Crank/No Start - '02 L200 2.2L
 

Hi all! I'm having an issue with my 2.2L and just days before I am supposed to take the family camping.

Here is what occurred:

I fill up the tank and begin to leave the gas station. Engine dies / electrical still on. I tow it home.

Engine cranks but never starts.

I check for spark - all is well there
I connected a fuel pressure gauge - all is well (~55#)
Fuel injectors click
Timing belt is ~20K old

I ran a compression test and got bizarre results:
30-0-15-0

At this point I have to think I did the test incorrectly even though I watched several videos detailing the procedure.

I'm at a loss...

Also, a couple months ago I replaced the fuel filter, plugs, and serpentine.

Any thoughts here?

Sean

The first thing you need to do is run the engine codes and go from there. I really think you need to do another compression test as those numbers make no sense at all to me. Do you have an inspection cover that you can remove and check the timing belt? I'm not familiar with the 2.2, so am just guessing here.

I didn't try running the codes as I had been running a bunch of tests. I figured it would throw a bunch about no spark, etc. I should have as soon as it died...

I retried the compression test and all read essentially 0.

There is no inspection cover for this motor so I have to remove the head. I'll post back with what is found.

Thanks!

Seems odd the timing chain would go to hell without warning...but then again most people listen to the radio and not the car.

So it looks like the chain jumped and the pistons ruined the valves.

I'm calling this motor a loss and getting something else.

Thank you very much for your assistance!

Sean

Wow! Sorry to hear that. Where do you live? Maybe a member here lives close enough to want it and take it off your hands and do a transplant.

I hate when that happens.
 

There is known issues with the L series 2.2 timing chains. There was a recall on a small window of vehicles around 99 or 2000 I think. The issue is the timing chain oiler orifice was designed too small and would not oil the chain properly especially when the oil didnt get changed enough. GM blamed it on customers not changing their oil enough. That is a crock. Mine broke at 106k miles. It wrecked the head from valve interference. cost me $750 to do it myself. I put in the new upgraded oiler / tensioner that GM came up with. Unfortunately, my car was not included in the recall for some reason. I actually had lawyers from Chicago trying to get me to go in on a lawsuit on this issue. I declined due to the time requirements of pursuing this case.

Yep, I had the same issue with my L series, 2.2(L61)... Basically, it made a very light ticking noise since I bought it(thought maybe worn lifters)and over 11,000 miles, it changed very little(a little worse maybe), then it just died... Given that the car was recently given a cosmetic total loss, and it did have 262,000 miles, I decided to just cut my losses... But same symptoms as you...