Timing Chain failure at 46k miles

Grumpy Mike ( snipped-for-privacy@eircom.net) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

£700 parts sounds high. A complete OEM chain kit would be less than £200 from a specialist supplier. OTOH, that may well include other bits - it'd be daft not to put a new clutch in whilst the engine's out the car. Various other parts are also FAR easier to get at, so the cost of the part now is small compared to the cost of repeating the labour later.

"Broken" could well be being used as a non-technical euphemism for "fooked" to cover a multitude of sins. It's quite possible that it's stretched or the tensioner's broken, or it's in the throes of links actually breaking but hasn't yet completely separated.

The chain can be replaced in situ, but to replace the sprockets, guides and tensioners does - I believe - require removal.

Never mind the mileage, it's a 10yo car. Lots of short trips is the worst kind of mileage you can do - I'd far rather have a 150k mile car that's clocked that up on long runs than a 50k one that's rarely got properly warm. No, 8 miles isn't enough to do that.

It may have been Euros. I suspect he's in Eire.

Graham

Eeyore ( snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Ah. Still sounds high, but knowing dealer parts prices...

Thanks Adrian,

As Eeyore suspected. I am in Ireland and the price was in euros. However, even when I convert the price given at PartsForSaab and add carriage, it comes to Eu275 versus the Eu700 I was quoted. Kinda makes me wary of their matching quote of Eu700 for labour.

I take your point about lots of short journeys being punishing on a car and I would fully expect problems with exhaust, etc. but I wouldn't have thought that it would have much impact on the timing chain. Then again, perhaps a 1000 journey of 8 miles means 1000 starts from cold with poor initial oil circulation, whereas 100 journeys of

80 miles would mean that there was excellent oil circulation for a much higher percentage of the miles travelled.

Thanks again Mike

VGM: Short trips like you describe are about the worst thing you can do to an engine short of pouring sand in the oil fill. The second worse thing you can do is rev the hell out it to get it to go when you know there is a problem.

The timing belt isn't broken in two, it has failed in a manner that let it slip. One of the tensioner's was probably the root of the problem but at this point it all has to be redone. I would get a list of exactly what parts they intend to replace and what they intend to do while they have the engine apart. Pulling the oil pan is a good idea as shrapnel from whatever failed fell down in there plus it is always a good idea to clean out the pan and oil pickup screen. I don't understand why they are pulling the head off unless they know / suspect you have valve train damage.

Can't comment on pricing as I'm not in your country.

Steve B.

I have done a 9000 Aero timing chain and balance shaft chain and guides from the side, by taking the wheel and liner out.

The tensioner is probably gone. See the parts you price include a new tensioner and all the sprockets. Perhaps it has gone because of age, luck of lubrication ... whatever.

The reason you needed to rev it a lot is probably because the timing was out or ...

WARNING! It may have bend valves, if not worse, smacked pistons. Your

1700 euro cost could be a lot higher. Like they fix the chain to find the engine is still not running.

Charles :-|

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In which case it might not be too expensive, and there are additional part costs like headgaskets etc.

How long time did that take? AFAIK, timing chain replacement is a labour intensive job, hence high garage prices. On the other hand, the timing chain should last over 100k. I say "over" because there is no particular replacement mileage, as there are for engines with rubber band timing belts.

johannes ( snipped-for-privacy@siz-479385757-efitter.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

It is if you have to pull the engine & box. It isn't if you can go through the arch.

Largely because, whilst belts go ping expensively with no warning, chains give you PLENTY of loud notice that they're dying.

Two of us took a gentle weekend, but he then did up the starter and alternator refurbished while we were in there. No real problems, just followed the SAAB manuals.