Excessive Timing Noise
 

Hello, this is my first time posting on the forums. I currently have a 2008 HHR SS w/ 147,698 miles on it. I recently had preventive timing maintenance done to it. I had the mechanic do the VVT sprockets and solenoids, guides and tensioner along with a new water pump. So, when I picked it up from the shop, I instantly heard a new whining sound coming from the timing side of the engine. I didn’t really think anything of it at the time, I shrugged it off as thinking it would eventually get quieter as I put more miles on it. 750 miles later, it sounds the exact same. So, is the whining noise normal and eventually will go away or was something not done right? The whining correlates with the RPM’s as in the video. Thanks

What brand parts did they use?

Cloyes

Oldblue has a theory about the water pump tool not holding the sprocket inn the correct alinement that causes the whining. I blamed the pump I got and reyurned it the reinstall did not whine.

Seems obvious that a new timing chain was installed, but please confirm.

Was a new balance shaft kit installed? Were either of the crankshaft sprockets removed or replaced? Was a new crank pulley bolt used, pulley installed on the keyway properly and torqued to spec?

The water pump tool shouldn't be needed with a complete cover-off chain job, right? But excessive chain tension due to incorrect installation of either tensioner can cause noise.

Removing the valve cover to inspect the cam chain and front guide would be a start.

It is plausible that it could be as simple as the timing chain tensioner wasn’t engaged. Did your mechanic change the balance shaft chain sprocket on the crankshaft? It is very different from the one contained in the Cloyes kit 9-4202s this maybe the source of the noise. Hopefully he didn’t toss the OEM, cause it’s obsolete. No longer available.

I just got around to looking at the MOV that is the whirring I had from the water pump.

I’m sticking to the SS , LNF issues. Very different from the 2.2 or 2.4 engines. I don’t know why but they are.

Sorry for the long wait to respond, but I believe he left the balance shaft sprocket alone. Does the tensioner have to be “reset” on the LNF after doing either a water pump and/or timing job? If so, I’m convinced that he missed that step and now there is excessive tension on the chain causing the noise.