Every now and then i get timing chain slap for like a second or two on initial start up usually after its been sitting cold over night. Thats the only time i would hear it. Thought I was going to need a new timing chain but when I brought it to two shops to get an estimate they both said it's probably low oil pressure. The second shop asked if I had checked my oil level and it turns out it was a quart low barely even showing on the dipstick. Yeah I felt as stupid as that dipstick! Added a quart so now I'm hoping that this slap doesn't come back. What are your thoughts on this?
Also my other question is could that cause a sensor to go off and trigger that damn abs and traction control warning light to come on just occasionally but not necessarily right after the chain slap, that to which after turning the engine off and driving for a couple seconds would clear? From what I have learned here from ya'll the stupid abs traction control thing can come on for various reasons.
Car has only 130k on it. 2010 lt 2.4l.

 

Did anyone use their Mark II optical sensors on the chain? Any slack between the sprockets means "new chain and guides". That could cause the ABS and Traction warnings.
How often do you check the oil? A quart low is a bit extreme and could cause the chain to fail.

 

Once it slaps it’s toast! Change the timing chain

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

 

The tensioners have a mechanical ratchet mechanism that advances to limit chain slack as wear occurs. They are also activated a spring and by oil pressure, providing additional chain tension as well as dampening. That oil bleeds down, but not immediately. A worn-out or damaged ratchet mechanism allows the tensioner to back off more than intended, possibly so much so the the chain is at risk of jumping a tooth (or more,) particularly upon a cold startup.

GM attributes such chain problems to “deferred oil changes.” I don’t think they’re completely wrong. Gunky oil can clog oil galleries and limit or stop oil supply to the oil squinter as well the tensioners. And inadequate oil can hasten wear that can exceed the ability of the tensioner ratchet to compensate. But I have seen both cam and balance tensioner that had worn, damaged ratchet teeth that rendered the device ineffective. I also dissected a brand-new aftermarket cam tensioner that was defective right out of the box.

In the Ecotec community, significant chain slap at startup is widely regarded as your first warning of chain tension, problems. Act on it or suffer the consequences of bent valves. On the other hand, a bit of noise upon cold start may mean that the ratchet is about to advance a tooth and snug things up again, and after a few more starts, the noise disappears. This I have experienced.

The common case of a broken front guide will also make the slap louder.

When In doubt, check it out. Start by pulling the valve cover, check the chain tension, and look down the front chain gallery for evidence of damage to the front guide.

Or just do the chain job. Other threads give advice on this.

 

Scan for codes. Cheap code reader prolly won’t do it. Yer looking for C cod too. I’ve had good luck with the local parts stores.

Some possible codes:

C0035 Left Front Wheel Speed Sensor Circuit
C0040 Right Front Wheel Speed Sensor Circuit
C0045 Left Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Circuit
C0050 Right Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Circuit

Could just be a loose wire or bad connector, or a bad sensor.

In any event, see how it’s imperative to get the codes to point in the correct direction?

 

Wrong Pulp, Most performance codes will turn ABS and traction off. Like P0017.

 

Huh. I’ve have a couple of the chain code incidents, lit the CEL, no other lights. May it depends.

Disabled traction control I understand. Any system that might seize control of the throttle would reasonably be disabled to protect the engine in certain malfunction cases. But I see not reason to disable ABS in such case, only if there’s a problem with the actual ABS system.

To keep the confusion complete, the 2009 owners manual in the indicator light system refers to four different system:

ABS Antilock Braking System
ETS Enhanced Traction System
ESC Electronic Stability Control
TCS Traction Control System

The first is associated with the ABS light. The other three are associated with the squiggly lines light.

I have yet to get my head around all the distinctions, but I’m pretty sure my 2008 LS had only ABS.

In any event, with persistent random activations of either of those Iights, I would definitely check for C codes.

 

2008 only had ABS. In 2009 ESC is mandated. They are all controlled by the EBCM.
This is such old news it is not worth anymore discussion.

 

This much slack is reason to change the timing chain, the front guide in this case was fine, but if you’re planning on keeping your HHR invest in the ZZP front guide and replacing the upper bolt

 

This kit gives you timing chain and guides, front guide replacement bolt and balance shaft chain with guides and tensioner!

https://zzperformance.com/products/z...ming-chain-kit