Once upon a time before I had enough money to buy my VZ calais, I had a 1997 Saab CD xxxx (cant remeber model numbers) It was an ok car apart from huge costs of repair (being euro).
There was a rattling / knocking coming from engine. I did the Handle of screw driver in ear thing (to use like stethoscope) and was relatively certain it was the timing chain.
One day while driving behind someone who was doing 60k in a 70k zone I got shitti and dropped from 4th to 2nd and engine would have hit roughly 5500rpm. While about midway through the overtake maneuver there was a very slight bang/loud knock and the engine went dead.
RACV towed me to the nearest Saab specialist (only one in Geelong) it was quickly determined that the timing chain had snapped (they will do this when loose, esp @ high RPM) (all I had to do was adjust the tensioner as it was an adjustable type)
So anyway, apparently with modern high output motors, esp those with high comp rations of 9:1 or greater the clearance between the piston tops and the bottom of the valves is very little, in fact they go beyond each other except they are timed to miss. So when or If your Cam suddenly;y stops turning because timing chain snapped (esp at high RPM) your crank will or rather can continue to turn for up to 2 or 3 seconds. In turn your pistons will continue to suck, squeeze, bang, blow. (thanks Mr Adams Newport TAFE) therefore your piston tops will have intercourse with the bottoms of your valves, thus bending every single one of them.
I can only imagine its the same with the Alloy tech as I have never had that prob with my VZ alloytech 190 (knck on wood) /me knocks on head. (now at 151,000Km (im a storm chaser))
So if it turns out that the Timing chain cannot be tightened by adjusting the Timing chain Tensioner then you MUST REPLACE the chain or you are up for many more dollars that $520.If it does Snap. Now if your concerned that I might not know what Im talking about, at least with the alloy tech, just ask your local Alloy tech expert. As in someone who is likely to have seen it all. Surely they will have come across Snapped Timming chains before. Ask them was there other damage caused after timing chain snapped.
BTW the SAAB dealer wanted $4500 to fix my saab motor. Turns out my brother in law was very good with Euro cars like Merc, Jag, BMW and esp Volvo. He quoted me $1500 of which $1400 was paid up front. He ended up not doing the work. Instead he said that I owed him for fines (not true) and the hire of $500 bombs he had loaned me while I waited almost a year for him to fix. In other words he was coming up with every bull dust excuse he could find to get out of doing it or paying me back.
The moral of that part is never EVER pay up front. I did coz 1) he was family, and 2) I felt sorry for him, as he (apparently) had been giving alot of credit to single mums and crap, and was broke)( oh yeah and he didnt even ask for money up front). I later find out he is a compulsive liar. Im worried if I say his name ill get in some kind of crap esp after all the defamation crap Ii have been hearing about on the news with re to Facebook and the like. Anyone know if I can legally say his name? Coz I would hate for him to work on any of you guys cars? Its not a bad idea to get feedback or reviews before undertaking large amounts of money to an unknown motor mech.
How do I hack TCS on my VZ calais? I want a little sideways action
(please post me a oood link)