2002 Pontiac Grand Am timing chain

ALNOW7176

MEMBER
2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
85,000 MILES

My GA broke down and upon inspection, I found that the timing chain snapped. I bought a repair kit a replaced all the necessary parts. Chain, gears, adjusters. I set the cam to TDC and done everything right.
When I tried to start it I got the same reaction from the motor. Everything is turning and it seems that there is no compression, that the top end is only working, this is very frustrating to me. Pistons are going up and down, cams are moving. Valves are working too. Are there any internal gears that might have gotten stripped out when the chain broke? Or on the crank shaft? Thank you for your time

Sincerely,

Al Nowak

1 Reply

KNOWYOURAUTO

MECHANIC
113 POSTS

Interference engines: You sound like a mechanically inclined individual so this will be short. This model engine has had a lot of these failures with the same result. Replace the engine.

When the timing chain broke the valves came into severe contact with the pistons and were probably bent along with the pistons connecting rods. Of course the avenue of entire rebuild may fix it assuming the cylinder walls were not scored or dented but not very likely.

BTW this engine is in the Chevy Cavaliers, Malibu's, Saturns and Pontiac Sunfires, all of them having similar problems but no recalls for free fixes. The valves and timing assembly have been updated, so I don't recommend a used engine and the same problem may result.

Regards,

KnowYourAuto