CJ timing chain stretch

Hi Guys. New to this forum, but not new to forums as I belong to a Triton one. The wife has a early 2008 CJ Lance which has just developed a serious problem. Looking for help from the brains trust here.

Yesterday the car would drive but would stall at idle. Just got it to the mechanic and after checking many things including the MAF and air sensor struggled to find the problem. At one he had all 4 spark plug leads disconnected and it was still running. He thought that there might be diesel in the tank. He filled it with 98 and suggested it may dilute it and run it through.

This morning the car wouldn't start and had it towed back to the mechanic after being see by a NRMA tech. He said that the timing belt had snapped. I know from my research that it has a timing chain.

Visited my mechanic this afternoon and he had the rocker cover off. What he discovered is the timing chain has stretched and skipped a few teeth.

So my question is, is this a common problem? I believe I have the 10 year drive train warranty as I am the original owner. Has anyone heard of this happening before? Do you guys think it would be covered under warranty?

Looking for any help that is offered.

Cal

Haven't heard of any issues with the timing chain stretching on the CJ Lancers.

Have you always serviced the car on time and used oil that meets the Mitsubishi's specification? if you haven't done this, then it could potentially be possible to block an oil galley and cause reduced lubrication of the chain which could make it stretch.

But if your servicing is on time, then you are probably just unlucky. Give Mitsubishi a chat and ask them about the warranty...

Oh and btw, how many kms has your car done?

Thanks for the reply Ryan. The car only has 125k and is always serviced and the correct oil used as I know my mechanic quite well. It's also stock standard and never had any mods unlike my Triton.

Have read that early 2008 Evo's had had a problem but not sure if it's related in any way.

Also does anyone know if it's a roll over motor,as in the valves don't touch the pistons in this situation.

Not sure on that sorry. I'd be willing to bet it is an interference motor and a quick search on Google would seem to suggest that is the case...

Have you had any luck with a warranty job through Mitsubishi?

Yeah I asked them and it's an interference motor. It is currently at the dealers now after being towed there. They are starting with putting us through the ringer. As I had it serviced by my mechanic. Have asked for all receipts from him showing what oil has been used.

We are now playing the waiting game from Mitsubishi.

Ok guys abit of an update on my situation with the warranty claim. After numerous phone calls from my wife chasing them as to where we were at, they finally came back agreed to repair under warranty.

Were told that the car would be ready for pickup the next day. However we get another call, the car wouldn't start. They found that there is no compression and possible bent valves. So the sage continues.

My work has had a RA CJ stretch the chain and blow the engine. That was a severe case caused by a lack of servicing. We also had a colt with exactly the same issue. Wouldn't say it's common but it's definitely strange considering yours has been maintained.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if your internals have been damaged from the chain stretch. Wouldn't be surprised if your internals are damaged, as a stretched belt will throw out timing and you'll have your valves bouncing on the piston. Good thing you have warranty!

Mmmm no surprises that the motor is damaged...hopefully they don't stuff it up pulling the motor apart and reconditioning it....

Yes well I have a day off tomorrow and I will be calling in to have a chat with them to see how things are going. I have a background in diagnosing machinery problems and reliability. Will be very interested in what they have to say. I will have to be careful as I don't handle bull very well.

They finally got the head off today and it appears they found all of the valves are bent. I asked about the pistons and was told that they are ok. Am a little bit suspect. The components arrive tomorrow and the head goes to the machine shop. Have been told we may have it at the end of the week. Not holding my breath, so we will see. Also confirmed again with them that it's all under warranty, and all good.

So a little update to what has been happening. The head finally when back on, and when they started it up they found that it was hunting. It believed that the valve clearances required shimming and the kit would take another couple of days. The valve clearances are finally set and they start it again only to find an error code from the VVT solenoid. So now we are waiting for that part. In the meantime my wife has been giving it to them about a loan car as she has been driving my ute to work and I need it for work aswell. After this last spray and failure they finally gave us a loan car.

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So we finally got our car back today, at this stage everything seems ok and the car is running well. I must say for all the heartache the dealer has been good, and everything has been repaired under warranty.

Thanks guys for listening to my little story, and you never know we may meet sometime.

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actually timing chain is unfortunately a very big common in the 08/09 lancers, mainly the 4B11T (RA and Evo)
the used a 1-1 chain on the 08 and 09 which is quite a small chain and is very weak therefore stretching quicker than it is meant to and making the timing go off after awhile
2010 they introduced 2-1 chain which is better but still not the best
2011 onwards they use a 4-2-4-2 chain which is much thicker, therefore more durable

http://www.evolutionoz.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=84985 <---- MORE INFO

anyways at least your dealership honored the warranty

Glad to hear it finally got sorted...makes you wonder if it would have been easier/cheaper for them to have just dropped a crate motor in rather than all the dicking around they did!

Damir said:

actually timing chain is unfortunately a very big common in the 08/09 lancers, mainly the 4B11T (RA and Evo)

Click to expand...

From what I understand though it's not at all common in the NA CJs and there are plenty out there running much higher mileages than the OPs and they haven't had dramas.

It is still the same weak chain and no it is not common but not impossible
Car could have been thrashed
Temparatures could have changed dramatically over the years causing it to stretch
But all that matters is that the issue is resolved

The car has spent it's whole time in Sydney so no dramatic environmental temperature changes. Engine temps have always been monitored and there has been no large temperature changes and we have owned the car since new. The car is driven by my wife 95% of the time and we have teenage kids so you can guess our age bracket. And I drive it normally as I have my little sports car for fun. So the car has not had a hard life, but interestingly the chain still stretched. However lucky for us MMA still honored the 10 year drive train warranty.

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65cal can you tell me what dealership this went through, as I currently have the same issue and they want to confirm others have had it done under warranty? and also was it 100% under warranty meaning you didnt have to pay anything?

And have you had any further issues at all?

Yes mate 100% under warranty approved by MMA. Work was done by Tynan Motors service centre in Kirrawee (Sutherland).

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