the first question is what caused the hole? did the timing chain break and hit the cover, second is it a 2.4 liter engine?
In order to replace a timing chain for a 2003 Chevy Cavalier, a person will need remove the oil pan, crankshaft pulley and hub, timing cover bolts, and timing cover. Then the timing cover gasket, timing cover and bolts, crankshaft pulley, and oil pan will need to be installed.
remove alternator, powersteering pump ,harmonic balancer ,and waterpump,the timing chain cover is now ready to come off also need to remove oil pan .timing chain is under cover
Sounds like your timing chain broke! Have you actually pulled the valve cover off and looked yet?
next to the timing chain you will find it in the cover on front of engine where the water pump is mounted they call it the timing chain cover you will have to remove this cover to get at it
timing chain is inside the timing chain cover which is located between block and water pump. the water pump mounts to the front of timing case There is a cover that is behind the water pump... The timing chain is under that cover.
The timing chain cover on a 4.6L is the whole front of the engine. drl
The seal on the timing chain cover must be pressed out and the replacement pressed in.
Once you reach 100K you're running on or at the limit of life expectancy of the timing chain, chain tension-er, cam chain gear and crankshaft chain gear. All four should be replaced as a set. You will also need to replace timing cover gasket and the crankshaft front cover seal. Cost of parts < $75.00 but not an easy job.
Its on the passanger side of the engine under a black cover.. its is between the belts and pullys and the engine block.
Just taking a guess........Loose chain.
Timing Chain may have strechted and may need replacing before you do that though you should probably take off the cover and chack the condition of the chain.
It can get in through the timing cover. That does car does not have a "timing belt" cover, but it has a "timing chain cover." There is a BIG difference, as a timing belt cover does not have coolant and oil running through it, but a timing chain cover does have both coolant and oil running through it.