Welcome to the site! A kit like this, is required the guides are probably damaged if the engine ran without the tensioner

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/160881721006

 

That's what I was thinking that and that's probably what happened. That's probably why the shop gave me the run around. I will try and get my user name changed thanks. This forum is all new to me

 

I wonder if the tensioner in that kit corresponds the the 'new style'? It's presumably not an OEM part, but the price is pretty attractive compared to the cost of an OEM tensioner.

 

It does not have the hump on it like a new style tensioner has ,

GM 2 4L 2 2L 2 0L Ecotec Engine Timing Chain Kit w Balance Shaft Set L61 00 11 | eBay

this kit does as shown in picture 6/8

 

Everyone, DO NOT think that the new tensioner design is better. I heard a rattling noise, and I stopped driving my car, and asked the technician to give advice as to whether replace my 2010 cobalt 2.2 ecotec timing chain and tensioner. He took out the tensioner, and noted that it was locked, it would no longer move up and down freely.Took off the valve cover, everything was ok, nylon guides ok,and all else was ok. Timing chain was off slightly, and set off the check engine code for camshaft out of sync. The technician adjusted the timing chain, and code is now gone, and everything works fine. The new tensioner is not reliable at all, and can lock. I just knew enough to stop driving my car, when I heard the rattle. Only 145,000 KM. GM redesigned it, and I was stunned that it locked, and there were no metal fragments anywhere. My next vehicle will never be a GM, after this.

 

This was a replacement or from the factory?

The check engine light wasn't enough to make you stop?

 

As with all mechanisms you can get one bad apple, that doesn't mean the rest of the bushel is bad, and by locked do you mean the plunger was retracted in the install position? When it was installed was the plunger activated??

I own 2 2.2 Ecotecs, and had no problems with the new style tensioner.

 

WARNING.
BIG TIP.
ZIP TIE YOUR CHAIN TO THE CAM GEARS BEFORE REMOVING THE TENSIONER.
LESSON LEARNED HARD AS I AM NOW REPLACING MY ENGINE DUE TO BENT VALVES.
Once I pulled the tensioner the cams jumped the chain. Don't do this.

 

It was from the factory, not a replacement part. My car is a 2010. GM service advisor told me that the factory unit in my car was the new design. The code came on after the new tensioner was installed, and did not do any damage. So one has to be careful. needed to adjust a bit. The tech told me he started noticing this problem on Equinoxes, with the ecotec engine. My friend has a 2011 HHR. Told him what happened to me, and he told me he had a bit of a rattle, and did not think anything about it, until I told him, what happened to me. And, he had his tensioner replaced, and exact same problem. It was locked. He also had to adjust, as the chain will be a bit off, when the new one is installed, and he also had a code, after installation. But all is fine. Just a minor adjustment. He has 126,000 KM. Maintenance free and improved
, yeah right!

 

Bagpiper. Well, you can call me confused. You've stated a couple times that the timing chain needed a "little adjustment".
Since there is no means to manually adjust the timing chain on an Ecotec, exactly what are you talking about ? Or maybe you're just repeating something the technician said to you ?

Just trying to get the facts straight here. Don't want others to think there is some adjustment screw or something when there isn't one.