Obie f.k.a. Wound Up

I'd like your opinions on this -

My wife's I4 DOHC car has a bad timing chain and tensioner after just
69,000 miles. My warranty on it expires tomorrow. GM is sending an
-adjuster- out, to take a sample of the oil, look to see if the engine
is stock (all but the K&N air filter) and check the "general condition"
of the car. They also asked me for oil change records, which thankfully
I had most of, because I geekily keep a spreadsheet and have everything
else chronologically filed. I take care of all my vehicles relgiously.
I've also been told by a trustworthy source that these cars are
"notorious" for this problem.

The one thing I wonder about - it was badly t-boned two years ago, on
the driver's side. The car was worth repairing, but took quite a hit,
right to the b-pillar. I know a severe jolt to a car can have some odd
after effects, but I've never, ever heard of this being one of them. Do
you think it might be? I just want to be able to call BS if it isn't,
because the evidence of the accident is obvious to an educated eye.


--
Obie f.k.a. Wound Up
ThunderSnake #65

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Brent P

In article <43A74775.8040602@your.disposal>, Obie f.k.a. Wound Up wrote:

> The one thing I wonder about - it was badly t-boned two years ago, on
> the driver's side. The car was worth repairing, but took quite a hit,
> right to the b-pillar. I know a severe jolt to a car can have some odd
> after effects, but I've never, ever heard of this being one of them. Do
> you think it might be? I just want to be able to call BS if it isn't,
> because the evidence of the accident is obvious to an educated eye.

There is no way the timing chain can be related to any body damage. Even
a lack of oil changes wouldn't cause that as something much more
expensive would have broken first.

Sounds like the tensioner has a design or manufacturing issue.

Obie f.k.a. Wound Up

Brent P wrote:
> In article <43A74775.8040602@your.disposal>, Obie f.k.a. Wound Up wrote:
>
>
>>The one thing I wonder about - it was badly t-boned two years ago, on
>>the driver's side. The car was worth repairing, but took quite a hit,
>>right to the b-pillar. I know a severe jolt to a car can have some odd
>>after effects, but I've never, ever heard of this being one of them. Do
>>you think it might be? I just want to be able to call BS if it isn't,
>>because the evidence of the accident is obvious to an educated eye.
>
>
> There is no way the timing chain can be related to any body damage. Even
> a lack of oil changes wouldn't cause that as something much more
> expensive would have broken first.
>
> Sounds like the tensioner has a design or manufacturing issue.
>

I didn't think so. As I said I know a heavy G impact on a car can do
some strange things, but this? Not in any way that made sense to me.
The idea that it's a flawed part is the consensus I've heard from those
who know this car and this engine. Thanks for your input.

I already planned to give them one hell of an argument if they tried to
stiff me on this. Many service managers rely on ignorance. This is the
only thing I could possibly think of as a possible cause. I can't
believe they wanted freaking oil change receipts! They also wanted to
see if the engine were modified, which I understand, given the fact it's
a warranty claim....

--
Obie f.k.a. Wound Up
ThunderSnake #65

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