My 4 cyl 1997 sonata had to have a water pump replaced 2 weeks ago & the mechanic advised that it is best to replace the timing belt at the same time even though it is not due again to 200,000 k & the car is still 40,000k short. I got the car back & it was running rough and it was not running like this prior to going in for the repairs. I took the car back to him and he said that maybe it needed a service etc. So I booked the car in for service 12 days after water pump repairs, that included new leads, spark plugs, tune up etc. The car run for about 20km the following day. Yesterday (the day after) I started the car and it running rough again & I thought I will just nick down to the shop (about 5km) and then I will drive by the mechanics. The car was getting to a serious chugging and missing stage by the time I arrived. After my shopping I when trying to start the car I got a lot of spluttering and stalling. I rang the mobile mechanic, who said sounds like timing to me, I'll get you a tow truck. Car was towed to my usual mechanic who replaced the timing chain. This morning the mechanic rings to say that the hydraulic tension had gone (broken whatever) and caused damage to the valves in the head of the car. At this stage extent unknown until the head is taken off. So long winded. My question is:
Should the hydraulic tensioner have been either checked or replaced at the time of replacing the timing chain? What is set down in the sonata manuals as correct procedure? And in your opinion has the mechanic been neglectful when replacing the timing chain and not taken due care?
Hope you can help & thankyou in advance
From what you're describing here, the timing belt wasn't installed properly to it's timing marks from the start. You mentioned it ran rough when you got the car back. That immediately told me the timing marks were not correctly lined up. If the belt wasn't tensioned correctly, the belt will gradually start retarding itself to the point of it not running. You did mention that as well already too. In other words, the belt slowly got looser and looser until the valves were not opening/closing at the correct time and eventually the piston hit the valve due to the lack of the tension of the belt not being correct. I really fail to beleive that the tensioner went out "all of a sudden" especially right after the water pump was installed. The reason it is recommended that the timing belt be replaced at the time of the water pump is antifreeze/coolant will SLOWLY deteriorate the belt causing premature wear. This doesn't happen in a week either, this take a long time to happen. My professional opinion is the timing belt was incorrectly re-installed when the water pump was replaced. I've been in the auto repair business for a very long time (28 years) and I have seen this very thing happen when the customer tries to replace the timing belt or water pump themselves especially when there was a lack of experience.
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SOURCE: 2006 Altima 4 cyl 28
Having owned a trans repair shop years ago,listen and take heed
You ALWAYS change Trans,Power Steering,EVERY THREE YEARS and
NEVER,EVER,EVER go more than 30,000 miles TOTAL,EVER,ON ANY
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The BRAKE FLUID--2 years NEVER,EVER GO MORE THAN 2 Years
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Thank you for expert opinion. The local mechanical authority will be looking at the damage on Monday to determine if it was an error with the installation of the timing belt. Then I will be able to proceed from there.
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