96 2.2 Timing... car quit

Hi,

I have a 96 corsica with a 2.2L. The other day the car quit in the middle of the road....

The starter turns and turns but the engine shows no sign of wanting to start.

We figured it was the timing chain. One of the tensioners broke and got caught up between the chain and cam sprocket.

We put a new chain on it and aligned the cam sprocket using the drilled hole in it as the mark (the only mark on it)

The car still doesn't want to start. It seems the tensioner had broken a little while back because of the "rattle" sound that was coming from it.

However, why doesn't the car work now? The fuel pump primes up and we get a spark at every plug.. even put new spark plugs in it.


Still nothing... it's not even "trying"..... just the starter spinning the engine.

Tried spraying starting fluid in it too but no good.

Suggestions will be appreciated!

Thanks,
Dennis

The chain broke and you replaced it right? I bet youve got a couple bent valves. No compression = no start.

No,.. the chain didn't break but It might of slipped as the tensioner got between the chain and cam sprocket. I will run a compression test tomorrow and see what happens. I doubt my valves are bent but I guess it is possible.


more suggestions will be helpful.. it quit all of a sudden.

I'm with kooter. Bent Valves. Even if the chain slipped it would cause this to happen. Good luck.

No,.. the chain didn't break but It might of slipped as the tensioner got between the chain and cam sprocket. How exactly does that happen? If the tensioner broke off that chain definatley slipped more than a few teeth.

the 2.2 is a zero tolerance engine. If the timing gets thrown off even a few degrees, Mr. Piston meets Mr. Valve in a very bad way. I agree with the other posts that you have some bent valves.

Hi,


Yes it was the valves. Once I did a compression test, it proved it. I took the heads out and not only were a few valves bent, but every single one was bent!


The tensioner got in between the chain and cam sprocket and caused it to slip.. therefore hitting and bending every valve.


The car is now up and running! Just posting this for future reference if anyone happens to have the same problems. The compression test showed ZERO for every cylinder!


Thanks
Dennis


Also, the cam sprocket does not have a timing mark as in the crankshaft one... the mark is actually a little drilled hole (drilled all the way through). That is your timing mark for the cam.

I've had the same problem! One little piece of plastic >$1500 bucks damage.Someone should be lible for this! I bought A chevrolet for quality.Having a plastic part that can cause this much damage is not what I would consider quality.

I am getting chattering and skip in the engine on my 1995 corsica,and it is most likely timing chain and probably that tensioner.I never done something like timing chain and have bought Chiltons manual.Seems very simple by looking at everything.I just wonder if that tensioner could be adjusted without taking timing chain out or else.Also how do you remove crankshaft balancer midlle screw and what other three smaller screws are for?TRhanks/

i own a 2.2 from last year. and i noticed that every hot weather we get the car istall for no reason..everything seems ok,batter,oil is not leaking,got my fuel pump change and it still kicks on me, i dont get why? anybody out there who can help me please..pm me