Hello. New guy here. I searched post but could not find any comments on this. So dad rebuilt the top end of his 2.4L HHR. Drove fine for year. Even drove from AZ to CA when we moved. Got P0016 code recently but car ran fine for awhile. Pulled valve cover to check the cam chain only to find the plastic strip from the slack side tensioner poking half way out. Okay, didn't expect to see that. Rotated the crank to get the notches in alignment. Here is where it goes off the rails. The chain has no coloration on any of the links that I can see. There are 15 links between the triangle markers. And then there is this. Both cam VVTs say EXH and nothing else. Should this have even ran and do you think that may have been responsible for the guide separating?


Thanks for any insight. What is the link count for this? I have seen diagrams with 15, 16, and 17.

 

You are going to need to pull the cover anyway so do that and I think you will be able to identify them.

 

Doesn't really matter if this chain has the marks or not, the current timing components need to go in the trash, and a new timing set installed.

 

Both cams also have a diamond on them for intake.
If the top guide is trashed the other guides are also trashed which made the chain loose so it could take out the top guide.
The P0016 was telling you to replace the timing chain.

 

“So Dad rebuilt the top end of his 2.4L HHR “
Curious if by top end you mean he had someone else rework the cylinder head.
Based on your description, sounds like someone used the cheapest parts available. Time to tear it down and get rid of those parts at least.

 

X2 what FMG said! The coloured links only line up when you install the timing chain

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...in-kits-60394/

 

So here is my dilima today. First, it is a 2.2 with VVT. Got a new timing set with new INT and EXH VVT cam gears. Trying to put on the gears I can feel a intake valves touching the piston when I try turn the cam to match the pin with the hole in the cam. Looking at the old gear and new INT gear I see the pin location is 180 deg off. Am thinking the intake cam is 180 off due to how he originally assembled the engine.with two EXH gears. Is the HHR a loss spark ign so it would ran with the cam 180 off originally?

 

If it is a 2.2L with VVT it is not a 2008. Only the 2006 2.2L was wasted spark, all others are C.O.P.

This is how the locking notches should be

 

Thank you donbrew. This is exactly the information I was looking for. Here is what I have (photo). Question is, can I turn crank 1/4 turn, rotate cams to match diagram, and then turn crank BACK to TDC and install timing set?

 

Turn the crankshaft clockwise, tThe keyway to 3 o’clock, then position the camshafts and then turn the crankshaft counter clockwise so the keyway is back to 12 o’clock

This procedure allows the pistons to be clear of the valves , it’s in this

http://www.ddmworks.com/assets/image...uild%20Kit.pdf