Timing Chain Issue?

[jeremysaal]

Hey there,

My rig was diagnosed with a timing chain issue (tensioner), due to a loss of power yesterday.

I was driving around 60mph when all of a sudden, it acted like it lost half of its power. I gave it some gas, but it kept slowing down and was not that responsive to the gas. It backfired once while giving it gas and then the engine light started flashing on and off. I pulled over quickly and turned it off. After searching everywhere under the hood, I didn't see or smell any issues. I turned it on again to check it and it was acting like it was not receiving enough fuel, plus had a light tick/rattle under the hood (driver's side).

Afterwards, I tried the key trick to pull the engine codes but it would not work. I've always been able to pull a code this way but this time, nothing.

I have 166,000 miles on it and baby it. It has the 3.7 and I use Mobil1 with the Mobil1 synthetic filter. Oil is changed on time and I check my fluid levels weekly. Oil was perfect at the time of the incident.

Please let me know your thoughts. I feel that the timing chain/s could be the issue, but the lack of being able to pull codes with the key is concerning. I'm wondering about the ECM.

Thanks and have a good one!

 

[ltd02]

Really need any stored codes. Might just be a lash adjuster but could be a dropped rocker or the dreaded dropped valve seat. That would really be more than a light tick or rattle though. From personal experience, if you drop an exhaust rocker the CEL will flash a misfire for that cylinder. Assume the same for an intake. You'll lose alot of power too. Tensioners will usually warn you as they usually chatter right up front. If the tensioner did fail suddenly and the timing chain jumped don't drive it. If it goes far enough all kinds of bad things will happen in there when things that aren't supposed to meet do so.

 

[LibertyTC]

X2 as above &
"Had a light tick/rattle under the hood (driver's side)"

I would say firstly/immediately start with an easy inspection-time to pull the drivers side valve cover and see if anything is out of order in there!
Backfiring..I would definitely not drive KJ either.
Codes a must have! post em in here! That may lead to something else?
Then onto timing tensioner/chain inspect etc.

 

[Eugene8400]

Anyone come up with ideas for this? We have replaced chains gears and are still having the noise and "bucking" of the loose chain.

 

[ltd02]

Did you do anything suggested above? If the chain is loose then the tensioner may have just failed. If it jumps then bad things will happen. Did you get the codes yet? A cheap code reader will do the trick and some can be had for around 20 bucks.