Great tips throughout this series on the Ecotec engine. Thanks for the detailed instructions and tips, and for explaining that the colored links on the timing chain are only for the initial setup of the valve timing, and that when we do this, we shouldn't expect those colored links to come back to their starting points when we turn the crank 2 times manually to check out the valve/piston clearances and to observe the proper opening of the valves. Thanks for these videos.

I want to thank you for making these videos. After having watched them i have confidence now that i can do this myself with your help youve provided. God bless you my brother.

I see, I see, I see a timing chain replacement in my future! LOL! At 183,000 miles it's time to do it again. Thanks for taking the time to make a video to help those that can help themselves. God Bless!

Watching your videos have helped me decide. I think it will be easier to pull the engine and do all the work rather than fight everything for days. I appreciate your hard work and documenting the process for people like me.

Nice video, especially at the end showing cam position in the different stages of the engine cycle!

Thanks for the video I worked out great on my 04 cavalier 2.2 Eco tec after it ran great before I changed it and it never ran after that once i shut it off one half of the day and i found out the black tentioner cracked on me and the top small bolt holes was stripped so i had to replace the whole head I order to have my new tensioner installed on a replacement head while I was there I replaced the head gasket too as well and all gasket that came with the head gasket kit set

you helped me tremendously on your Caravan water pump video.. now you got the video i need for my 04 cavalier. You rock!!

I hope you don't have regrets not changing the other chain while you were in there. Good work, thanks for posting.

I particularly like the walk through on the complete 4 cycle process. Even a newbie would grasp this. Thanks.

top video - i changed both chains on my z22se thanks alot :-D

thank you so much for posting this!!

Hello, thanks for all the hard work! Do you know the measurements on your device that you measure piston height? Thanks! Best steve

You are great. I could not find another video so complete and step by step. for some reason my time chain when everything is ready and I move the crankshaft, as soon as the valve closes the chain is loosened for a second between the gears and then in the crankshaft gear. I have armed and disarmed and I don't find the problem

How does the mark on the exhaust cam sprocket help make it easier to install? Is it because you're able to line the sprocket up as close as possible when installing and otherwise the chain won't allow it to go if not aligned properly?

do i have to be drunk or high while trying to activate the tensioner with the rubber-tipped rod post install?

How do you get the cams to line up where the int mark is where it is suppose to be. I had to remove the head because the bolt holding the the black timing guide stripped out. When i started putting it back together i have the crank top dead center but the cam sprockets i cannot get lined up

My replacement job the Cloyes kit tensioner was activated right out of the box, had to dis assemble and reset. Cloyes should send these with a clamp or tie wrap.

I'm work on a manual one and I need help fixing it.

Very informative, thanks for the video. Just a small tip, using a swivel adapter will throw off your torque specs. Other than that seriously awesome video!

Love the video thanks for it. One quick question do you need too install the tensioner deactivated or can you install it activated?

This might be a dumb question I'm new too this Channel but the same thing happened to my car as well with my 2005 chevy and I was wondering if I can just replace the tensioner or do I have to replace entire timing chain with a kit and new tensioner I took off the valve cover and no valves are bent just my chain is loose ? Thank you

Thanks for sharing!

When you put the car back together got a question about installing the timing cover did you cut the part of the gasket to get around the motor mount bolt or did take the motor mount loose to extend the bolt through the opening in the gasket. I am ready to start the installation tomorrow ...I did cut the gasket to remove it so may do that to install it.

Great instructional video. I am doing this repair on my 2007 Saturn Vue. Very tight conditions with the engine in the vehicle. Had what sounded like timing chain rattle on startup. Thought that the entire chain had stretched. After removing the engine front cover, found the rigid chain guide broken at the lower bolt mount. Question? Should I replace the counterbalance chain kit while I have the timing chain removed?

ok have the same car with 300 000 km on it. have a vibration noise that starts over 50 km, turns out the transmission is going on this thing according to the shop. after seeing this video wondering whats next with this car ! as this is a known issue with this car should i do this mod your showed here and the transmission at the same time or retire the car when its done.

GREAT Video - subscribed they did not make this easy for access on these engines!

Great video , i had a quick question, i recently removed the cylinder head off my 2007 saturn ion and i didn't set it to top dead center correctly before removing , Do i just turn my engine to top dead center by looking at the pulley marks before installing heads again???

I just changed the tensioner on mine. Selling the car for next to nothing but wanted to get rid of the noise. One thing led to another and I jumped a tooth when assembling. Unfortunately the chain in there now has only two colored links. I gather one if for the crank and the other for the intake. Nothing for exhaust. I counted 16 chain links from intake to exhaust as per your video and other pics online between the intake and exhaust marks on the cam gears and assembled it that way and I figure that is as good as looking for colored links. My only issue is when turning the engine over by hand, the chain slaps the upper guide when the exhaust just comes off the lobe is that normal? Essentially the exhaust runs ahead of the intake when coming off the lobes.

Thank you very much!!

I have an 2004 Saturn ion level 2 2.2 ecotec changed timing chain everything it backfires is that because we didn't do the it correctly just put the cams in time nothing else but it cranks but backfires tries to start but backfires.

How many inches from the bottom off the tdc stick to the first mark on the stick?

Do you have a part number for the new oiler part?

Did you worry about messing with the balance shaft chain? Getting ready to do the timing chain set, nice video👍👍

So, after two complete crank shaft revolution will all the timing chain and balance shaft timing marks all align?

Could you do a full tool listing for the whole process, i want to do this but with the least amount of $ spent if I can buy the specific tools rather than a bulk set.

I have a 2004 Saturn Ion 2.2 ecotec how many miles do they recommend replacing the timing chain? I cant find a service interval?

So the marks will not line up again?

Were you happy with the cloyes kit? Better than stock?

Is there a way to adjust the timing without marks? I took the chain out and my stupidity allowed me to turn the the sprocket s individually, which turned the cams. Now I have no idea where I am at. Call me an idiot because I am. 2015 Chev malibu 2.5

I need you to fix my timing on my cavalier .

I was looking at using cloyes. Is it still holding up good?

Do you need to purchase a new crank shaft bolt?

I bought both kits off of Amazon and both are made in China. I was wondering if yours were too. I thought they were made in Arkansas, that's why I bought Cloyes. Amazon states country of origin France on one listing and USA on the other. Boxes look legit but don't want clones. I don't know to install or send back. Any thoughts? Thanks I tried to read the sticker on your box, but to blurry to read

amigo si lo puede traducir al español se lo agradeceria soy de venezuela

let them know that both sprockets are marked intake & exhaust

I am interesting your video from Venezuela if you could translate it to Spanish would be good thanks.

if you were going to check all the valve train why wouldnt you check valve lash also with feeler gauges? good video though

10:09 Activate the tensioner

very good your video will be possible to translate into Spanish thanks.

Just did a whgle timing chain, balancing chain, rocker arms and lifters kits, and the ecotec is easy and also a fucking bitch sometimes

These engines are junk. G M should have used the 3.1 -3.4 platform for these cars. All these engines with the cam solonoids are just money pits

i been doing this longer than you been alive a real mechanc gets his hands dirty, no offense buddy. there might be hope for you yet but you got a way to go to call yourself a mechanic.... lets see you put one together with no timng marks