Another one?

[DFH67]

My 2012 Equinox has the 2.4L engine. To shorten the story I removed the cam cover earlier this afternoon after making a discovery yesterday afternoon of two inch long holes in the top of of the cam cover. When I removed it and looked on the inside I could see where the timing chain had been rubbing on the inside and eventually wore through the aluminum or al-u-min-e-um if you're from the Mother Country. There is maybe a 1/2 inch of platy in the timing chain and does not feel tight enough. The owner I made the mistake of buying this car from almost two years ago told me the whole timing set had been replaced, although he didn't have any paper work because "a friend did it". The car has 175,000 miles on it. Does all the aforementioned at the beginning make it a necessity to replace the timing set, again (even if it had been done before as claimed)?

 

[icu1954]

sorry to say,but seems like maybe the chain needs to be replaced again along with the tensioner,better still get the complete timing kit for that vehical.I have a 2016 equinox and have done timing chain,replaced engine head and various other electrical parts.I always believed that it's the tensioner that causes all the problems.When it goes bad and it will,chain developes slack,jumps time,and all hell breaks loose.With all i have done to this vehical,it seems to be a solid car now.OH and change that oil every 3 thousand miles,its a must if you want to keep this vehical.Trust me i know.Good Luck

 

[DFH67]

sorry to say,but seems like maybe the chain needs to be replaced again along with the tensioner,better still get the complete timing kit for that vehical.I have a 2016 equinox and have done timing chain,replaced engine head and various other electrical parts.I always believed that it's the tensioner that causes all the problems.When it goes bad and it will,chain developes slack,jumps time,and all hell breaks loose.With all i have done to this vehical,it seems to be a solid car now.OH and change that oil every 3 thousand miles,its a must if you want to keep this vehical.Trust me i know.Good Luck

 

[DFH67]

sorry to say,but seems like maybe the chain needs to be replaced again along with the tensioner,better still get the complete timing kit for that vehical.I have a 2016 equinox and have done timing chain,replaced engine head and various other electrical parts.I always believed that it's the tensioner that causes all the problems.When it goes bad and it will,chain developes slack,jumps time,and all hell breaks loose.With all i have done to this vehical,it seems to be a solid car now.OH and change that oil every 3 thousand miles,its a must if you want to keep this vehical.Trust me i know.Good Luck

Much obliged for the info. i have removed the cam cover, the air filter box, air intake box on the top of the engine along with the passenger front steer tire. I'll be getting further into this project during the next week.

 

[icu1954]

good luck

 

[DFH67]

Alriighty then y’all 2nd Gen Equinox owners in my previous post (Another one?) I made mention of the timing chain on the 2.4L in my 2012 model seemed to have about a 1/2 inch of excessive play which indicated a change of of the timing chain. I believe to have been wrong. I measured at most an 1/8 inch of travel. Is that still too much? It doesn’t seem like it. Now I’m wondering what would have caused the chain over the almost two years I’ve had the car to rub a 1-2 inch long hole through aluminum cam cover. See the two enclosed photos.

 

[DFH67]

Also what is this black brace in the middle of the top of the timing chain? I saw this in a film of a similar Equinox I was watching on replacing the timing chain on my car. My Equinox doesn’t have one and I cannot find it listed in any timing chain kit. Just to avoid anyone getting frightened the mechanic working on the car in the film was only using the screwdriver to ensure the number one piston was at TDC by watching the screwdriver elevate while rotating the engine.

 

[DFH67]

Never mind I believe it is the time chain guide, I hope. I found photos of it on Rock Auto. I reckon the absence of that guide allowed the chain to grind through the cam cover over time. Whoever did the job of replacing the timing chain the first time neglected to reinstall the guide. I’m going to look the best I can to see if there is any damage on the chain.

 

[cpscoachtech]

They could have I guess. Was it actually missing? They are notorious for breaking and falling apart and down into the bottom. So, you could just replace the guides and the tensioner and roll on. Or since you are close, you could go ahead and replace the chains. If it breaks or jumps time when driving you don't get a redo. It breaks stuff.

 

[DFH67]

They could have I guess. Was it actually missing? They are notorious for breaking and falling apart and down into the bottom. So, you could just replace the guides and the tensioner and roll on. Or since you are close, you could go ahead and replace the chains. If it breaks or jumps time when driving you don't get a redo. It breaks stuff.

Yeah, the timing chain guide on my car is missing, I doubt it may have broken off or part of it would still be fastened to where it mounts. I went to my local Pull-a-Part yard and found another cam cover and timing chain guide off another 2nd gen Equinox. Some of the cars I looked at had a broken timing chain guide as the unbroken part was still attached to where it mounts. I was wrong about the excessive slack on the timing chain in my car, it ain’t near as bad as I first thought. I’m reckoning to try and get by with just installing the timing chain guide and the cam cover with a new gasket and go from there.