Howdy all,

One of my mates who owns an EB XR6 has recently had his timing belt snap and screw his engine. Ended up costing him over $1500 in parts alone to get it going again. What's the chances of something like this happening to a Magna that's done about 250,000kms? Not sure if it's had another one put in before I bought it so it may stil be the original. I've been told that the engine needs to come out to replace it so it does take a bit of time. Is it worth going to this sort of effort?

Anyone had this sort of problem before?

Cheers.

the 2.6L motor in the magna has a timing chain instead of a belt, you're supposed to replace it every 100000 km. I've read somewhere that you can replace the chain without having to take the motor out but I'd PM the experts (magna buff or madmagna) first

Thanks Scooot, I'll look into it further. Feel free to keep posting guys, the more knowledge the better.

Cheers.

Howdy all,

One of my mates who owns an EB XR6 has recently had his timing belt snap and screw his engine. Ended up costing him over $1500 in parts alone to get it going again. What's the chances of something like this happening to a Magna that's done about 250,000kms? Not sure if it's had another one put in before I bought it so it may stil be the original. I've been told that the engine needs to come out to replace it so it does take a bit of time. Is it worth going to this sort of effort?

Anyone had this sort of problem before?

Cheers.

Firstly, EB Falcons dont have a timing belt.

With the magna, if you havent had a belt change or you dont know the last time it was done... i'd consider getting one done next service just for peace of mind. Thats if its a v6.

If its a 4cyl, i wouldnt worry unless the timing chain is getting excessively noisy during day to day driving.

Firstly, EB Falcons dont have a timing belt.

With the magna, if you havent had a belt change or you dont know the last time it was done... i'd consider getting one done next service just for peace of mind. Thats if its a v6.

If its a 4cyl, i wouldnt worry unless the timing chain is getting excessively noisy during day to day driving.

Thanks mate, I'm not that mechanically minded, that's why I'm asking here.

Mine is a 4cyl so depending on how much it costs then I might get it done. I don't really like driving around in something that sounds like a lawn mower lol . Any idea how much including labour, etc?

Cheers

v6s are easy to change its just time consuming.

Thanks mate, I'm not that mechanically minded, that's why I'm asking here.

Mine is a 4cyl so depending on how much it costs then I might get it done. I don't really like driving around in something that sounds like a lawn mower lol . Any idea how much including labour, etc?

Cheers

Haha fair enough mate, on the good end of the scale, expect around the $650 mark (incl labour). But some mechanics can charge a little more, possibly up to $800ish. Best to ring around and get some quotes to compare against first. :)

chains left undone

chain rattle is the first sign repair is needed
adjust every 40000

Extreme cases

chain guides base metal is aluminiuim when the black material has worn through

the aluminium fillings float through the oil

the chains if left loose will slap onto the timing cover and make a hole

First of all

Myth 1, my chains need replacing every 100000 km....load of rubbish. They need doing when you get the start up rattle initially and the adjustement has been all used up. it is the balance chain that causes 90% of the problems. It is a single row chain, not much better than a bike chain.

Myth 2, engine has to come out....again a load of trash, in the TR, one of the front bracket bolts is a pain in the butt to get out but you can do it in car if you really want to. For all of the fiddling around, it is easier to undo a few more bolts and lift the motor out. This is the way I do them. You can do the rear main seal then while the sump is off.

Timing belts on teh V6, I can knock one off in an hour and a half provided that is all being done, if water pump has to also be done then you add time of course.

EB has a chain, it is common for them to go if the tensioner has been fiddled with previously as they over tension and then eventually snap.

You can do the rear main seal then while the sump is off.


Doesnt the flexplate/flywheel have to come off too? (in ref to 4cyl, as the OP mentioned).

Doesnt the flexplate/flywheel have to come off too? (in ref to 4cyl, as the OP mentioned).

10 points for captain obvious here, bet you did not know that it is only 6 more bolts while the motor is out :D

10 points for captain obvious here, bet you did not know that it is only 6 more bolts while the motor is out :D

Lol!

Just sounds like a pain in the rear end to lift the engine just to do the chains. Unless it did need other work done at the same time.

Believe me, when you have lost 90% of the sking off your knuckles, twisted around the sump to try and get it off and then you are trying to line up the chains and balance chains with a chassis rail in the way, lifting the engine out is easy, it only takes an hour and a hlaf approx.

well I have done some research and
have found no information about when the timing chains should be chaged in any MMal repair manual

well done Madmagna.

under normal driving conditions

timing belts replacement for V6 is 100,000 ks

in a first gen 4 cyl TR or TS factory manuals I found

info only on the the timing chain adjustment adjustment 40,000 and 80,000100,000

but no definite time (MMal dont commit them selves to a time or KM) when to replace the chains cogs or sprockets

so if you hear the chain rattle .. then it is time to replace the timng set up in the 4 cyl

i have done several timing chains on the 4 cylinders at 150,000k-200,000 k and the guides were to aluminium ...and sprockers were worn . not a chain problem as such

well I have done some resarch and
have found no information about when the timing chains should be chaged in any MMal repair manual

well done Madmagna.

under noormal driving conditions

timing belts replacement for V6 is 100,000 ks

in a first gen 4 cyl TR or TS factory manuals I found

info only on the the timing chain adjustment

but no definite time or KM when to do replace the chains cogs or sprockets

so if you hear the chain rattle .. then it is time to replace the timng set up in the 4 cyl

Something pops into mind that the owners service booket mentions timing chain at either 100 or 150,000kms.

EDIT, just checked.. its definately 100,000kms for the chain.

in the a first gen TN owners service book its does another balance chain adjustment at 100,000 only 20,000 k later thats strange

not in the TN factory manual that 100,000 k adjustment


would be good to get this sorted so everyone has a rough idea

Ahh sorry guys.. my fault. Looking at the servicing booklet again, it looks like its a generalised booklet for many mitsu vehicles. After looking through it again, it mentions timing chain, but also mentions in brackets (Magna 4cyl Add 0.4Hr labour) which i dont think is anywhere near enough time to do a chain. lol

So yeah apologies again, my bad.. looks like the mystery remains. :doubt:

I know alot of cars dont really have set intervals for timing chain replacement... but some do. So yeah.. mitsu might have not specified one for the magna.

I think most magnas tend to get noisy around the 100-120k + mark, so i spose if you're keen on your vehicles maintenance, this would probably be a good rough interval?

It's a fair chunk of money to put into a car considering all the other small things you could do for the same amount of money. If it's not doing any damage to the car while it's rattling I guess I'll just continue driving a lawnmower lol.

It's a fair chunk of money to put into a car considering all the other small things you could do for the same amount of money. If it's not doing any damage to the car while it's rattling I guess I'll just continue driving a lawnmower lol.

Sure is alot of $ mate.. i'd only consider getting it done if it was constantly rattling. If it only does it during startup then it should be ok for a bit longer.

Yeah, it does it a little at startup but then stops after a second. The other thing is that when it's hot it'll rattle anytime there's not enough air flow through the fan, eg. sitting at the lights. Fills you with confidence when you pull up next to something with a bit of grunt and I'm there rattling away. Might wait until it needs to be done or until the engine has to come out anyway.

Thanks for all the advice, extremely helpful as usual, cheers.

From past experience with 2.0 and 2.6 L Mitsu engines, when the chains start to rattle, it is also time to do valve stem seals, new rings and bore hone. If the car has been neglected oil change wise, it might need a crank grind, new bearings and rebore. If the engine has done about 200,00 Km, and the chains rattle at hot idle, best to rip it out and do the whole lot, rather than replacing just the chains and guides. Oil pump clearances are worth looking at too, as well as head hardness and valve guides.

To clear up an important point:

BELT: service replacement at 5 years or 100,000 Km.

CHAINS: At engine overhaul, NOT part of a normal service!!

NB: V6 has BELT, 4cyl has CHAINS. mmmkay??

To clear up an important point:

BELT: service replacement at 5 years or 100,000 Km.

CHAINS: At engine overhaul, NOT part of a normal service!!

NB: V6 has BELT, 4cyl has CHAINS. mmmkay??

Thanks MadMax, it's certainly given me something to think about. If it needs doing I might need to find some extra cash to get it going. Cheers.