2001 suzuki esteem stalling and no acceleration

[kevin27]

I went to the dealership after check engine light continued and hitting a speed bump didn't help. The speed bump caused another problem Stalling and no acceleration. The dealership repaired and replaced the EGR Valve gasket and compressor, cleanned passages, replaced spark plugs, air filter, changed transmission fluid, oil and oil filter, replaced the fuel vapor control valve and the problem still remains but the check engine light is off. They checked again and said the vehicle isn't getting enough oil pressure and the timing chain has ecessive play. The vehicle has over 175,000 miles (all highway miles). I am not satisfied with the dealership and would like a second opinion on what the problem might be and the best and most economical way to solve my problem any suggestions?

Thank you
Kevin27

[jim_naisium]

Oil pressure is commonly used to shut down fuel pumps to keep the engine from destroying itself when the engine runs out of oil, your oil pressure may actually be too low to keep the fuel pump on and therefore the car is stalling.

Have Autozone (or some other place) check the engine codes for you even though the light is not coming on the computer may be storing "informational" codes but doesn't have enough of them built up in memory yet to actually trigger the "check engine" light.

Did the dealer say "Timing Chain" or "Timing Belt", if you have the 1.6 engine you should have a belt, if you have the 1.8 engine you should have two timing chains (drive chain and an idler pulley chain). If you have the 1.6 engine my website has the procedure for the 1999 model for replacing the timing belt.

http://home.comcast.net/~lj_robins/99suzuki/

[kevin27]

Thanks for replying to my post. The dealership said the Timing chain had too much play in it and the guard was broken. They filled the engine with oil before I left lot. Is this an expensive fix?

[jim_naisium]

Do you have the 1.6 or 1.8 liter engine?

[kevin27]

It is a 1.8 engine.

[jim_naisium]

I don't know much about the 1.8 other than it has two timing chains, one runs up from the crankshaft to an idler gear, and then another chain runs from that gear to the gears on the two camshafts, I am pretty sure that these chains are oiled but I'm not sure how.

Severally worn timing chains are known for stretching and eventually wearing a hole through the timing chain cover, if this is the case you are probably dripping oil everywhere you go which would eventually lead to low oil pressure.

Prices (in US dollars) on NAPA® Online for the timing chains and associated parts came to roughly $400 but you may or may not need all the parts, or there may be other parts I'm not aware of that you will need to finish the job. Prices may be different in your area as well.

If the chain has worn a hole in the cover you will need to find a new cover as well, start calling the junk yards.

Low oil pressure could be a failing oil pump, this may be a dealer only part, I searched three different websites they did not list an oil pump for the 2001 1.8 liter, but for my 1999 1.6 liter the cheapest one they had was $153, other places had them cheaper.

Whether or not this is affordable is kind of subjective and up to you and your current financial situation.