S14 Timing Chain/Belt, Engine, Etc

2746 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by broken240, Aug 24, 2010

okay123

Discussion Starter · Aug 13, 2010

I have a 95 base model S14...so I bought an S14 in "perfect" condition for $1000. Well here's the catch it looks perfect but it doesn't run/start. The owner before me is a single mom of 2 kids and have told me that she blew out the engine in the past and had a brand new one put in. The timing chain/belt "slipped" off and it blew out all 4 pistons. Well this one she told me that one day she was driving it and she drove it home and the next day, the car wouldn't start. It would do the starting, but it wouldn't turn over. It has new distributor/spark plugs/fuel injectors/ fuel filter/fuel pump. So we have no idea. She has had several mechanics come by her house and they said it's definitely the timing chain just "fell" off. My mechanic (my uncle who owns a body shop) told me the same thing, the timing chain fell off. The only way to get to it is an engine hoist. So my question here is that is there any way to put on the timing chain and "tighten" it so it will never fall off in the future? and If i will be going through all the trouble of lifting the engine out, what other replacement/repairs/fixes can i do to the car? (thermostat, water pump, etc etc) Thanks A Lot in Advance...

Here's my car, looks just like this, all stock no mods done to it at all

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95ZenkiS14

· #2 · Aug 13, 2010

Timing chains just dont "fall off".. Unless your timing gears were not properly bolted down. You're going to need a new engine if your timing chain popped off, Because you're going to love your bent valves, broken pistons etc etc.

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okay123

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 13, 2010

95ZenkiS14 said:
Timing chains just dont "fall off".. Unless your timing gears were not properly bolted down. You're going to need a new engine if your timing chain popped off, Because you're going to love your bent valves, broken pistons etc etc.

I know that's exactly it, this car is on its 2nd engine, but the person told me its all good (i trust them because the person i bought it from is my family/cousin)

she told me it was running fine the day before and the next morning it wouldnt start, had many certified mechanics come by to give a thorough lookover/inspection and we're pretty sure it's the same deal again. the prev engine the timing chain "fell off" and blew out the pistons right then and there. we dunno what the hell is the issue here. shes not the type to be racing/drifting this car, always take it to the shop for routine maintenance like oil changes/fluid checks/etc

so i'm crossing my finger here and hope this will be permanently fixed. are there any tutorials on DIY this job here? i'll need all the manuals/references i can have so i can research to fix it instead of taking it to a shop get charged $900 for labor

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benarovi

· #4 · Aug 13, 2010

okay123 said:
I know that's exactly it, this car is on its 2nd engine, but the person told me its all good (i trust them because the person i bought it from is my family/cousin)

she told me it was running fine the day before and the next morning it wouldnt start, had many certified mechanics come by to give a thorough lookover/inspection and we're pretty sure it's the same deal again. the prev engine the timing chain "fell off" and blew out the pistons right then and there. we dunno what the hell is the issue here. shes not the type to be racing/drifting this car, always take it to the shop for routine maintenance like oil changes/fluid checks/etc

so i'm crossing my finger here and hope this will be permanently fixed. are there any tutorials on DIY this job here? i'll need all the manuals/references i can have so i can research to fix it instead of taking it to a shop get charged $900 for labor

does it try to turn over? may be the timing, wiring, starter, etc. only a niumber of things. if you have money, swap that bitch out and get a j-land motor. low miles, none of that bullshit ka's have.(well most). oh and nissans dont rock the timing belts, we got timing chains

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broken240

· #5 · Aug 24, 2010

The timing CHAINS on our 240sx's are very very strong! They don't usually break or slip.
To check if the timing chain slipped off place the car in neutral.
Take off the valve cover.
Turn over the crank via crank pulley bolt.
(if you take out the spark plugs, it will be smoother/ easier to turn over)

1st thing you will notice when you take the valve cover off, are the camshafts.
And at one end, the gears with hopefully the chain wrapped over them.
If the chains are intact, then once you turn the crank pulley, the camshafts will rotate as well.
(Dont use an impact gun on the crank pulley, just a breaker bar)
(You dont need to use an engine hoist to check the timing chain. Just take off the clutch fan and shroud and you should have enough space
to get to the timing covers if you need to. But you dont need to do that just to check the chains condition)

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broken240

· #6 · Aug 24, 2010

this is our timing set up.
bottom right gear is the crank gear which turns the longer chain.
which turns the middle gear,
which turns the shorter, double roller chain, which turns the cam gears
on the middle gear you see some teeth. the distributor connects to that.
i've seen the bolt holding down this middle gear be loose and the distributor jumps timing really bad. maybe this is your problem?

Good luck. Download the Factory Service Manual. All the information you could dream about!

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