Timing chain failure on the Dodge Challenger

[hmk123]

Originally Posted by Itsrook

So. New member here who is wishing he had read all of this before he bought his used '10 Auto R/T. First of all I would like to thank all of the people who have been working on this issue as Dodge remains silent. I have read this entire thread along with several others and wanted to present a theory to see if it could be valid.

From what I have read it looks like the oil solinoid and the chain breakage could be related (I'm not clear on whether this solinoid has anything to do with the cam phaser, but I assume it does.). In talking to a friend who has a charger we discovered a difference in the way our cars MDS works. In the challenger it seems that at about 77-80 miles an hour (depending on conditions.) my MDS shuts down. I beleive this is due to the wind resistance and load on the engine being too great and the required power being too much for 4 cylinders. On his car it doesnt shut down until 85+. I have read most of these failures are occuring at around 75-80. Could it be that the shoe is broken allready, and the computer starts switching MDS off and on many times per second due to the conditions loading the engine, and being that the shoe does not tension the chain correctly and the solinoid is malfunctioning the VVT is overworked causing the harmonic which breaks the chain? Of course I am no mechanic, so all of this is just a proposed scenario for all of you who know more to consider.

Most people dont drive chargers at 85+ enough to have as many failures therefore it is much more likely to happen on a challenger at 77-80 which is a much more common speed for cars on a freeway? Is the gearing/horsepower difference in a charger enough to make a 5mph difference in the MDS shutoff? If one was to add say 25 more horsepower to the car would that raise the MDS shutoff point above the limits of normal driving? Has anyone with such added horsepower had a chain break at freeway speeds?

I welcome any input into this theory. Is there any way to tune the MDS to not come on above a certain speed or engine load, or is it on or off only?

What year is his Charger?

[Lashlarue]

Thought I'd add one other item to the list of TC failures.My first oil change was a freebie at the dealer.There was only one barrel of bulk oil in the oil change area, it was Penzoil 10w30.Allpar was very specific that 5w20 is the only weight oil to get the proper operation of Mds and that using any other oil could damage the engine.My second oil change was Mobil1 5w20, as will all future ones.After my second oil change my Challenger picked up .2 in the 1/8th. I thought my driving skills had improved,most likely not. Also it's been several months with no new failures, that keeps the failure rate at .01%. FWIW there was one TC failure on the Charger forum.

[SAVOY1964]

This is some info I received from an engineer at Chrysler.....They fabricated a front cover with windows to observe the guide and tension-er they observed that the tension-er did not keep the chain tight at highway speeds going into and out of MDS so a new updated tension-er should be in the works. I have no other info beyond this hopefully they offer this as a recall but I would doubt it.

[stormin2012]

I have a Whistling noise coming out of engine on acceleration on my 2012 challenger 6 speed with 2800 miles is that normal

[USRWDV8]

Still holding my breath until confirmation, but this would make sense. Wondering now if the vibrations are also what shakes the little screen loose. Whatever the case may be, and fix or no fix (because a stronger tensioner assembly sounds like a bandaid), I say kill the MDS. I know that it's smoother on some cars, but on mine it definitely feels like something's wrong whether it comes on/off or works steadily.
I'd love to see a resolution because the suspense on this issue has been killing me. And Chrysler should do a recall once they get to the bottom of it.

[stormin2012]

whistling noise on accerlation

[Hal H]

Originally Posted by stormin2012

whistling noise on accerlation

That sounds like a leak - either a vacuum line or exhaust leak - not normal.

[conceptmachine]

Originally Posted by SAVOY1964

This is some info I received from an engineer at Chrysler.....They fabricated a front cover with windows to observe the guide and tension-er they observed that the tension-er did not keep the chain tight at highway speeds going into and out of MDS so a new updated tension-er should be in the works. I have no other info beyond this hopefully they offer this as a recall but I would doubt it.

Thanks for the info....if this is true, I would need to LOL...
If they didn't do calculations and engineering to figure out the needed tension before they made the tensioner, then they should have did the plexiglass/glass thing way before these things were ever put on the car lots! It bet they didn't test the engines with the same tune that is in the 5.7... I bet they used Rons old saying "Set it, and Forget it" which is exactly what they did.... FOR GET IT

[162 of 500]

Mine just broke...2010 mopar 10, no mods, auto, 40,000 miles, was pulling in to a gas station and the engine died and wouldnt start. Didnt hear any noise other than a few days prior heard a sound from under hood similar to alternator or water pump bearing going bad. Dealer said at first was a camshaft sensor, then changed their mind and said it was timing chain and the tensioner was broken which was probably the noise I heard. Its been in the shop 2 weeks now, waiting parts, dealer says they sent the heads out to get them inspected, didnt know why until I read this post. I didnt realize the 5.7 was an interference engine. I knew I should have kept my cummins LOL. Ill repost when I get more news. Complained online to chrysler corporate and someone called me and offered to inquire about it, but I doubt they will do squat. I know this: they better fix it right. Im retired Army and have nothing better to do than fight to the death with these bozos. I like my M10 dammit. One other thing, I've been noticing when the MDS kicks on and off a slight jerk in the driveline, similar to how it feels if the A/C compressor is kicking on and off...I shifted out of drive to 5 and the sensation stopped. This could have been an early warning sign about the tensioner? Just saw post from Savoy1964 quoted by conceptmachine.

[Bradd_D]

Originally Posted by 162 of 500

Mine just broke...2010 mopar 10, no mods, auto, 40,000 miles, was pulling in to a gas station and the engine died and wouldnt start. Didnt hear any noise other than a few days prior heard a sound from under hood similar to alternator or water pump bearing going bad. Dealer said at first was a camshaft sensor, then changed their mind and said it was timing chain and the tensioner was broken which was probably the noise I heard. Its been in the shop 2 weeks now, waiting parts, dealer says they sent the heads out to get them inspected, didnt know why until I read this post. I didnt realize the 5.7 was an interference engine. I knew I should have kept my cummins LOL. Ill repost when I get more news. Complained online to chrysler corporate and someone called me and offered to inquire about it, but I doubt they will do squat. I know this: they better fix it right. Im retired Army and have nothing better to do than fight to the death with these bozos. I like my M10 dammit. One other thing, I've been noticing when the MDS kicks on and off a slight jerk in the driveline, similar to how it feels if the A/C compressor is kicking on and off...I shifted out of drive to 5 and the sensation stopped. This could have been an early warning sign about the tensioner? Just saw post from Savoy1964 quoted by conceptmachine.

Did the sound you heard sound like a baseball card in the spokes of a bicycle wheel?