What ARE you talking about. Sure the chain will stretch over time, but hell, most of the time you will HEAR it. My Oldsmobile has over 220+ on it, and it has NEVER had the chain replaced. Only fuel injectors, a crank sensor, and the fuel pump.
>
> Harry Face wrote:
>
> > A first !
> >
> > The car died twice backing up the drive
> > way today. Began to sputter the first time it died. Started it up & it
> > was badly misfiring, bounced back into the garage & I shut it off. Been
> > getting code 41 for some time now. Figure the magnet on the timing gear
> > is breaking up.
> >
> > After the bike ride I pulled the car out to hang the bike back up & the
> > car started & ran fine.
> >
> > And I'm leaving for Ark. & Mo. on Thursday.
> >
> > =========
> > Harryface
> > =========
> >
> > 1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE
> > 3800 V6 ( C ), Black/Slate Grey
>
> Doesn't this have the crummy plastic main cog on the timing
> gear? It sounds like it needs timing work done, which
> is going to run about $700 if the timing chain cover is
> mangled. Chain, cogs, sensor(magnet), tensioner, camshaft
> button, and maybe the cover. Maybe a MAF as well, as
> backfiring more than a couple of times when it's that old
> usually shreds what's left of it.
>
> The problem is - the chain needs to be replaced every 70-80K
> miles like a belt on those engines and yet they never tell
> you that, so people run the car until about 150K or so and
> then the chain is so stretched that the engine won't
> run or it slips a couple of teeth(or just comes off).
>
> I got mine done - $750 total for it all, and it runs
> almost like new(replaced plastic and teflon parts with
> steel and bearing parts, so it's indestructable but a
> bit noisier).
>
> In any case, it's not a job for your local mechanic - get
> the local GM garage to look at it as they have all the computers
> and sensors to properly diagnose it the first time. In my
> case, the two garages I went to had no idea. After two weeks
> of hamfisted attempts to figure it out, it took the Buick garage
> exactly 2 hours to figure it out and start repairs.
>