So I had a post a few weeks back after I paid my car off about the things I had go wrong in my HHR. One of the positives was that the engine itself seemed to be doing great. Fast forward to the end of December and that all went out the window.

Started up on a cold morning and it had an awful rough idle. After replacing spark plugs and finally getting a code off the engine it was determined to be a crankshaft position sensor. Took to a mechanic and they replaced that and determined the timing chain needed to be replaced as well. Replaced timing chain and everything has been running fine since.

Now paranoid I notice any small engine noise thinking its about to blow up. On what sounds like the passenger side of the engine there is a faint tick. I cant seem to hear it when the engine revs.

Any idea what it could be? Should I take it back to the mechanic to diagnose?

 

Worth a shot! It could be a number of things

 

Dollars to donuts "it was determined to be a crankshaft position sensor" is BS, the unknown code you pulled was probably something like crankshaft position sensor correlation (P0016, I bet). That means the sensors are doing their jobs, telling you the chain is bad.

But, posting the code NUMBERS is pretty much mandatory, because the verbal description rarely has anything to do with the problem.

There is a possibility that the chain tensioner was not reset correctly. Probably best to get a professional to put an ear on it.

 

Yeah, it was a rather generic code that we got and I think 0016 is one we got.

I know a sensor was replaced and at that time they determined the timing chain would need to be replaced soon so we decided to go ahead and do it.

The engine seems to run fine other than the slight tick coming from the passenger side that can't be heard from the cabin.

Might schedule and appointment to have a tech take a listen and see what could be the cause if it is determinable. Hopefully it's nothing or this car is cost more paid off than it did when making payments.

 

Also, once the work was completed the check engine light has gone away and the car has ran fine since minus this slight tick.

 

P0016 is a very specific code! It means that the Crank sensor is not agreeing with the Camshaft sensor. Now, what could cause that? Hint:not a bad sensor.

I am assuming you read something about it being a generic code and misinterpreted. Generic in this sense means more like "universal" as it is mandated by the OBDII specification to measure the same things on all cars.

 

That's correct my P0016 code was the timing chain off one tooth

 

This is why I choose to take my car to a mechanic as I know nothing lol.

After trying to Google more info about this it seems the timing chain is a pretty frequent issue with the Chevy 2.4 engine.

Going to take it by the mechanic who did the work and let him give a listen to see if there is any issues.

 

The timing chain tensioner might be the old one, if he didn't install a kit from Coyles for instance! That's the new style on the left with the hump in the head of the part, the oily part on the right is the old style with a flat surface an thinner hex head

 

And we're gonna believe someone who don't know his right from his... er... other right?