My van has been broke down for almost 4 months because if this exact problem. I don't have the extra money to put it the shop so, I'm going to have to get my hands dirty and fix it myself. Thank you for sharing this video!
Just a quick tip for anyone watching, you will have much more access to most of the components that need to be removed if the wiper cowl area is removed. For example, the power steering pump has ZERO clearance because the high pressure line doesn't allow it to move much. (Oh, and make sure to remove the hard line while the pump is still mounted)
Very helpful. I don't that I would have attempted this without being able to watch your work first. Helpful narration and identification of special tools needed.
Good video, I actually broke four of the five 10 mm bolts at the water pump leaving the bottom left remaining! Instead of pulling the timing cover, I put the tensioning bolt back in but I pulled the head bolt that’s top right to the water pump all the way out, got a giant washer to hold the pump on better and screwed the head bolt all the way back in, been driving like that for almost four thousand miles- it works trust me
Thanks for this video, a broken bolt in water pump caused the need to remove the front cover and this video was invaluable. I am into day number 2 of this job and I can say without reservation, working on this minivan has been an exercise in frustration. Another inch of clearance at the front and hours of labor would have been eliminated. Thanks again
I'm guessing it's the water pump that didn't have to come off, not the power steering pump. Unbolt the pulley, if anything. Thanks for a detailed video guys!
It needs to come off. It's to awkward to try and pull the timing chain cover off. Remember the timing chain cover has to be pulled straight out. (To clear the crankshaft)
💯 facts.. every time when I got to fix my car it's always in the middle of a blizzard -20°, 40 mph winds, when it's so cold though you put your tools next to the fire so they can warm up
Well, It's several years since you posted this. I have a 91 Dynasty with the 3.3 and it's time to do the timing chain. I have a puller but the crank sprocket will not budge, I'm just destroying my puller. I have looked for the socket puller you used in this vid but I can't find one anywhere, nobody even knows what I am talking about. Can't afford to put it in the shop.
Very nicely "clear" video. I was watching to figure out simply replacing the seal behind the harmonic balancer. And it looks like it is IN the timing cover, so hopefully I can pull the seal WITHOUT pulling the cover.
After you take the camshaft position sensor bolt out do you just simply pull the sensor out? I have the bolt off but can not get the sensor out. I don't want to be to ruff with it and damage it. I am in Australia so its a pain getting parts as I have to order most from America.
I drain my radiator by using a small hand transfer pump. Just put the pickup tube down to the bottom of the radiator thru the cap. I was actually able to save the fluid that way. And NO MESS!!
Doing this soon on an 02 the timing cover got broken from negligence fro. A previous mechanic not finishing installing the alternator with the 3rd bolt on the rear of the alternator. So will inspect my chain and waterpump and pulleys once the cover is off. All in all what would you say is a reasonable amount of time to diy this?
Can please tell me how you repaired that hose at the 12:50 mark? Mine is completely broken off/missing, is it a metal sleeve in the back of that housing or just a smaller diameter hose that slides into the housing? I still have the shorter cut hose, it was still attached to the metal tubing, just now on the pump housing/timing cover.
to scrap old gaskets formika does a good job and because it is made of wood it does not scratch metal. And you can find it as free color samples cards at home deppot or any paint dealer
How is the hose that you had to cut attached to the backside of the timing cover? I just bought an 06 grand caravan and that hose was already leaking at that joint but I can't tell how it was ever meant to attach and be sealed. There seemed to be a piece of metal in the hose but it didn't appear that the cover had a fitting that had broken off unless it was such a clean break that I'm missing something.
At 12:50 in this video (Part 1) you can see the hose connection to the cover. At 6:30 in the Part 2 video you can see the new hose that connects to this cover using a spring clamp.
Warning for headphone users, mute whenever you see the impact wrench the mic is aimed right at the wrench and is extremely loud if you have it turned loud enough to hear the dialogue.
Sorry about that! It's one of those things you can't control when you're DIY mechanic and videographer at the same time :). We hope you still found the video helpful.
I am doing this job now and the only tools I needed to buy were a 3 jaw puller which was about $75 at the auto parts store (you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere and a ratcheting box wrench for the rear water pump bolt that's nearly inaccessible (not really needed but it speeds up the job immensely).
This is in response to my other video...it shows the noise I was fixing.......th-cam.com/video/Cwn2ni_JqSc/w-d-xo.html&lc=z13ldddwpsnksxchp04cfpypxxmwwdbrdyk0k
I want to change my timing chain early just to be safe. Watching this tells me this is above my skill level. I'm afraid even professionals would be overwhelmed by this. What if they only claim they changed it? How would I know?
I just completed this job. I'm sure I would have messed up the cam position sensor had I not watched this. At 4:03 I noticed that when you removed the harmonic balancer bolt, that the harmonic balancer was not flush to the end of the crankshaft. After I installed mine, mine also is not flush, it looks just like yours, but I'm not sure if it should. I don't remember whether it was originally flush or not. Edit: I removed the bolt from another car and discovered that there is a gap - so the harmonic balancer is not flush with the end of the crankshaft, it sticks out past the end of the crankshaft. It appears to be something like 1/16 inch.
Yes indeed! We saved nearly $1000 by doing it ourselves, learned so much about our vehicle, honed our repair skills, and were able to share the process with others who may decide to take on this DIY project!
I disagree. I changed my oil and filter every 3,000 miles without fail on my 2004 and yet at 198,000 miles my chain was quite loose and noisy. There was no other wear in the engine, just the chain that stretched. th-cam.com/video/LgAIwYAoDKE/w-d-xo.html
GGBP14 Coming from the woman in the video, I take that only as the highest compliment, and think all women should expand their skills to include vehicle maintenance. We love working on cars together!
![fellow fellow - Proud [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9uZF7BlUQPE/mqdefault.jpg)
Im thankful for youtube. 11pm and im doing this. My van has been broken for to long. No one will help me do it. So ima do it myself.
You ever get it fixed?
My van has been broke down for almost 4 months because if this exact problem. I don't have the extra money to put it the shop so, I'm going to have to get my hands dirty and fix it myself. Thank you for sharing this video!
I had an 02 3.8 V6 with 200,000 miles and never had a problem with the chain.
I have an 05 3.3 52k miles (yes, 52k miles) and it jumped timing so the chain needs replaced
Just a quick tip for anyone watching, you will have much more access to most of the components that need to be removed if the wiper cowl area is removed. For example, the power steering pump has ZERO clearance because the high pressure line doesn't allow it to move much. (Oh, and make sure to remove the hard line while the pump is still mounted)
Very helpful. I don't that I would have attempted this without being able to watch your work first. Helpful narration and identification of special tools needed.
Good video, I actually broke four of the five 10 mm bolts at the water pump leaving the bottom left remaining! Instead of pulling the timing cover, I put the tensioning bolt back in but I pulled the head bolt that’s top right to the water pump all the way out, got a giant washer to hold the pump on better and screwed the head bolt all the way back in, been driving like that for almost four thousand miles- it works trust me
Thanks for this video, a broken bolt in water pump caused the need to remove the front cover and this video was invaluable. I am into day number 2 of this job and I can say without reservation, working on this minivan has been an exercise in frustration. Another inch of clearance at the front and hours of labor would have been eliminated.
Thanks again
got the sensor out... you have to turn it and pull it up. Thanks your video has helped me a lot.
I'm guessing it's the water pump that didn't have to come off, not the power steering pump. Unbolt the pulley, if anything. Thanks for a detailed video guys!
It needs to come off. It's to awkward to try and pull the timing chain cover off. Remember the timing chain cover has to be pulled straight out. (To clear the crankshaft)
1/4 inch extension and 3 jaw puller works just as good
It looks real nice where u guys are, it sucks doing this here in South Dakota during winter
💯 facts.. every time when I got to fix my car it's always in the middle of a blizzard -20°, 40 mph winds, when it's so cold though you put your tools next to the fire so they can warm up
Well, It's several years since you posted this. I have a 91 Dynasty with the 3.3 and it's time to do the timing chain. I have a puller but the crank sprocket will not budge, I'm just destroying my puller. I have looked for the socket puller you used in this vid but I can't find one anywhere, nobody even knows what I am talking about. Can't afford to put it in the shop.
excellent, glad you could get the plugs out
Very nicely "clear" video. I was watching to figure out simply replacing the seal behind the harmonic balancer. And it looks like it is IN the timing cover, so hopefully I can pull the seal WITHOUT pulling the cover.
After you take the camshaft position sensor bolt out do you just simply pull the sensor out? I have the bolt off but can not get the sensor out. I don't want to be to ruff with it and damage it. I am in Australia so its a pain getting parts as I have to order most from America.
Did you sell the special tools used in this video. If not, I might be interested in purchasing them.
Might you know if I can take out the timing chain cover in vehicle on a 2008 T&C 3.8L? Gasket leaking coolant.
I drain my radiator by using a small hand transfer pump. Just put the pickup tube down to the bottom of the radiator thru the cap. I was actually able to save the fluid that way. And NO MESS!!
Doing this soon on an 02 the timing cover got broken from negligence fro. A previous mechanic not finishing installing the alternator with the 3rd bolt on the rear of the alternator. So will inspect my chain and waterpump and pulleys once the cover is off. All in all what would you say is a reasonable amount of time to diy this?
Can please tell me how you repaired that hose at the 12:50 mark? Mine is completely broken off/missing, is it a metal sleeve in the back of that housing or just a smaller diameter hose that slides into the housing? I still have the shorter cut hose, it was still attached to the metal tubing, just now on the pump housing/timing cover.
Thank you!
to scrap old gaskets formika does a good job and because it is made of wood it does not scratch metal. And you can find it as free color samples cards at home deppot or any paint dealer
How is the hose that you had to cut attached to the backside of the timing cover? I just bought an 06 grand caravan and that hose was already leaking at that joint but I can't tell how it was ever meant to attach and be sealed. There seemed to be a piece of metal in the hose but it didn't appear that the cover had a fitting that had broken off unless it was such a clean break that I'm missing something.
It had spring clamps on both ends but mainly was held on by it being somewhat melted and fused from years of heat.
At 12:50 in this video (Part 1) you can see the hose connection to the cover. At 6:30 in the Part 2 video you can see the new hose that connects to this cover using a spring clamp.
So did timing chain jump a tooth?
How do you tell which timing chain set to get? I am looking on Parts Geek, and it has several sizes. Like a .555" a .684" and a 0.76"? Best quality?
We used OEM. Wasn’t a job I wanted to have to repeat and I have had overall bad results with aftermarket parts.
Warning for headphone users, mute whenever you see the impact wrench the mic is aimed right at the wrench and is extremely loud if you have it turned loud enough to hear the dialogue.
Sorry about that! It's one of those things you can't control when you're DIY mechanic and videographer at the same time :). We hope you still found the video helpful.
where is the video with timing chain noise recorded ? thanks
th-cam.com/video/Cwn2ni_JqSc/w-d-xo.html
You dont have to remove the wipe blades off you can get to the bolts from under the van you have to line up the holes its does work
Can you post a list of all special tools you bought for this project? Thank you...great video!
I am doing this job now and the only tools I needed to buy were a 3 jaw puller which was about $75 at the auto parts store (you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere and a ratcheting box wrench for the rear water pump bolt that's nearly inaccessible (not really needed but it speeds up the job immensely).
You can buy pullers on Amazon for the balancer and gear that are reasonably priced....
Your chain doesnt even seem too bad. It made a lot of noise? Mine is at 270,000 miles. It makes some noise.
Can't u use an impact wrench to get the crank pulling off
Yes, I did with no problem.
This is in response to my other video...it shows the noise I was fixing.......th-cam.com/video/Cwn2ni_JqSc/w-d-xo.html&lc=z13ldddwpsnksxchp04cfpypxxmwwdbrdyk0k
I want to change my timing chain early just to be safe. Watching this tells me this is above my skill level. I'm afraid even professionals would be overwhelmed by this. What if they only claim they changed it? How would I know?
You can drop the oil pan and visually inspect it.
I just completed this job. I'm sure I would have messed up the cam position sensor had I not watched this. At 4:03 I noticed that when you removed the harmonic balancer bolt, that the harmonic balancer was not flush to the end of the crankshaft. After I installed mine, mine also is not flush, it looks just like yours, but I'm not sure if it should. I don't remember whether it was originally flush or not. Edit: I removed the bolt from another car and discovered that there is a gap - so the harmonic balancer is not flush with the end of the crankshaft, it sticks out past the end of the crankshaft. It appears to be something like 1/16 inch.
All that just for the timing chain????
Yes indeed! We saved nearly $1000 by doing it ourselves, learned so much about our vehicle, honed our repair skills, and were able to share the process with others who may decide to take on this DIY project!
I have vehicles with over 300k with NO noise whatsoever!
I tried removing the harmonic balancer with a puller and it wouldn't budge.
Use an impact wrench on medium setting.
Here is a link to part 2: th-cam.com/video/GV5UmC2EFsQ/w-d-xo.html&feature=youtube_gdata
I don't understand why these have to have so many steps for something so important.
And with regular AND consistent oil and filter changes, with a quality oil, ALL of this is avoidable
I disagree. I changed my oil and filter every 3,000 miles without fail on my 2004 and yet at 198,000 miles my chain was quite loose and noisy. There was no other wear in the engine, just the chain that stretched. th-cam.com/video/LgAIwYAoDKE/w-d-xo.html
Not trying to be creepy, but, I think it's sexy when your woman works on a vehicle with you.
GGBP14 Coming from the woman in the video, I take that only as the highest compliment, and think all women should expand their skills to include vehicle maintenance. We love working on cars together!
Whats creepy about that... Makes for a good evening at home.
Yes your being creepy.
Dude u r lost
I'm not sure what you mean? The repair was successful and I'm still driving the vehicle tens of thousands of miles later and it is running smooth.