I recently had a large service done by a local shop whose knowledge and expertise I trust; timing chain components, balance chain components, new waterpump, clutch, engine/trans mounts, and a handful of other things. All quality parts, cloyes, acdelco, gates, upgraded timing guide bolts, etc I did not cheap out since my goal was to have the engine be as problem-free as possible in the time that I own it.

When he had the car on the lift and started it up for the first time after he finished the work, there was no whine apparent, and it was put through the rev range multiple times. He did not road test it, so I was the first to drive it anywhere; I did about a 50 mile round trip, and noticed a whine that increased in pitch with engine speed starting around 1800 rpm and up from there. I admittedly caused the car to herk and jerk a bit when I first pulled onto the road (since I haven't been driving manual for a number of years and the new clutch was super grabby), but it wasn't very violent; I'm wondering if me doing that could have had any effect on any components...

I've done some searching and it seems like these ecotecs have a common issue with whining due to the balance chain tensioner being over-extended after being replaced or if the water pump was replaced. The Gates pump I purchased came with a sprocket already installed, so I (perhaps mistakenly) assumed the special GM tool wasn't a necessity, and I am unaware of whether my mechanic even had that tool; he was going by the process outlined in the Haynes manual I provided.

A number of other forums (Cobalt, saturn, etc) all talk about this problem as well, and apparently the only solution is to open the cover back up and reset the balance chain tensioner. While, yes, I could just have him go ahead and do that, I'm debating just going to a GM dealer to have one of their techs do it and just eat the cost. Before I do that, though, just how detrimental is it to simply leave it as-is?
Would the guides maybe just wear-in a bit, or the chain stretch over time and let the problem solve itself?
That's really my biggest question at the moment.

I also haven't even had an opportunity to diagnose it 100% yet, it is unregistered and I'm too busy at the moment. There's a chance the new serpentine belt might just be a little tight and maybe it's the tensioner pulley, alternator, or ac compressor. I'm going to see if I can borrow my boss' car stethoscope over the weekend to try and determine exactly what it is.

 

If he replaced the timing chain and guides the water pump installation is different.

Whine noise could be A) faulty water pump bearing B) faulty alternator bearing C) faulty serpentine belt or tensioner bearing D) flex pipe E) A/C bearing

The serpentine belt can't be out of adjustment if it is the correct size and the tensioner is good.

Is the whine dependent on the speed of the engine or the speed of the car? Could be a wheel bearting.

Why not go back to the guy that did the work and ask?

 

Something jumped right out. "local shop whose knowledge and expertise I trust" and later, "he was going by the process outlined in the Haynes manual I provided."

I don't like impugning anyone's reputation or ability. A shop should not need or even want to borrow your Haynes manual. And since they did, why do you trust their knowledge and expertise? I would have thought that they must have no experience with an ecotec.

That being said, I seem to remember someone here having this issue a while back. The suspicion was the water pump. I have this feeling that they never updated their thread with results. I'll see if i can find it.

EDIT: Well that was easy, first search result! https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...nt-woes-58494/

 

I think this is what you're referring to. https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...10/#post403785

I think if only the pump is being replaced, then the tool needs to be used. I don't think the tensioner will ratchet out when the pump and balance chain are replaced together. Of course, if the mechanic has no idea what they are doing, anything is possible.

But rule out the easy, serpentine-driven parts first.

 

donbrew;
i realize I type a lot, but it's buried there in my original post :) "a whine that increased in pitch with engine speed starting around 1800 rpm and up from there."
It's definitely engine speed.
The belt is a Gates K050400; https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...432001&jsn=507
It was one of the available options on rockauto's list of belts for the 2.2.
as i also said, I do know it could possibly be the alternator, ac compressor, tensioner, etc.
I haven't yet had a chance to sit down and determine exactly where the noise is coming from.

RJ;
#PIP3535A is precisely the first thing I found when I was looking for information. :P

Also, the person I took it to is not specifically a repair shop but rather a performance shop, but he was willing to undertake the work I proposed.
I work at a junkyard that deals with used car parts, my boss has been working on cars for like 40 years, the guy who did the work is someone my boss has known for almost 2 decades and has also entrusted him with work on his own vehicles in the past. I have no reason to doubt my boss' recommendation nor the guy's ability.

He admittedly is a Chrysler guy (loves dsm, neon, PT cruiser, stealth, etc. He had his Dodge Colt drag car in some netflix show that came out recently too), but he has worked on other vehicles. He is not intrinsically familiar with the ecotec, and I was the one who provided the Haynes manual because I was trying to make it as straightforward for him as possible since I did lay a lot of work in his lap. I legit have no complaints with any of the rest of the work he did, and this noise still may not even be his fault.

I figured since the new water pump came with a sprocket out of the box, and all the rest of the balance chain components were being replaced, then the special GM tool wouldn't be needed. It was a Gates pump, and we routinely use Gates components on other engine work we do here at the junkyard with no issues; I know it's a possibility, but I'm reluctant to think the pump bearing was bad out of the box. Further to that, he said he followed the Haynes guide exactly, and the last thing he did with the balance components was just pull the release pin on the tensioner.

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Since he was technically doing me a favor, I'm not keen on throwing it back in his face to diagnose unless absolutely necessary.
I want to rule out the other stuff first and foremost.

Again though, if it is the timing chain tensioner being a little too tight, how detrimental is it to just leave it like that?

 

Until you diagnose, the question is irrelevant. Like I said in the other thread, the one I linked to for you, pull off the serpentine belt and see if the whine is still there. Here is a link to the how-to. https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/main...e4/#post716723 I like Prod's method, there is also another good idea at the end of the thread.

 

Not possible to be too tight, that's what the tensioners are for.

There were reasons for my questions; getting defensive and not fully answering is counter productive.

 

RJ;
Yup, the serpentine belt is coming off this weekend.
I only ask whether a whine in the balance system is a big problem because if I can just leave it and not really worry about it, that's the easiest solution :P
But my philosophy in all things mechanical is if there's a noise or a vibration or a smell, something isn't right. (case in point; I work on old 70s/80s mopeds, and I feel like I'm one of the few people in the moped scene who actually wants a bike to be running proper rather than jury-rigging it until it moves)

and don, I promise I'm not being defensive at all. I'm here to seek advice, I'm well aware that being a jerk won't get me anywhere lol
I do think I answered everything you asked at least. If I sounded rude, it wasn't intentional and I apologize, I do appreciate all the insight people have to offer

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Good weather tomorrow, I'll see if I can figure anything out

 

Timing chain, balance shaft / waterpump chain whine should not be ignored

Whilst your in there, change it,