TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT

Rattle on a cold start or a cam timing code? Find out if your timing chain is really stretched, what a complete job includes and what changes the cost. For Rohnert Park, Cotati, Penngrove, Petaluma and Santa Rosa.

CALL FOR SERVICE: (707) 584-7727

Professional Timing Chain Replacement in Rohnert Park, CA

Key Takeaway: Most timing chains are not replaced on a schedule. If your engine has no set interval, eBay Motors gives 80,000 to 100,000 miles as the commonly accepted mileage, and a well-kept chain can last the life of the engine. Replace it when there is evidence: a rattle at start-up, cam and crank correlation codes P0016 to P0019, or timing marks that are off. A proper job replaces the tensioners and guides with the chain, and the diagnosis comes before the quote.

Timing chain replacement means renewing the chain that keeps the camshafts in time with the crankshaft, along with the tensioners, guides and sprockets that wear with it. Chains stretch slowly. When the tensioner can no longer take up the slack, the engine computer sees the cam out of step and sets a code, and the chain may rattle at start-up.

Rohnert Park Transmission & Auto Repair lists timing belt and timing chain repair on its engine service list. Under California law you get a written estimate listing the parts and the repair method before any work starts.

Call with the year, make, model and engine, and tell us when you hear the noise. Drivers come to 305 Laguna Dr from Rohnert Park, Cotati, Penngrove, Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol.

Call (707) 584-7727 about a timing chain Book a timing chain check online

Timing Chain or Timing Belt: Which Does Your Engine Have?

Both do the same job. They keep the camshafts in step with the crankshaft, so the valves open at the right moment. eBay Motors notes the camshaft turns once for every two turns of the crankshaft. The difference is in how long they last and when they get replaced:

Swipe sideways to see the whole table.

Timing chain compared with timing belt
	Timing chain	Timing belt
What it is	A metal chain with links, running on sprockets (eBay Motors)	A cogged rubber and cord belt (eBay Motors)
Where it sits	Inside the engine behind a metal front cover, lubricated by engine oil	Outside the engine under a plastic or metal cover, no oil
When to replace it	When it is worn or your maker sets an interval. Not usually a maintenance item.	On a set schedule from your owner's manual
What wears it out	Old, low or wrong oil, which starves the tensioners (Underhood Service)	Age and miles. Rubber belts do not last nearly as long.

If your owner's manual lists a belt change, see our timing belt replacement page instead. Not sure which one you have? Call with the year, make, model and engine size and we will tell you.

Signs Your Timing Chain Needs Replacing

A worn chain rarely fails without warning. Underhood Service says the chain stretch or correlation codes usually show up before the chain gets bad enough to fail. Here is what to watch and listen for:

Swipe sideways to see the whole table.

Timing chain warning signs, what each one can mean, and what to do
What you notice	What it can mean	What to do
Rattle from the front of the engine for a few seconds after a cold start	A worn chain or tensioner. AutoDTCs calls a cold-start rattle a hallmark of chain and tensioner wear.	Book a check soon. Note how long it lasts and whether it is getting longer.
Rattle or slapping that does not go away when the engine is warm	eBay Motors says this can mean the chain has stretched so far it is slapping the block or cover.	Drive as little as possible and call us. Guides and other parts get damaged at this stage.
Check engine light with P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0008 or P0009	Cam and crank correlation codes. AutoDTCs lists timing chain stretch, a jumped chain and a failed cam phaser lock pin as causes.	Have the codes and the live cam timing data read before any part is ordered.
Misfires, a rough idle or poor running	eBay Motors says this can mean the chain has jumped a tooth and the timing is off.	Call us. Replacement is urgent at this point, because the chain could break.
Metal flakes in the drained oil	eBay Motors lists metal shavings or pieces of chain in the oil as a warning sign.	Keep the engine off the road until the front of the engine is inspected.
The engine cranks but will not start	eBay Motors notes the engine will not start if the chain breaks.	Do not keep cranking it. Have the car towed in so the timing can be checked.

Check Engine Codes That Point to the Timing Chain

The engine computer compares the camshaft sensor signal with the crankshaft sensor signal many times a second. AutoDTCs splits the timing codes into two families:

Correlation codes, P0016 to P0019, and P0008 or P0009. The cam and crank are out of step even at rest. The usual causes are a stretched chain, a jumped chain, a cam phaser that will not lock, or timing parts that were put in wrong.
Performance codes, such as P0011, P0012, P0014 and P0015. The computer asked the cam phaser to move and it did not get there. These usually point to the oil control valve, oil flow or a sticking phaser, not the chain. See our P0011 code page.
A code is not proof. MOTOR Magazine and a GM bulletin (PIP4548C) describe engines where an overheat let the cam sensor ring slip on the camshaft, setting P0016 and P0017 with the timing correct.

For any other warning light, start with our check engine light service.

How a Stretched Chain Is Confirmed Before You Get a Quote

Underhood Service says today's scan data means a technician does not have to wait for the chain to hit the cover to know it is stretched. A careful check runs in this order (AutoDTCs):

Check the oil level, the oil condition and the oil pressure first.
Read the stored codes and sort them: correlation code or performance code.
Watch commanded against actual camshaft angle on a scan tool with the engine warm.
Test the cam phaser's oil control valve, and the cam and crank sensors and their rings, so a cheaper fault is not missed.
Confirm the mechanical timing: line the engine up at top dead center and check the cam marks against the factory marks. Some engines, like the Mitsubishi in its service manual, have a stretch mark to read.
Only then write the estimate, with the parts and the method of repair listed.

Electrical faults that set timing codes are covered by our automotive diagnostics service.

What a Complete Timing Chain Job Includes

The chain is only one part of the timing system. eBay Motors says the tensioner should be replaced with any chain. On GM's 3.6-liter V6, Underhood Service counts three separate chains and 15 timing parts. A complete job usually covers:

The timing chain, or every chain on engines with more than one
The tensioners, which take up the slack as the chain wears
The chain guides, the plastic-faced rails the chain runs on
The crankshaft sprocket, plus idler and camshaft sprockets
The cam phasers, if testing shows they cannot hold their locked position
The oil pump chain where the engine has one (Mitsubishi's manual says it must be replaced along with a stretched timing chain)
The front cover gasket or sealant and the front crankshaft seal
Fresh oil and filter, then clearing codes and any timing relearn

Front of a V-shaped engine on a stand with the timing cover removed, showing the timing chains, the black plastic chain guides and the sprockets on both cylinder banks — On a V6 like GM's 3.6-liter, each cylinder bank has its own chain, guides and tensioner (Cloyes), which is why the parts list is longer than on a single-chain engine.

Questions to ask about any timing chain quote

Does it replace the tensioners and guides, or only the chain?
Are the cam phasers and sprockets included or tested?
Does your engine have an oil pump chain or balance shaft chain?
Does your engine drive the water pump from the timing chain? If so, ask whether it is being replaced while the front is open.
Is the engine coming out, or is the job done in the car?

What Changes the Cost of a Timing Chain Replacement

We do not publish prices, because the same job on two engines can be very different. These are the things that set the price:

How many chains your engine has. An inline four may have one. GM's 3.6-liter V6 has three (Underhood Service).
Labor time. A timing parts maker quoted by Underhood Service puts GM's high-feature V6 at probably 8 to 12 hours. Cloyes shows that job done with the engine in the car. Other engines take longer.
Cam phasers and sprockets. Replaced only if they test bad, but they add parts cost when they do.
Parts driven by the chain. An oil pump chain, a balance shaft chain or a chain-driven water pump.
Damage already done. On an interference engine, a chain that jumped or broke can damage the valves or pistons (eBay Motors). That turns a timing job into engine repair.
The engine's health. Underhood Service says the rest of the engine must be in good shape before new timing parts go in. Sludge or low oil pressure has to be dealt with too.

Call (707) 584-7727 with the year, make, model and engine, and we will give you a free estimate before any work starts.

What Wears Out a Timing Chain, and How to Make Yours Last

Underhood Service puts it plainly: chain stretch codes come from maintenance, not mileage. Most of what kills a chain is oil:

Use the right oil. The correct oil type and viscosity are critical (Underhood Service).
Keep the level up. Low oil can put air into the tensioners, so they pound the chain instead of holding it steady.
Do not stretch oil changes. Tensioners have very small oil passages and check valves that can plug with sludge.
Do not ignore the light. Underhood Service says a driver who waits for an audible rattle and ignores the check engine light has waited too long.

Mechanic in green gloves pulling the dipstick to check the engine oil level under an open hood in a repair shop — Checking the oil level takes a minute and protects the timing chain tensioners.

Our oil change service uses the oil your engine calls for.

Can You Keep Driving With a Bad Timing Chain?

A short rattle at cold start only: book a check soon. AutoDTCs calls a cold-start rattle a hallmark of chain and tensioner wear.
A rattle that stays when warm: drive as little as possible. Underhood Service says a chain past the tensioner's range starts whipping around and damaging guides.
Misfires or rough running with timing codes: stop and call. eBay Motors says replacement is urgent, because the chain could break at any point.
No start after a rattle: have it towed. If it is an interference engine, more cranking can do more damage.

Before paying for any repair, run your VIN through NHTSA's recall search to see whether an open safety recall covers your engine.

When a Timing Job Becomes Engine Work

Timing belt and timing chain repair is on our engine repair service list, next to engine rebuilds and replacement engines. If the chain jumped and the engine was damaged, that page explains how we decide between a repair, a rebuild and a replacement engine. Subaru, Jeep and Acura engines are the ones we are known for, and we work on other makes too.

Your Rights in California: A Written Estimate Before Any Work

California's Bureau of Automotive Repair says a repair shop must give you a written estimate before doing any work. It must show the total for parts and labor, list the parts and state the method of repair. The shop has to stick to it unless you agree to a change. You can ask for your old parts back if you ask before the work is done, so you can see the worn chain and guides yourself.

Timing Chain Rattle? Book a Check in Rohnert Park

Tell us when you hear the noise and any codes you have. We are at 305 Laguna Dr in Rohnert Park, Mon–Thu 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Fri 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM, a short drive from Cotati, Penngrove, Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol.

Call (707) 584-7727 Book online

Sources

Why Choose Our Timing Chain Replacement?

✓Timing belt and timing chain repair are on our engine service list
✓Engine rebuilds and replacement engines in the same shop if a chain has already done damage
✓A straight answer on chain, tensioner, phaser or sensor for your engine
✓A written estimate listing parts and the repair method before work starts, as California law requires
✓A free estimate by phone: call with the year, make, model and engine

Book a Timing Chain Check in Rohnert Park

Call with the year, make, model and engine, and tell us when you hear the noise and any codes you have. We will confirm what is worn and give you a free estimate before any work starts.

CALL US NOW: (707) 584-7727

Frequently Asked Questions About Timing Chain Replacement

What should you replace when replacing a timing chain?

Replace the parts that wear with the chain, not the chain alone. eBay Motors says the tensioner should be replaced with any timing chain, and vice versa. A full set usually means the chain or chains, the tensioners, the guides and the sprockets, plus the cover gaskets and the front crankshaft seal. Some engines need more: Mitsubishi's service manual says that when the timing chain has stretched past its limit, the oil pump chain must be replaced too. Worn cam phasers are replaced if testing shows they cannot hold their position.

What does it cost to replace a timing chain?

It depends on the engine. An inline four with one chain is a much smaller job than a V6 with three chains: Underhood Service counts 15 timing parts on GM's 3.6-liter V6, not counting the variable valve timing parts. Labor time, cam phasers, any oil pump or water pump the chain drives, and whether the engine was damaged first all change the bill. We do not publish prices. Call (707) 584-7727 with the year, make, model and engine, and we will give you a free estimate.

Should I get my timing chain replaced?

Only if it is worn or your maker lists a replacement interval. eBay Motors notes the chain is not really a maintenance item and can last the life of the engine with regular oil changes. Replace it when there is evidence: a rattle at start-up, cam and crank correlation codes, or timing marks that are off. Underhood Service warns that a driver who keeps going to the point of an audible rattle and ignores the check engine light has waited too long.

How many hours does it take to replace a timing chain?

It varies a lot by engine. For GM's high-feature V6, a timing parts maker quoted by Underhood Service estimates probably 8 to 12 labor hours. Other engines take more or less time. We will tell you the time for your engine when we quote it.

What destroys a timing chain?

Poor oil care, more than mileage. Underhood Service says chain stretch codes are thrown because of maintenance, not mileage, and that the correct oil type and viscosity are critical. The tensioners have very small oil passages and check valves that can plug up, and a low oil level can let air into the tensioners. eBay Motors adds that variable valve timing puts extra stress on the chain.

What is the average lifespan of a timing chain?

If your engine has no set interval, eBay Motors gives 80,000 to 100,000 miles as the commonly accepted mileage, but says a well-kept chain can last the life of the engine. On GM's high-feature V6, experts quoted by Underhood Service predict first failures between 80,000 and 150,000 miles, with poorly maintained engines at the low end.

Can a timing chain jump a tooth, and what happens then?

Yes. eBay Motors says a chain off by just one tooth can cause anything from poor running to a car that will not start, and that misfiring, a poor idle and rough running can mean it has jumped. If the chain breaks on an interference engine, the pistons can hit the valves. Stop driving and call us if the rattle gets loud or the engine starts running rough.

Where can I get a timing chain replaced near Rohnert Park?

Rohnert Park Transmission & Auto Repair is at 305 Laguna Dr in Rohnert Park, a short drive from Cotati, Penngrove, Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. Call (707) 584-7727 or book online. Tell us the year, make, model and engine, any codes you have, and when you hear the noise.

Have more questions? We're here to help!

Call (707) 584-7727

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