My mechanic told me I needed to change my timing chain out. I took it in to get the water pump replaced because of a weird high pitched chattering sound coming from the water pump area. I thought the pump was making noise b/c it had been leaking from time to time. But now after the bew pump is in, the chain-like noise still remains. I called around and got quotes of around 500 for labor. I found a timing chain replacement kit from parts bin.com, which costs ~ 200, but it does not come with sprockets. Do you think I should change the sprockets? the main sprocket is ~30 dollars and the cam gears are ~80 dollars each. Maybe I'll just change the big crank one?

Whaddya guys think??

 

Although I have never changed a timing chain on a Max it is always recommended to replace sprockets whenever you replace chains. Especially the smaller diameter one because they have less surface area and generally wear faster. As chains wear the distance between the rollers gets a little wider and the sprockets are worn with it. If you were to replace the chain without replacing the sprockets the new chain may not fit the old sprockets quite right and it could be noisier (and would wear faster) than if you replaced everything.

After looking at my Haynes manual in chapter 2-B it seems that the crank sprocket is the smaller of the three primary sprockets. This does not include the two secondary spockets PER SIDE that connect the intake and exhaust cams together. There are seven total sprockets in the timing set.

You know, maybe $500.00 doesn't sound so bad after all...

 

considering the chain should last the life of the car I would just replace the chain and maybe check oil pressure cause the chain tensioner is run by oilpressure if its low that could be it to.