is very well lubricated, and is unlikely to need replacing.
Be careful sliding the timing cover back in to make sure you don’t catch the edge of the head gasket. Ask me how I know…….!
The lower chain can't come off without taking off the oil pump chain though can it?
And yesAnI've already identified the head gasket as the risky part of the reassembly. I plan to get this edge in first and be really gentle tapping the cover back into place.
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