2000 c230. Trying to do the timing chain. Alignment marks wont align. Info says to set crank at 20 atdc yet if i put the pins on cam gears, it will either land the crank at about 10 atdc or 25 atdc. I dont quite understand how to set up the intake cam to retarded position. If someone has a diy with pictures or video, i would be extremely thankful.
Timing chain help please
chicows18
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2000 c230. Trying to do the timing chain. Alignment marks wont align. Info says to set crank at 20 atdc yet if i put the pins on cam gears, it will either land the crank at about 10 atdc or 25 atdc. I dont quite understand how to set up the intake cam to retarded position. If someone has a diy with pictures or video, i would be extremely thankful.
1973 W107 350SL, 1985 W123 280TE, 1983 W123 230E, 1996 W202 C280
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First of all just saying 2000 c230 doesn't actually tell us which particular variant of engine is in the car, yes it will be a M111 But what M111.###? Go buy yourself a suited workshop manual as you can't dispute the "bible".
Oh and you should always make your own timing marks for reference as an engines history is nearly always unknown.
Good luck.
Oh and you should always make your own timing marks for reference as an engines history is nearly always unknown.
Good luck.
I have the manual but there are many different things I do not understand. For example, it say to have the adjustable intake cam gear in a "retarded" position. From what I have gathered, this meand to clock it clockwise to its maximum point. Correct me if I am wrong. Another thing that I forgot to mention. When I set the guide pins on both cam gears and have the crank at 20 degree ATDC, everything is fine and aligned and the chain is ready to be pressed down, yet when I load the tensioner, the crank moves over to almost 30 degree ATDC. Is this normal? Right now, I can only get the exhaust pin in. The intake pin is almost there. Yet the crank is at about 10 degree ATDC. I have rotated the engine as slowly as possible and I do not feel any interference with the valves and the pistons. I just need to make sure this will be ok. If there are any techs or anyone that has worked on these, I would appreciate their feedback. I will try to upload some pictures I took.
I guess my ultimate question would be if crank is set at 20 degree ATDC and both pins are put into cam gears, is it ok that crank moves when tensioner is loaded. This is exactly what is happening. It moves to about 30 degree ATDC. And also, is the position of the intake can adjuster correct as per the pictures?
As far as I can tell yes. Installed the guide or base first, then loaded in the tube I guess with the spring followed by the allen plug. As it tension the chain guide it pulls on the chain and thus pulls the crank to 30 degree ATDC.
The only other reason I could suggest is that there might be sprocket wear here. If the chain had stretched such that it needed to be replaced, you must have a significant mileage. That might affect the spacing and hence the timing marks position.
I managed to get the chain in with the timing mark on crank at 20 degree atdc and both guides installed. What i had to do though is turn the adjustable intake cam counterclockwise. The book says to do it clockwise if you are looking at the engine from the front, but it didnt work for me. Will this cause any harm? I rotated the engine by the crank bolt and it seems to be turning just fine.
You are probably OK. The WIS drawing I posted was for 'checking' the basic timing.
The drawing below is for setting the basic timing. Read through and see if you did the right moves. However, I do not see why changing the chain should upset the timing. That is normally only needed if you dismantle the camshaft assembly.
The drawing below is for setting the basic timing. Read through and see if you did the right moves. However, I do not see why changing the chain should upset the timing. That is normally only needed if you dismantle the camshaft assembly.
I checked this morning and the position of the intake cam is ok. Its clocked clockwise all the way so that is good. Just finished putting everything back together and it almost wants to start.....but it doesnt. Almost as if no fuel is getting through. Do I have to reset the computer some way or is there something Im missing?
No 'reset' required.
I am sure that you have checked that everything you disconnected has gone back as it was. Are the sparkplugs wet after a no-start?
You could (carefully) open a fuel line to confirm the fuel pump/filter is working OK.
Spark plugs were wet. I am going to replace them. I read another thread that stated that this could happen when switching the coils or injectors but when I took it apart I did not disconnect any of these and as for the coils, I marked where they came from with colored markers. So this can't be the issue either. Any other thoughts?
On the basic premise that, for the engine to fire up, you need a) fuel, b) sparks, c) correct timing, - you seem to have the fuel.
It is OK to test the ignition spark, but this must only be done with the spark plug connected to the ignition cable. Make sure that the plug case has a good earth. Every high voltage circuit must be loaded with at least 2k ohm (spark plug connector) when the ignition system is on.
A small pont about the TDC that you have been using as a reference. This is TDC on cylinder 1, of course. Do you have a OBD2 code reader? They should detect ignition problems.
Figured out what was wrong. One of the cables that goes into the ignition coil came loose. Apparently it is very easy for these to come loose and pop right out of the actual plugs. Pushed it back in, zipped tied it, and it fired up finally.
Pulled it off again so here are the updates:
The only way to get everything in the timing chain lined up is if the intake camshaft pulley is rotated counterclockwise. The issue with this is everything will line up yet once the tensioner is set I can with my hand rotate the crank back and forth between 20 ATDC and 30 ATDC. This without taking the pins off the camshaft gears. Now, if I line up the camshaft gears and the crank I can set everything up with the intake camshaft clocked clockwise like the pictures but the crank with land at about 25 ATDC. If I rotate a tooth back on the crank, then it land at about 15 ATDC. My biggest question is what is meant by "RETARD" the intake cam. According to all the pictures and instructions, they show it clocked to the left if you are looking at it from the back or clockwise if you think about it if you are doing it looking at it from the front. Yet by doing this, again, the crank will land at about 25 ATDC. If I clock it to the right looking at it from the back or counterclockwise if doing it from the front and looking at it that way, then it lands at 20 ATDC yet it had play between 20 ATDC and 30 ATDC. In my opinion, "RETARD" would be to clock it backwards. In other words, to clock it to the right if you are looking at it from the back or counterclockwise if you are doing it from the front. Can someone please confirm? Here are some of my pictures that show it at the 25 ATDC as per the explanation above.
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The only way to get everything in the timing chain lined up is if the intake camshaft pulley is rotated counterclockwise. The issue with this is everything will line up yet once the tensioner is set I can with my hand rotate the crank back and forth between 20 ATDC and 30 ATDC. This without taking the pins off the camshaft gears. Now, if I line up the camshaft gears and the crank I can set everything up with the intake camshaft clocked clockwise like the pictures but the crank with land at about 25 ATDC. If I rotate a tooth back on the crank, then it land at about 15 ATDC. My biggest question is what is meant by "RETARD" the intake cam. According to all the pictures and instructions, they show it clocked to the left if you are looking at it from the back or clockwise if you think about it if you are doing it looking at it from the front. Yet by doing this, again, the crank will land at about 25 ATDC. If I clock it to the right looking at it from the back or counterclockwise if doing it from the front and looking at it that way, then it lands at 20 ATDC yet it had play between 20 ATDC and 30 ATDC. In my opinion, "RETARD" would be to clock it backwards. In other words, to clock it to the right if you are looking at it from the back or counterclockwise if you are doing it from the front. Can someone please confirm? Here are some of my pictures that show it at the 25 ATDC as per the explanation above.
Sorry I'm late with this; hope it helps.
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