02 Sl2 question!!
 

Hey guys, I'm new to the site and the Saturn world. I picked up a 2002 sl2, it is very clean for an ole car but had a couple minor issues. It has a minor head gasket leak. I'm in the process of tearing it all apart and I just got the timing cover off and noticed something. It looks to me like at one point someone removed it without taking out the center bolt up top. It broke the cover and they had it welded back and put it back together with enough sealer to patch up the titanic. My question for you guys is where can I buy a new timing cover? Also the head gasket kit came with valve seals, should I go ahead and replace those while the car is apart? Are they known for wearing out and leaking?

I just dug up some listings for this part for another user but don't remember the year or model. Lemme go re-dig

Post #4 in the thread

https://www.saturnforum.com/forum/sa...estions-10533/

no clue if ebay ones are still available

Do you have the OEM part number for the timing chain cover? If so, try Vintage Parts, Vintage Parts - Your Service Parts Inventory Partner. I've had pretty good luck with finding obsolete parts for older cars at this place. But you need the GM part number to find out if they have the part you are looking for.

Good luck.

21008229 per the 1st 2 of the listings in my link

Thank you for all the replies, I used the eBay link and bought a used one off of there. They aren't all that easy to find lol. Should I replace the valve seals while it's apart?

any time you open a Saturn up, do as much as makes sense if you plan to keep the car

So I would say yes

Thanks man, I guess I'll give it a go. I replaced some on an 02 4.6l so he Mustang with the head and cam on the car. This one will be off and I will yank the cams as well so it should be fairly easy compared to that last job. I hope lol.

Okay guys I need some help. I replaced everything and got it back together and now I got no oil pressure. Is their something I could of done or missed?

I'm by no means an expert and I'll probably expose my ignorance here, but having just finished rebuilding a 1.9 SOHC engine, I might be able to help. Did your new timing chain cover have an oil pump already installed? or did you replace the oil pump when installing the new timing chain cover?

You sir are correct, it did have an oil pump on it. It was tough to turn, I oiled it up till it turned easy but I bet that's the problem. I'll take it off and put the one on my broken timing chain on it or buy a new one. Thanks for the reply!

one other thing to look for when you install that timing chain cover with the integrated oil pump.... there are two rubber seals that are needed between the pump and the engine block. If these are not there, especially on the pick up side, you won't get the suction needed to pull oil up from the pan thru the oil screen and tube and all you'll pull through the pump is air.

While you had the timing chain cover off and were working on the head gasket and valve seals, did you replace the timing chain set too? The whole reason i had to rebuild my 1.9 was due to a slipped timing chain (at 205k miles) that resulted in two broken rocker arm, three bent exhaust valves and 1 completely broken exhaust valve stem. I don't recall you saying how many miles are on the engine but if it's getting up there, a timing chain might be in order.

and it is entirely possible that the timing chain cover you bought was available because --- you guessed it -- the oil pump must have gone south, leading to timing chain breakage and the mangled internal engine carnage that usually accompanies that...

+1 on what baldguy said. those gaskets could be either old or missing if they werent thought about (i didnt remember until baldguy said it lol, been awhile since i was in that motor)
I would replace it while its out,i dont believe it was an expensive part. Thats not a fun area to be working in with the motor in car. If you havent replaced the chain, they may be sold as a kit/package.

When I did mine, I packed the pump with vaseline to help prime the system (at recommendation of my friend walking me thru my first engine build) I figured
i'd share that not sure if that would help or anything

just curious, were you able to fix your oil pressure problem?

i have a stupid question here for yall. with an 02 sl2 would you have to pull/drop the motor to get the timing covor/chain and oil pump off. and are all oil pumps integrated with the timing cover