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Hello all,

I have a 2002 Si that I bought about 7 months ago with 150,000 miles on it. It now has about 160,000. A couple weeks ago I took an 800-mile round trip to Michigan, as I was pulling out of one of the Illinois tollways on my way back the engine started to stutter on 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears. I don't know too much about cars but I kind of figured it was a feul pump or something of the sort because it felt like fuel just wasn't reaching the engine.
As soon as I got back I called my mechanic and told him what happened and that I'd be bringing the car in, he told me to bring it in a few days when he clears up. In the meantime the car was making some rattling noises from the engine but I passed it off as a loose part and wasn't too worried because the was no interruption in performance. The car was literally driving just fine.
The day before I was supposed to take it to the mechanic I left work and tried to start the car- nothing. It just sounded like **** was churning in the engine but absolutely no response.
I had several people look at it and they all concluded my timing chain went out. They cited low oil as a problem but I had changed it about 3,000 miles back with full synthetic and I doubt that's the problem. My dip stick never shows the right amount of oil anyways, even when I had just gotten the oil changed and I checked it it showed low oil. I saw no leaks at any point of owning the car.
Anyways, I'm getting a new engine. It's costing me about 2k which i hear is a good price. the new engine I'm getting has 96k miles.
My question: should I worry about the timing chain in this new engine? I;m not getting a clear cut idea as to whether it's the timing chain or belt that needs to be changed every 100k miles? I obviously don't want to have to worry about the same problem after dropping everything in my back account on getting the car fixed.
Any advice is much appreciated, sorry for the book-length rant and thank you

 
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Was it a timing chain? or a belt? I've been told that I never have to worry about the chain breaking in my 03 Si...

 
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Si, 2.0, chain drive.
Unless it is Canadian. Then it would be a regular EX in the states.

The people that NEED to worry about the timing chain are the ones that don't.

Neglect and the WRONG SPEC oils cause chain stretch, and then they are free to jump time.

YES.

 
Rep Power: 186

So, basically you're totally ignorant about car care and can't really think for yourself.

That's what i got out of your "rant".

I think you're fortunate some one like ezone even answered you.

Good luck with that.

 
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Thanks guys, great 'help.'

FYI I had the mechanic check the oil level just this morning by emptying the oil out and it did indeed have more than enough. the dipstick, like I said, showed no oil before I had even driven away from my last oil change. Everything else in the car was normal.

Anyone have any real advice to give?

 
Rep Power: 313

If your installing a used engine it's best to check the chain before you install it. Chains usually don't need to be replaced so make sure they inspect it thoroughly. It's possible you had a defective chain or something else caused it to break. The mechanic should be able to do this for minimal cost since the engine is already out.

^ You two take it easy. Not everyone has an interest in cars like you two do and frankly don't care about maintenance. I know a person who drove a Ford for 240, 000 kms and only changed the oil. If they are happy that's all that matters. You two don't have to get rude because you know more than them. Their interests lie somewhere else, that is all.

 
Rep Power: 193

Like ezone said he has an 2.0L SI so it's a chain. If the car was sold in the Canadian market it's an EX. The OP never confirmed....

How much oil did the mechanic pull out? A 2.0L takes 5 quarts if you change the filter.

Was it the same mechanic who did the oil change 3k miles ago?

Either the mechanic messed up and didn't put enough oil in the car or the original dipstick broke and was replaced with the wrong one.

 
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We all had to start from somewhere guys...

Back on topic, did the mech actually open up your valve cover to inspect the chain?

 
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I think it's safe to say that it's a K20A3 that OP's talking about..

First, chain instead of belt. Second, OP's talking in miles, not kilometers.

as far as the problem at hand, I don't have any experience with timing chains, so I can't really help you there. Sorry.

 
Rep Power: 193

Ah I thought it was an A2.

A3 should take 4.4qts with filter change.

 
Rep Power: 186

Rude? Really? For calling it like we see it. Typical thinking in today's weak minded society. Making excuses for the inept, non-thinkers.

And, no, I'm not going to take it easy. I'm going to call it like I see it and if you have an f'in problem with it, feel free to ban me or have me banned.

It appears you've driven ezone away. I haven't seen a reply from him in days on anything. One of the most knowledgeable people on this forum not feeling the need to help. Maybe it's just coincidence that he's not replied to any posts recently.

Maybe you'll sleep better now that everything is politically correct in this forum with the exception of this post, my original post and ezone's post.

Have a nice day.

That is all.