Timing chain question

[jay929]

2010 Mazda 3 with 2.0 engine, 88000 miles. As of recently the timing chain chatters on cold start ups. I mentioned it to my friend mechanic and he said probably time to replace it
I no they stretch but i thought timing chains pretty much last lifetime in the car Depending on the car

 

[StevieC]

Are you sure it's timing chain rattle and not something else like the oil draining back down on shut-down?

 

[gregk24]

That does sound odd for a timing chain to fail that early unless it is a design flaw, or the engine has been ran low on oil / and or not changed at the proper intervals.

 

[Danh]

My 2008 MX-5 had the same issue but it turned out to be simply a failure of the ratchet mechanism that keeps tension on the timing chain after shut down. This is still not a simple repair but may not be as involved as a timing chain replacement.

 

[Trav]

This is not 1970 when the chains were short and fat with no tensioners or slippers. This one uses multiple chains and tensioners and a slipper, its usually a tensioner that gets weak or a worn slipper that starts a chain of events. Always replace the sprockets or it will have a much shorter lifespan.
Cloyes has a complete set for this for about $200, part # CLOYES 90727S (check it for accuracy)

 

[supton]

Supposed to last the life of the car but... More than a few haven't. But I didn't think Mazda had a history of problems. Might just be the luck of the draw?

Maybe it's just the tensioner. But if it's gotten loose then I wonder if it all needs to be replaced anyhow.

 

[Trav]

I would change everything, the parts cost little compared to the amount of labor involved.

 

[StevieC]

What's scary then is that on Mazda's with the Sky Active X engine they have put the timing chain on the transmission side so it would involve detaching the transmission and possibly having to remove the engine to replace if it encountered problems. Hope that they went with a different system in that one or that would be a really expensive repair.

Good luck to the OP if it's the chain.

 

[jay929]

I don't believe it's an interference engine. How much time do I have before it gets much worse?

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted by StevieC
What's scary then is that on Mazda's with the Sky Active X engine they have put the timing chain on the transmission side so it would involve detaching the transmission and possibly having to remove the engine to replace if it encountered problems. Hope that they went with a different system in that one or that would be a really expensive repair.

Good luck to the OP if it's the chain.




First time I've heard this. Any references?

 

[WobblyElvis]

It only does this on start up? Sounds like a failing tensioner that is activated by oil pressure. I would first look into how the tensioner works.

 

[andyd]

Heh heh. How high is up? Is this an all of a sudden noise? Cheapest thing to test by replacement is the oil filter.

 

[jay929]

This is the first time I put a wicks oil filter on it. Yes only hear it on cold startups

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by PimTac
Originally Posted by StevieC
What's scary then is that on Mazda's with the Sky Active X engine they have put the timing chain on the transmission side so it would involve detaching the transmission and possibly having to remove the engine to replace if it encountered problems. Hope that they went with a different system in that one or that would be a really expensive repair.

Good luck to the OP if it's the chain.




First time I've heard this. Any references?



In this video when he talks about different parts of the engine he references to the timing chain being on the transmission side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD1mPPkuRIE (7:12)

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted by StevieC
Originally Posted by PimTac
Originally Posted by StevieC
What's scary then is that on Mazda's with the Sky Active X engine they have put the timing chain on the transmission side so it would involve detaching the transmission and possibly having to remove the engine to replace if it encountered problems. Hope that they went with a different system in that one or that would be a really expensive repair.

Good luck to the OP if it's the chain.




First time I've heard this. Any references?



In this video when he talks about different parts of the engine he references to the timing chain being on the transmission side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD1mPPkuRIE



Okay, that's the SkyActiv X engine, not the SkyActiv G.

Probably not a big issue if they have to remove the engine anyway. The videos I've seen always have the engine out for TC replacement.

 

[Trav]

You said you had it to a mechanic but it sounds like you don't trust him. Get a second opinion.

 

[Pelican]

Originally Posted by jay929
2010 Mazda 3 with 2.0 engine, 88000 miles. As of recently the timing chain chatters on cold start ups. I mentioned it to my friend mechanic and he said probably time to replace it
I no they stretch but i thought timing chains pretty much last lifetime in the car Depending on the car


Timing chain life depends on the quality of the oil used and the OCIs, you stretch the limits and you shorten the life of the chain.

Now this may not be your case.

 

[PimTac]

In my opinion, Trav is spot on in his earlier statement. Today's timing chains look like heavy duty bicycle chains and not the wide heavy chains of the past.

 

[pezzy669]

VVT rattle? Every 15-20 starts on my '10 2.5 MZR I would get a good dry VVT rattle. Nothing near the Toyota, Honda and Nissan VVT rattle where they sound like they are chewing themselves apart for a good half second.

 

[VinceVaughnce]

Originally Posted by gregk24
That does sound odd for a timing chain to fail that early unless it is a design flaw, or the engine has been ran low on oil / and or not changed at the proper intervals.

FoMoCo parts. Part of the MZR/Duratec deal was that Mazda design the engine and Ford supply all the OEM parts for the entire term. FoMoCo parts are not known for high quality- timing chains, hydraulic phasers, dumb dipsticks, dumb non-keyed harmonic dampers.. all kinds of achilles heel parts from 2002-2013