What are the consequences of a car timing chain skipping teeth?
2 Answers
The consequences of a car timing chain skipping teeth are: the acceleration may feel less powerful than before, fuel consumption may increase, and the engine sound may become slightly muffled. The functions of the timing chain are: 1. To drive the engine's valve train, ensuring that the intake and exhaust valves open and close at the appropriate times; 2. To guarantee that the engine cylinders can properly intake and exhaust air. The replacement method for the timing chain is: 1. Remove the valve cover and then the timing chain housing; 2. Rotate the crankshaft to align the first cylinder at top dead center and secure the crankshaft with the fixing bolt; 3. Rotate the intake and exhaust camshafts; there are grooves at the rear of the camshafts—align these grooves evenly; 4. Remove the old chain and install the new one; 5. Ensure there is no gap at the crankshaft position sensor during installation to avoid triggering fault codes.
A friend's car broke down because of this issue just two days ago, and I only understood the problem after following him to the repair shop. The scariest thing about chain skipping is that the valves and pistons can collide—just a 'click' and they hit each other. At best, the valves bend and you'll need to open the cylinder head; at worst, the piston cracks, the connecting rod deforms, and the entire engine could be totaled. My friend's car suddenly started shaking at idle, lacked power when accelerating, and made a rattling noise—if driven further, it would have needed a major overhaul. The mechanic said older cars are especially prone to this issue—whether it's a loose chain or a faulty tensioner, both are dangerous. If you hear any unusual noises, getting it checked immediately is the right move.
