Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 20:13:00 +0100 From: mailnopsamenacht.com (johann) Subject: Re: Noisy 16v - It's the timing chain!! - HELP
Dear Malcolm, A couple of places are Eurocarparts 0541 506 506 (mail order) and German and Swedish 0181 917 3883 - chains £20 + vat, tensioner £25 +vat (approx). Beware ! your guides are probably worn as well and this is an engine out job or if you are cunning a head off job. Changing the chain means spliting the old one joining it with the new one and winding it through while keeping the crank and valve timing in sync -tricky. Seperating the chain is quite easy with cheap tool but joining the ends succesfully needs a high quality specialist tool - in the end its probably better to get a garage to do it - there must be some Saab specialists in your area who are not main dealers. I had rattle and tapping on my T16 (185 000 miles) - I took the lid off and replaced 2 lifters, the chain and guides were in good condition but the tensioner was shot (old style) so I replaced this with the later ratchet type. The result was the elimination of all the noises - sounds like new. Timing chain rattle is like a clatter - noticable at any speed but at idle you should clearly hear it at the back of the engine, if you have an old type tensioner (Large flat bolt) you will hear it for a few second on start up as the tension is maintained by oil pressure and also at idle on a hot engine if the oil thins and can't maintain the pressure. On the later tensioner (large bolt with centre bolt) if you remove the centre tensioner you can measure the amount of exstension of the ratchet and thus the wear in the guides and chain - I think anything over 11mm is bad news. The best place to start is to get the lid off and check the guides and tensioner - you can give the chain a rough check by holding it at the apex as it goes round the sprocket - if you can pull it away from the sprocket teeth even the slightest amount then its worn. Don't delay doing anything about this - if the chain snaps you are looking at a complete engine rebuild at least with the addition of a new turbo if valve bits try to get out of the exhaust manifold. Hope this helps. Johann
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