I replaced my timing tensioner yesterday now my 08 HHR won't start. Is there anyway to verify timing?? I know the cam gears are marked but what about the crank gear or balancer being marked? I'm used to working on a 65 Shelby Mustang so this overhead cam is new to me, plus being a Chevy lol.

 

Uh. I hope you released the new tensioner after the install. If not, and you tried to start it, it could have jumped time.

There is a thread somewhere with pictures that show the timing marks.
To sound like a broken record ( ) try the Search function.

 

Yes I released the plunger and also soaked it in oil and filled the plunger up. I can see that it has extended and is on the guide.

 

Pull out #1 spark plug bring the piston up to TDC on the compression stroke you're gonna need to remove the valve cover to see the timing chain aligns with the cam gears

 

Yea it looks like it jumped time by 2 teeth. So started my tear down to put a timing set and gasket on it. Removed the air box, cam cover, inner wheel splash shield, for extra room the washer fluid tank, motor mount. Got to get a tensioner tool since this is the first car that Ive never been able to use a 3/8 ratchet.

 

If my timing is off, can I just put number one piston at tdc, and re-sync the cams to the crank? The gm manual says just to bring number one to 60 degrees before tdc. It doesn't say which stroke.

 

I'd stay with the compression stroke.

 

Got everything else off this afternoon, so tomorrow I'm ready to start to reassemble everything tomorrow. One thing, when I was taking the intake sprocket off, the cam rotated. So I may have to rotate one way or the other to get the gear to 2 o'clock spot.

 

That's ok!

 

The book says to use a special tool to hold the camshaft. The usual way is to put 2 crescent wrenches on the shafts and clamp them together with vice grip.