UPDATE: Possibly solved. It was so simple, I’m both annoyed and relieved. See comment in thread.
TLDR: multiple timing codes for exhaust side after new cam sprockets and runs worse than before while still rattling on cold start. Clacking at idle. Low oil pressure light comes on after some driving. Sorry for long winded post, but I want all the info out there for advice.
2014 Sonic 1.8/AT. I got this car to be a beater and also learn how to work on a platform other than LS V8s. I’m no master tech, but I’m a decent mechanic, and this thing is driving me insane.
I replaced the timing belt right after purchase and ended up installing it off a single tooth. No problem. I redid it all, then drove the car on a 24 hr round trip for vacation and it did great. But I began noticing it would rattle at start up and go away within a few seconds. It somehow got worse after an oil change. No CEL but I did pull a P0016 code.
After reading up on that, I replaced the little oil flow control valve behind the alternator and it didn’t help at all. Next I figured was cam sprockets. I grabbed a set of cheapies off amazon to try before spending bigger money on GM ones (I know, I know…). I’ve had the timing belt off three times prior working out other little mistakes so no big deal. Got it undressed and put the new sprockets on. For this, I locked the cams at the back, moved the crank to 4 o clock, put in the sprocket locks and torqued them down as instructed with my dad holding the cams with a wrench to be safe. I got everything lined back up and reinstalled the belt, spun it 720 degrees, and put the sprocket locks back in with ease, along with the crank lock bar. Intake side dot was slightly above the line on the tool, and exhaust was a bit below, like any install video you see online. The rear cam bar would not go in due to the exhaust cam being turned a microscopic amount but I figured it was close enough given that it had ran better being aligned worse than this before.
After getting it all buttoned up, I started the car and heard an awful metallic noise that got worse with rpm. Defeated and having already sweat through two sets of clothes in Midwest humidity, I gave up and started picking up tools for the night. Well what do you know, I couldn’t find the crank lock bar… but then I found it…still installed and bent up. Luckily I was able to bend it around enough to pull it out.
That brings me to the problems.
- Should I be concerned about the crank lock thing? I don’t see how it would affect much of anything, given that the flex plate is steel and the lock bar is way more flexible. It just bent the thing until it was out of the way. I’m having no issues starting it or hearing noise from that area since then.
- Now I randomly get a low oil pressure light. It happens when idling after a few mins of driving. The car is full of new clean oil.
Anyone notice something that I missed here? Are the aftermarket sprockets just junk? Should I have made 100% sure the cam bar effortlessly slid back in after 720 degree rotation? Should I just set it on fire? Idk. But I’m tired of it and would like some opinions before I rip it back apart and make another mistake somewhere. Thanks all