Nine problems related to timing tensioner have been reported for the 2000 Saturn LS. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I took my car in for a tune up and found out the timing belt tensioner had gone bad destroying my motor.
Tl * the contact owns a 2000 Saturn Ls. The contact stated that while idling, the vehicle shook, the engine roared as the rpms decreased. The dealer reprogrammed the body control module, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer again and the timing chain, tensioner, and guides were replaced. The failure appeared to be remedied, but recurred a year later. The dealer stated that the timing chain could not be properly adjusted and was striking the guides, which produced the roaring sound in the engine. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.
My son was driving my 2000 Saturn Ls2 at 30 mph, when the car suddenly died and would not start. Upon further investigation, the was no compression when turning over the vehicle. My mechanic has told me that the tensioner arm holding the timing belt shattered. The timing belt on this vehicle had been replaced by the dealership 18 months prior. Luckily, my son was on a lightly traveled residential street at the time of the malfunction and was not injured nor were his passengers.
2000 Ls1 with approx 75000 miles started making a putting/fluttering noise. Took to dealer who stated timing chain cover had a hole from the timing chain due to the timing chain tensioner failing. Replaced the timing chain, chain cover, and timing chain tensioner. Work done according to statement. . . Chain, camshaft timing - replace. . . Chain pkg, gasket-en,seal asm, cover asm, oil change. Looked up info on internet after friend stated unusual that timing chain would fail under 100,000 miles.
Car started to make loud rattling noise from the engine. . . I saw a small crack on the top of the cam cover about 4 in. Long. I went to a repair shop that I have used before and they said it was the timing chain hitting the cover!! this should never happened to a car with 61,000 miles on it ! I called and wrote to the mfg. In TN. And talked to the area mgr. And she advised bring the car to the dealer. I brought the car in and the service mgr. Said the chain tensioner failed and that caused the chain to hit the cover. The timing chain and all parts must be replaced $985. 00 + tax. The area mgr. Said there was nothing she could do for the repair cost that is a mechanical part and it just failed! I told her there was a recall for the 2001 yr. But mine was not included in the recall.
My car was paid off in may 2007 and the timing chain broke in November 2007. I brought it into the dealer about a year ago with poor fuel economy, rough idle in the morning, oxygen sensor failure and random cylinder misfire. The dealer could not isolate the problem. They pressurized the fuel system to check for leaks. Cleaned the injectors and charged me 150$. . . Did not help. They said it was probably a bad injector. . . Had the injectors checked and they were fine. Had the oxygen sensor replaced 3 times. Nothing helped. Turns out the tensioner on the timing chain was failing. The dealership never thought of this even though it is a very common problem on this motor. Well the problem persisted until the chain jumped and the car would not start. 1250$ is the estimate to install the updated timing chain kit not to mention the cost of a rental car, the time and aggravation caused by a Saturn design flaw. Ps. My car has 83,000 miles on it.
2000 Saturn Ls timing chain failure. Engine noise from right front, dealer removed valve cover found piece of top chain guide missing. Dealer removed front cover and found chain to have excessive play. Replaced timing chain, guides and tensioner assembly cost of $846. 68 and later discovered no recall has been made other then with thousands of complaints of Saturn Ls and l-series sedans and wagons with bad timing chains and noise the only way to notice it failing is if you really pay attention to the car and the noise and can remain unnoticed to average owner and premature engine failure to result. Timing chain replaced at 72550 miles.
1) my car was operating normally until 8/26/06, when I noticed an oil leak. I discovered a 3" fissure in the valve cover, over the timing chain. 2) I removed the valve cover and discovered that the timing chain had ground away the upper guide and was working on "chewing through" the valve cover. The timing chain had not yet broken, but had it done so, I would be looking at over $2000 of engine damage. I was unable to drive the car until I repaired the timing chain issue. 3) according to a Saturn TSB 03-06-01-017, the original design of the oilier for the timing chain was ineffective. I have bought a "new design" timing chain kit from the dealer and installed it myself. I will keep all the old parts (guides, valve cover, chain, tensioner, etc. For a couple of months if the NHTSA wants them.
Vehicle blew up, there no lights prior to the failure. Dealership said that the tensioner stopped the serpentine belt. After the car stopped the battery light did came on. Dealership said that the engine light would not come on because that was a mechanical problem not electrical. Dalso, ealership said that the serpentine belt shredded. Vehicle was serviced about one month prior to this and everything was fine.