My 2014 Buick Verano had been throwing air intake codes so I replaced the MAF sensor which got rid of the engine lights. Months later the car died (no rattling, no weird noises, just instant shutdown while driving slow). It started right back up and the mechanic replaced spark plugs, air filters, and a couple sensors. He told me the timing chain is about to go and it’ll cost me $7-10k to fix today or the car will inevitable self destruct. The car never gave me codes related to timing or engine performance.

  1. Is it possible to give this diagnosis?

  2. Is that an insane quote?

Thanks

  • Urban-Paradox@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Look up if your motor is an interference or non interference motor.

    Short article about it.

    https://knowhow.napaonline.com/what-is-an-interference-engine/

    Basically non interference have the lowest likely hood of damage while an interference motor you will smash up ain’t of parts and cost more to rebuild.

    Now the person could just be saying hey it is 100k time to fix it or maybe they looked at it. If it was easy to look at probably not hard to get into to replace if hard to look at and hard to replace i doubt they checked it without billing you for it.

    I have not used these guys but looks like two engines for your vehicle. One of them you can get a rebuilt motor with 5 year warranty for bit over 3k so depending on install cost probably could get a rebuilt motor with warranty for 8k

    Why would you only put a new chain in and have the same old pistons, rings and bearings that you got 100k+ miles on for 8k while you could do a whole warranty motor.

    Long story short get a second opinion and better quote probably can get the whole timing chain set with all new tensioners closer to 1000-1500 near me maybe less. I would only go oem parts since this is a critical part vs say off brand windshield wiper fluid does not really matter.

    • Itisd@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Non interference motors are mostly a thing of the past. To get higher compression and better engine efficiency, modern engines are pretty much always interference engines.

      • Urban-Paradox@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        Still can find them in some of the more base model non turbo motors. Then in your heavier higher displacement non turbo gas engines will be as well. But it is getting less of them for sure