First, how much is this going to cost just so i save time


First, how much is this going to cost just so i save time Mechanic's Assistant: It's just a small, refundable fee for a 7-day JustAnswer trial. After that, it's a small monthly membership fee. What is the make/model/year o...

First, how much is this going to cost just so i save time Mechanic's Assistant: It's just a small, refundable fee for a 7-day JustAnswer trial. After that, it's a small monthly membership fee. What is the make/model/year of your car? 2007 Holden Captiva CG 7 LX AWD 3.2L V6 Alloytec LU1 VIN/Chassis: \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* Engine number: 10HMCH062840637 Mechanic's Assistant: How many miles are on the Chevrolet? Is it an automatic or a manual transmission? Its not a chevrolet. Im in Australia Mechanic's Assistant: Are you fixing your Captiva yourself? What have you tried so far? Im replacing the oil pump and timing chain set which ive done but there is a clicking sound coming from one or more of the actuators/phasors Mechanic's Assistant: Anything else you want the Mechanic to know before I connect you? Will his answers be specific rfelated to my engine because there are quite a few variations

Automotive Expert
Hello! My name is Gary. Welcome to JustAnswer. I'm reviewing your question now, and will post back with a reply shortly. Did you replace all 3 tensioners, 3 chains, and all the guides? And now you have a noise? Can you post a video please? Gary

Sorry Gary, I had to wait for my videographer to get home. Everything apart from the cam actuators/phasors was replaced. Im just waiting for the vid to upload to my pc and ill send itIm Paul by the way and no thanks for the call. Ive spent enough on this piece of shit car as it is.
Automotive Expert
Hi Paul, Text is fine for me as well. I'll await your video, some footage from around the engine both sides etc would be good. Gary

For some odd reason it wont upload so ill transfer it the old way then upload it here and unfortunately im here alone again and cant crank and film at the same time so i can only send what i have for now mate.
Automotive Expert
Yes, that's fine Paul. Perhaps you can make another video in the daylight hours, Sunday or Monday etc. Gary

There's something wrong with the footage or my wife sucks as a cameraperson. Sorry Gary, im trying to fix the quality.Also something to think about while im doing this. I followed vieo instructions to the letter and used the cam guides and it was exact but when i crank it over it never returns to the exact same position. Is that normal?

File attached (657QTZ4)

Try thatIm going to have to do it again when my wife gets back Gary, sorry
Automotive Expert
Has the engine run yet? Do understand about stage 1 and stage 2 for timing chain fitment? Have you released the timing chain tensioners with a push, or rock engine backwards? Your video is only audio, but I do hear what sounds like timing chain then goes slack as a camshaft gets spun back. Gary

Sorry again Gary. Its Saturday night here and we've had a few friends drop in. No i haven't reassembled it yet worried the actuator/s were faulty. Ive watched every video and read every article and forum dribble know to man and am familiar with absolutely every aspect of friggin VVT timing. And yes the noise it makes now is when is just the valve returning but the other noise was different but seems to be gone now.New video wont upload to the chat. It may'be because i have a VPN running. I'll check.
Automotive Expert
Hi Paul, A few things: The timing chain marks only line up about once every few hundred laps, so if you were sure they are correct on assembly, they should still be correct. Now tomorrow in the daylight I would like you to check that all the chains are tight while the engine is stationary. Can you check this at your leisure? I am always keen for videos, "A picture tells a thousand words". Gary

One could read so much into that last statement...lol I have two, one from the front and one from sort of overhead but am having problems getting them to upload but will work it out when im not quite so distracted. Google search has so many different answers for the how many crank turns question but a few hundred is the first ive heard 96 was the highest from memory. Lets see if a pic will upload.

Plus ive checked and rechecked the tensioners many times. I wasn't happy with the bottom tensioner but think once the oil pressure is present should be ok
Automotive Expert
If you have removed the pin, push the tensioner in and it will unlock, and come out to take up the slack. Any tensioner that hasn't been manually unlocked may cause the noise you are hearing. If you have the checking tools for the back of the cams, you can place the engine on the crank timing mark and make sure the tools fit. Gary

Sorry once again but the pins have all been removed and released and all bolts torqued to spec and I have rechecked with the alignment tools and in stage one timing position the left bank is flat and the right is angled correctly and both tool fit easily. Actually Mellings say that you can actually leave it in stage one timing position for all chain fittings. My big problem was the fact I couldn't get the timing marks to realign perfectly thinking after a certain amount of crank turns logic would dictate it simply would have too. Iv'e since read about something called a hunting chain or similar where it is designed to avoid using the same tooth or cog for wear purposes or something along those lines and it takes way more crank turns than I thought as you pointed out. I would love to know if it's a set/determined number or varies. You have eased my concerns and I'm confident everything is ok now and am going to re assemble the engine today. So I thankyou for your advise and guidance, it's helped me immensely. Thanks once again Gary I very much appreciate your assistance.
Automotive Expert
Thank you for your excellent feedback on your assembly. The ratio of chain links to gear tooth count gives an even spread of wear, so it takes many turns to "line up" again. I don't know the exact number, but it is big. If you confident everything is correct, the hardest part now is refitting the timing case with a nice bead of sealer, and not wiping off on reassembly. I have only done 2 V6 Captivas in car. Holden recommends engine out for timing chains in Captiva. I have done many in Commodore, a lot easier. I wish you well moving forward, and stay safe. Have a good day. Gary

In my youth I did all my own mechanical work after being ripped off by a dodgy mechanic and have re-built many engines, gearboxes and basically anything that could be rebuilt. I didn't want to do this because i prefer rebuilding computer systems and PCB Boards these days but Covid kinda forced my hand. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and when I couldn't ease my mind re: the timing lining up spent a very frustrating(roughly a week I think) researching. In the back of my mind I knew it was correct but just needed conformation. So Thanks heaps Gary much appreciated.

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