Timing chain failure on the Dodge Challenger

[pdx.challenger]

Originally Posted by Lashlarue

The delay you arer experiencing on MDS sounds like normal wear and tear.The four lifters are electronically locked closed, but mechanically lacquer or dirt would be expected to slow down the process.On normal engines hydraulic lifter ticking is quite common.CD2 for your oil will usually clear up the problem.It disolves the lacquer build-up then evaporates

So it's possible for there to be build-up at only 4,500 miles?

[stevewhiteparts]

Originally Posted by MellowYellow

5.7 and 6.4 same part numbers that I can tell and whether its MDS or non MDS it's the same

Timing chain 53022316AC
Tensioner 53022115AG
Chain guide 53022315AD

Steve white motors could confirm this

every 5.7, 6.1 & 6.4 from 2009 thru 2012, car, truck & jeep uses the same chain with mds or without
LukeV

[odiHnaD]

Originally Posted by stevewhiteparts

every 5.7, 6.1 & 6.4 from 2009 thru 2012, car, truck & jeep uses the same chain with mds or without
LukeV

That being the case it amazes me that only auto Challengers are having this issue.

What could the difference be that's causing it?

[stevewhiteparts]

you would think that the issue must be with mds then!!!!
why iis the issue not surfaced with 6.4L or trucks running mds
Luke

[SRT8Tech]

I do believe the 6.1L and 6.4L use a different tentioner though. That might make a BIG differance.

The 2 chains I saw broken at the dealer were not totally broken but half broke with the tentioner broken. This might not be a chain problem but a tentioner problem.

[bacdoc11]

My chain broke back in December of 2011. Mine is a 2010 RT had 31,000 miles on it at the time and is an automatic. I will again tell you that I had never been hard on the car, drove it daily about 100 miles to and from work. No modifications and completely stock. 90% of the driving is on the interstate at 70-75 mph. When I first got the car I did notice that there was a drastic lag in the engine when it was in eco mode and I gave it the gas really hard. The lag was usually 2-3 seconds and then the car would just take off. When my chain broke I was driving at 70mph as i was just passing a known hiding spot for police and usually after this spot there is a 2-3 mile stretch of highway where there are no entrance ramps or exits and no other hiding spots so I usually get into the engine at this point and accelerate for 30-45 seconds getting the car to about 100 before backing off. Don't do it everyday but 2-3 days per week. Thsi time when I did this the car stuttered then quite. I coasted and tried to restart the car but no luck. Had the car towed and found out 4 days later the timing chain had failed. They only rebuilt the heads and put the engine back together. Used 2 quarts of oil in 800 miles after rebuild and no oil on the driveway or even on the engine. Topped the oil off at dealership drove car for another 1000 miles down almost 2 quarts again. New dealership and they get a short block approved. Takes over 3 weeks to get the motor rebuilt and in the mean time I am driving a loaner car, or so I thought. Go back to get my car and the dealership hands me a rental bill for the "loaner" for nearly $700.00, I argue and of course don't pay it. The car goes through another 1 1/2 quarts of oil after 1,200 miles. When the redide my car they repalced the mds system as they noted the same lag problems I had noticed. Now that I have had the car back a few months it still lags and now when I hit 78-79 nmph I get a strange humming noise from it, almost like the harmonic balancer isn't working right. The bottom line is it is still using oil and I am just waiting for the engine to fail again, I know it will, and then I will do the lemon law on the piece of crap. Since I bought the car in Novemember of 2010 it has been in the shop for almost 2 1/2 months of total time. I have had it in there 3 times for over 3 weeks alone. This ius positively my last Chrysler product ever as soon as I can dump this thing without losing my ass I will get rid of it and never look back. Love the styling hate the workmanship.

[MellowYellow]

Originally Posted by stevewhiteparts

every 5.7, 6.1 & 6.4 from 2009 thru 2012, car, truck & jeep uses the same chain with mds or without
LukeV

Odd I thought the 6.1 used the same 5.7 style setup 2002 to 2008.
Tensioner/guide plate assembly and pre 2009 heavy chain.
Kit 05037579AB
Tensioner 05037593AB

Oh well I thought 2009 5.7 and 2011 6.4 were the only same types

[MellowYellow]

Bacdoc11 I feel for you.
Doing highway driving like you do is whats best for a car and something stupid like a timing chain which should outlast everything else on the car breaks so damn early.
Don't let Dodge win take it back every time and complain if your not happy with the car.
Did you ever drive in tapshift or always left in in drive?

[69 SIX PACK ROADRUNNER]

Originally Posted by bacdoc11

My chain broke back in December of 2011. Mine is a 2010 RT had 31,000 miles on it at the time and is an automatic. I will again tell you that I had never been hard on the car, drove it daily about 100 miles to and from work. No modifications and completely stock. 90% of the driving is on the interstate at 70-75 mph. When I first got the car I did notice that there was a drastic lag in the engine when it was in eco mode and I gave it the gas really hard. The lag was usually 2-3 seconds and then the car would just take off. When my chain broke I was driving at 70mph as i was just passing a known hiding spot for police and usually after this spot there is a 2-3 mile stretch of highway where there are no entrance ramps or exits and no other hiding spots so I usually get into the engine at this point and accelerate for 30-45 seconds getting the car to about 100 before backing off. Don't do it everyday but 2-3 days per week. Thsi time when I did this the car stuttered then quite. I coasted and tried to restart the car but no luck. Had the car towed and found out 4 days later the timing chain had failed. They only rebuilt the heads and put the engine back together. Used 2 quarts of oil in 800 miles after rebuild and no oil on the driveway or even on the engine. Topped the oil off at dealership drove car for another 1000 miles down almost 2 quarts again. New dealership and they get a short block approved. Takes over 3 weeks to get the motor rebuilt and in the mean time I am driving a loaner car, or so I thought. Go back to get my car and the dealership hands me a rental bill for the "loaner" for nearly $700.00, I argue and of course don't pay it. The car goes through another 1 1/2 quarts of oil after 1,200 miles. When the redide my car they repalced the mds system as they noted the same lag problems I had noticed. Now that I have had the car back a few months it still lags and now when I hit 78-79 nmph I get a strange humming noise from it, almost like the harmonic balancer isn't working right. The bottom line is it is still using oil and I am just waiting for the engine to fail again, I know it will, and then I will do the lemon law on the piece of crap. Since I bought the car in Novemember of 2010 it has been in the shop for almost 2 1/2 months of total time. I have had it in there 3 times for over 3 weeks alone. This ius positively my last Chrysler product ever as soon as I can dump this thing without losing my ass I will get rid of it and never look back. Love the styling had the workmanship.

"As soon as I can dump this thing without losing my ass I will get rid of it and never look back".

This is the problem. It's no longer just a chain breakage issue, it's now a car value issue. Who, after reading this thread, would risk buying a Challenger with an automatic transmission? Chrysler should replace the chain, with a heavy duty chain (if there is such a thing) and fix it on all auto Challengers. Do a total recall.

[sick'r bee]

Not sure if this is related to the chain breakage, but a friend here with little over 50k on an early '10 R/T has hers in shop for excessive oil usage, 4qrts in 3k miles. They first tried to say a stuck PCV valve was doing it, but she "pressed" the techs that her mechanic friends ( US) were saying hogwash to that. So they did a leak down test, found an "exploded" sparkplug in #7 cylindar, and removed the head and was appearant that that cylindar had been gobbling oil. They told her yesterday that she was getting a new motor under power train warranty and it's an auto trans car. Another friend just sent me a PM here a day earlier, said that his noisy lifter had turned out to be a broken headbolt, can't remember such tranny he has tho, sorry.