Timing chain slack

[callbay]

I have a pretty loud engine noise in a 2005 Dodge Caravan with a 3.8 V/6 with about 138,000 mikes on it. I took the oil pan off and I noticed the timing chain is very loose. It measures about 3/4 in. of slack in the chain.

Would this cause the engine noise? Do I need to replace the chain and the sprockets or could I just drive it until the chain breaks?

 

[Rand]

depends on the tensioner system.

if it uses something like subaru's it uses oil pressure to get the right amount of tension.

 

[Dakota1820]

i wouldn't think that is right. what does the noise sound like.

 

[Donald]

I think it warrants further investigation. You also might want to find out if the engine will damage itself if the chain fails. Of course being stranded at 2:00 AM is not fun either even if the engine does not get damaged with a chain failure.

 

[callbay]

I read that this engine does not have a chain tensioner. The chain justs gets slack as it get high milage. How much is too much though?

 

[default]

You need a new chain and gears, the whole job will be under $100 parts.

 

[NHGUY]

Taking the front engine cover off will be a major pain.You need a special dedicated puller to remove that balancer,and everything needs to come off.....Belt,tensioner,idler,power steering pump,alternator,AC compressor,the oil pump is housed in the timing cover....lower rad hose attaches to the cover....its a job of immense proportions.Plus there is little room spare between it and the frame rail.

 

[mechtech2]

Without a tensioner, that is pretty loose.

Don't be too surprised if the new parts are loose, too. Better, but uncomfortably loose.

 

[yonyon]

I agree with the last few comments and would suggest that when you're ready to put that new chain on you should be prepared to put two full days into it. If everything goes all nice and smooth-like that's great, and I hope that's how it goes. Usually it works out that way. That said, with this sort of repair there's always a possibility of complications.

If you schedule for everything to go wrong and it doesn't you have extra time to enjoy at the end, but if you plan for everything to go right and it doesn't that can be a problem.

 

[callbay]

I'm retired and I have a lift in my garage so I will just take my time. I just changed a water pump on a 98 Ford Ranger V/6 and I had to take off the bracket for the A/C and power steering pump along with some pulleys so at leasat I have paracticed a little.

Thanks for all the great help, guys!

 

[artificialist]

OHV engines usually don't have tensioners, but there exceptions, such as the Cavilier 2.2 OHV engine.

 

[Dakota1820]

yea and we see how well the 2.2 tensioners work!i hear plenty of old cavi's clacking along!

 

[Rick in PA]

I'm not a timing chain expert, but when I saw the title of this post, I thought "timing chain" and "slack" are two words you probably don't want to see in the same sentence. Good luck with the repairs.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Taking the front engine cover off will be a major pain.You need a special dedicated puller to remove that balancer,and everything needs to come off.....Belt,tensioner,idler,power steering pump,alternator,AC compressor,the oil pump is housed in the timing cover....lower rad hose attaches to the cover....its a job of immense proportions.Plus there is little room spare between it and the frame rail.


Really, they're not all that bad to do. Looking at it from the top, yeah it's pretty daunting, but once you get going it's just a fair amount of unbolting stuff.

The puller could likely be rented from a big box parts house with a tool rental program.

 

[mechtech2]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
OHV engines usually don't have tensioners, but there exceptions, such as the Cavilier 2.2 OHV engine.


Umpteen jillion OHV engines have tensioners.

Even many OHC engines do - belt or chain.