timing chain

I am about to do a timing chain on my 92 saturn sl sohc. I have seen my
brother and farther do them before and i have helped.I live way to far
away from thwm now to go and get their help. (plus job won't give the time
off or could afford to take off) I am pretty sure I can do it but I am a
little nervous about it. Its the only car I have and can afford I can't
aford a new car or to have someone do it. I am very mechanically inclinde
I do all kinds of work on my car and others but I have never do a timing
chain on my own. I am looking for a web site with step by step
instructions and pictures to go with the instructions, If anyone could
help me I would greatly appricate it.

 

Buy BOTH the Chilton's and Haynes manuals for your car, it will be the best
$20 you can spend and will save you lots of time and grief. They are not
always correct but if you have both you will be able to discover when one
has a better way of doing a job.

Good luck, YMMV

 

Might ask why it needs changed considering its not a belt. Is it noisy?
Does it have 250k miles on it? Has the oil not been changed every 3k?

 

WHile you might get 250K out of one, I would not want to try it.
Chains do wear out and how long they last also depends on how you
drive. If you maintain it well and drive conservatively you might get
close to 200K but if you drive like the devils chasing you all the
time it is closer to 100K or less. Given that went it breaks you are
stranded, it is not wise to play it to the last mile. You can
generally hear them slapping around on bit at time in a Saturn when
they are past their service life.

 

Well I heard the noise on the side so I watched the belts and gave it gas I
had already replaced the belt tensioner and the belt they where bad but the
noise is the chain and the guide rails are worn out. once you give it gas
you can hear it making a snarling noise inside it has done this for a bit
but is starting to get worse. The car does have 189k on it. Its in good
condition besides for that. I have grown attached to it and want to have
it for a while. I work for an oil change place so it gets regularl
maintaince. I chage the oil every 3k and I use synthic oil. i am absoultly
sure its the chain. just from the sound. just worried I'll blow it up.
thanks for all your help. hopefully I come out ok from this lol.

 

Yep your chain is past due, do not delay much longer and if you can
park it until you can fix it because when they get that loose, they
get worse quickly.

 

Before you tear the chain apart I suggest you do a leakdown and compression
test to determine how well your valves are sealing. Does this engine burn
oil? or more important does it smoke a little at startup? If you need to
tear into the chain it may be a good time to rebuild the cylinder head. A
valve job is not that expensive on a four cylinder / 8 valve.

Good luck, YMMV

 

Wasted effort if the engine is running well otherwise.

 

There are reasons for Saturn timing chains wearing early (early being
anything under 200k). As discussed over the years in here oil changes
every 3k are a must but sometimes it isnt enough for earlier designs.
Some timing chain problems for S-series Saturns are as follows

1
The tensioner isn't ratcheting out. Oil varnish/crud from lack of oil
changes can cause these to stick. They ratchet out with oil pressure.
Higher revs can only help keep these incrementing out as increased oil
pressure will increase pressure on them.

2
The oil passage for the chain oiler on earlier s-series cars was small
and was prone to blockage often from the lack of oil changes.

3
Poor lubrication (little or no oil flow for the chain) for pre 97
Saturns at idle. You may want to see TSB 97-T-15A and get GM's new
timing chain kit part # 21008552 (21008553 for twincam owners) It
contains about 9 parts. I say this was the wear factor in your case.
Otherwise 3k Synthic oil changes should of never let that chain get like
that with 12k per year mileage.

And as Private said you will need a book though probably a better
alternative to Chilton is alldatadiy.com Only $24 bucks for the first
car and unlike a book it stays upto date and will give you current
TSB's. If its like the actual shop software I've used it should provide
you with all the information you need.