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#1
11-05-2006, 10:58 AM
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119 timing chain question
I have been reading lots of posts on the 119 timing chain. I am considering the purchase of a salvage E420. The seller reports engine noise and advises that the chain has "slipped" on the right side. The engine will run, but makes lots of noise. Is it possible that the chain has indeed "slipped" or is it more likely that guides/tensioner are broken. Also, if the chain has indeed "slipped" would the resulting shift in valve timing likely result in piston/valve contact. Recall, the engine will run......
I think I have to assume bent valves and possibly damaged pistons/cylinder.....just trying to determine max risk... I've never seen the 8 cylinder engine opened up. (My limited experience is with the inline 6) Any comments would be appreciated. 
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#2
11-05-2006, 07:37 PM
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I've heard plenty about 117's breaking a rail, and eating some valves, but I honestly don't recall reading anything about 119's doing so.
If it were me, I would check the car out...For my suspicion would be that the wiring harness went south and the car is either in limp mode or it ate one of the coils (happened to me) and is only running on 4 cyls. See if the check engine light is on, and if it has the LED button, run the test on it, and see how many codes it spits out. If some of them don't make any sense, when compared to how the car runs, suspect the harness. You can find the harness going into the brainbox (between firewalls, where the batt. ought to be). If it looks as old as the rest of the car, I would suspect it as the culprit. In my case, the wiring harness also ate the ign. control module ($$$), besides a coil. Anybody else wanna chime in about the 119 chain and rails?
__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein 09 Jetta TDI 1985 300D
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#3
11-05-2006, 07:47 PM
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Thanks for the reply. Vehicle has new wiring harness--don't know if any fault codes are stored. Going to look at the vehicle would require a full day of travel time--just trying to get a good feel if it's worth it........
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#4
11-05-2006, 07:50 PM
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It is possible for a 119 motor chain to slip a tooth or two, it happened to me. The upper guides had shattered and were not functioning. The chain was loose enough to slap the bottom of the valve cover, which was probably happening on start up before the tensioner had built up pressure. It is a very difficult thing to diagnose as it throws off no fault codes. The car just doesn't run well - it idles poorly and lacks power. Thinking I was looking for one bad cylinder I tried pulling spark plug wires to look for a change in idle. But there were several cylinders that without spark had no impact on the idle. I don't know if the chain had slipped one tooth or two but there was no damage to the engine. The car has been fine ever since getting a new chain and tensioner. The only way to find the problem was to remove the valve covers. I wouldn't think you'd want to consider the car without doing at least that much.
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#5
11-06-2006, 06:30 PM
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I've done all the number crunching--think I'll pull the trigger. Heres what I think the odds are:
15% chance: No valve damage, install new chain, guides, and tensioner and let er rip.... 75% chance: Valve impact on right cylinder bank, do the above plus rebuild right head with a couple new valves and let er rip... 10% chance: Valve breakage and cylinder damage. Don't want to think about this to much....but then again, I could use a winter project....... Anybody else care to make a guess.......
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#6
11-06-2006, 09:49 PM
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FWIW...
The M117 will start and run on only 4 cylinders (one bank). It will run like absolute garbage, but it will run. I assume the M119 is no different. Expect anything.
__________________
Current: 2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee" 2024 CR-V Hybrid Previous: 1972 280SE 4.5 2018 Durango R/T, 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi" 1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k
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#7
11-07-2006, 08:49 AM
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Why would you want to buy a car like that? There has to be several, reasonably priced well under $10K, 94' E420s that run near perfect with clean titles without all the issues and mystery. This one sounds like a nitemare, doesn't it?
 A friend needed to re-build his 92' 500Es M119 recently ....it was probably half the present value of the car to do it....and he did on wholesale part prices with an off-duty MB wrench.
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