help! timing chain problem

[slow_ka88]

i dont know if its my timing chain or whatever it is but its annoying! a buddy of mines told me that theres a metal plate that sits on top of the chain when you take the valve cover off, but i dont see what the hell he's talkin about. pictures anyone? oh and he says its common to happen too.

[vancouverbc]

look up timing chain in my tutorial link in my signature.

[slow_ka88]

koo thanks. so thats what he was talkin about the guides eh?

[vancouverbc]

yeah, it happen to them all. no big deal.

[slow_ka88]

i looked at it and seems like the previous owner took it out already i think the ones on the sides are bad. the tensioner is fine but then the one on the right is loose. i guess ill have to change them out.

[DougRoost]

I just saw your most excellent write-up. In that thread someone asked the question I have and it wasn't answered. That is, how do you know when it's time to replace the timing chain, gears, and tensioners? I've done some other searches but haven't found a definitive answer yet.

I just bought a 1991 240SX LE hatchback for my son from the original owner and it was well maintained and runs amazingly well for a car with this many miles. It has 183K miles on it and I was shocked the only driveline part he's ever replaced was the water pump. It's even still on the stock clutch! Is the wisdom to replace the timing set now or just make sure the upper guides are removed and the tensioners working?

Thanks,

Doug

*EDIT: Looks like I found my answer in this thread zerothread?id=247802
Modified by DougRoost at 12:57 PM 12/3/2007