checking for bad timing chain

[TurboTuli]

I'll be looking at a 240 to buy tomorrow and I was wondering where the timing chain is located and is there anything I should look for that would suggest needing a replacement? How much is it replace?

[quiksilvia]

because ur looking at the car tomorrow, i wont be an a$$ and tell you to search gosh darnit. its at the front of the block, connects cam and crank. listen for noises that shouldnt come from a motor, and if u have it done it will cost anywhere from $550 to $750, parts alone are like $200 iirc

[Aries]

if the chain needs to be replaced it will make one of 2 noises.It will either tick like a clock or a piece of metal tapping on plastic, or it will rattle.Either one speels a soon and sudden death for a KA.

[Structure240sx]

the parts for a KADE are $400, KAE is $100 for parts. if having a shop do the work its about 5-6 hour job

[lbrowne]

Not a too bad of a job, I did myself and it was the first time. There was an aweosme post going around that was mine that had some good tips in it.

Since you never specified what you're buying, mine was a SOHC. Easy to check the chain, pop the valve cover off which literally takes 2 minutes including popping the hood. take a flashlight and look down the inside on the front of the engine (down through the valve cover opening.)

There should be banana shaped guides on both side of the chain half way down. Mine with only 100k miles had the driver side guide gone, with just the guide studs guiding the chain.

Hope this helps.

[240marcuSX]

my engine makes a rattling noise when i crank it on, and then stops like 3 seconds later, 5 at the max, and then its completely gone, and i never hear it again, until i turn it off, and crank it up again, i read in another post that its just the timing chain getting oil?? is my timing chain in need of replacement? or would i hear the rattling at running speed?? thanks (sorry i didnt mean to steal the thread, but i thought this related to the topic)

[Sleeper s13]

Same deal in my ka24de.

[corn322]

There should be banana shaped guides on both side of the chain half way down. Mine with only 100k miles had the driver side guide gone, with just the guide studs guiding the chain.

is that guide on the driver side the one that usually gets destroyed causing death by timing chain?

[240marcuSX]

any advice for me at all? id just like to know if im gonna be out cruising tommorow and my car stops running.. please..

[lbrowne]

what happens is the chain is not as stable as it should be, also the constant metal on metal decreases the chain's life causing it to snap and any given time.

[crypt2k]

so aries... the tick you talked about... is it a loud one or a quiet one. You just scared the pants off me with that sudden death talk.