Finding a way to check timing chain stretch with a pressure transducer on a Mini Cooper R56? Anybody done it?
On some Mini Coopers there may only be an intake camshaft sensor, and our current way of measuring stretch or slipped teeth is to lock the crank, and put the timing tools in. In my head with a pressure transducer, with one or two cams off even the slightest should show there is a definite timing issue with the engine. Is there anybody here that has a better way of checking timing besides busting out the timing tools? Unfortunately some of these R56 DMEs won't even give you the VANOS position or the cam angle, I presume you could scope the cam sensors and relate that to the crank or an ignition signal… totally throwing a blank.
Diego, Yes, With a good quality pressure transducer kit and PC based lab scope you can capture an in-cylinder waveform and use cursors to determine the crank to cam relationship with valve events. It takes a lot of study and practice to develop transducer diagnostic skills. I am still developing my skills in that area. I use a pico transducer kit and a 4 channel pico scope. The book I use is…
I have used multiple pressure transducers to condemn a reman ford v10 that had one bank timing off (only one cam sensor and that bank was correct) using cursors to approximate valve events it is definitely possible but I recommend collecting known goods as well so the pattern gets easier to interpret
Diego The first capture is from an 08 R56 N14 turbo 1.6 cmp ckp with the OCV sol volts and amps. The second capture is from an 09 Mini 1.6 but I don't know the engine code, with no misfires. The top trace is the ckp and the cyl 2 running compression shows where the compression TDC is in relation to the ckp, in crank degrees. A cylinder with a compression leak can show the compression TDC in…
Yes a transducer will absolutely show if the chain is stretched. I use a TD all the time to verify timing. The beauty is, there are rules of thumb that apply to almost all engines(there are always outliers)
youtu.be/g8U6l_7f-WM This video shows to use the CMP CKP waveforms to see a stretched chain.