I think its the timeing chain, but not sure...

[mkory]

edit: The clip's a few posts down, here's my story, let me know what you think it is...

Okay, I've got a knock sound that seems to me like its the timeing chain, but there's nobody else around me with a 240 so I've got no second opinion. My problem is that I hear a constant knock going on at idle speed, around 700 rpm, but if the idle's going a little bit slower (500ish) or anything higher than 800 rpms, the sound goes away. Someone let me know what you think it is, and I'll try and get a sound clip posted within a day or so.

Modified by mkory at 3:40 PM 12/30/2004
Modified by mkory at 7:47 PM 12/30/2004

[nelson8708]

I dont think it is the timing chain. If it were to break it wouldn't run at all. It could possibly be the timing chain guides. It is hard to say with out hearing it.

[mkory]

Yeah, I'm working on that... I'll get my mom's laptop from her tomorrow and see what I can do with recording some sound. I just hope the quality's good enough.

[wwwarrick]

My S13 seems to be involved in a similar situation... slight knocking sound at just the right idling speed. I was told it was the tensioner on the timing chain. My plan to fix it is to upgrade the tensioner and buy new guides and such while I'm at it... all in all a $300 investment if you install it all yourself. Not a big deal, depending on how long this has been happening, and if it is indeed just the timing chain being loose.

[godspeed]

$300, where are you buying your stuff at? dude, go to advance auto parts, $80 for the timing set, and if you want to see if this is your prob, pull the valve cover and see if you can move the chain by hand, and then look down with a light and look at the guides, i had a piece of my guide at the bottom

[mkory]

Here you go, right click save as because I have limited bandwith.

http://www.geocities.com/mike_kory/badcarsound.mp3

The clip's only good for the first couple seconds, then it gets a little windy. The sound only happens at idle revs. Let me know, fellas.

-Mike

[mkory]

bump... this has to sound familiar to someone.

[tryiian]

sounds like the tensioner to me, a friend of mine`s sounded just like that, said they fixing took him about a day, and he`s not mechanically inclined.

10 and 12 mm ratchet socketsnew headgasket, and silicone to reinstall valve cover.screwdrivers

you can ask around for better advice about whether to just remove it, replace it, whatever else. dont forget searching either.

[mkory]

Thanks for the info. Any other input would be welcomed.

[2_Liter_Turbo]

It is you Chain tensionor and maybe even your guides. I had this same problem (same noise too) in my 93 S13, so I did an entire timing system replacement (50 man hours). There were really large grooves in all of the plastic pieces where the chain sits. Make sure you do make some time to do the job, becasue it is alot more time consuming than similair jobs (97 Civic only took me 8 hours, and a 93 Grand Am only 12).

[wwwarrick]

Dunno... A friend Quoted me $300 for "better than stock" parts, in other words, $300 to fix it once AND brag. Dunno, don't have the $$ so didn't do much research

[mkory]

I'm not overly mechanical so I'd probably get a shop to do it. I always go to the same guy and he gives me a great deal on labor... definately doesn't rip me off by any means. Plus, I'd rather not mess with something that could screw up my engine as much as that could if I did it wrong.

[fullthrtl_tech]

probably your chain tensioner or you might have a collapsed lifter

[fullthrtl_tech]

just listened 2 the clip sounds like tensioner or guides 4 sure. oouch thats a bad sound

[mkory]

I'm going to definately take it to my mechanic and get a quote from him, maybe even for an entire timeing system replacement. I'll post the quote on here so you guys can let me know if you think its a good deal or not. How do I go about getting this? I know I can order the parts from the dealer, but is there a better alternative?

[deathkeeper]

The replacement Nissan timing chain kits are made by Tsubaki, so if you can find one directly from them you will be getting the same quality parts for less money.

[Hijacker]

to me that sounds like the chain has stretched a little. When that happens it will rattle against the upper guide at idle speeds. When you rev the motor, the chain gets enough pull on it to tighten it back against the guide. An easy way to tell if the upper chain has stretched is to pull the valve cover and manually crank the motor with a ratchet and watch the chain in between the sprockets. It will be taught for quite a few degrees, then it will show slack for a few, and then snap back tight.

[mkory]

Well by not being overly mechanical I mean I wouldn't even want to touch that. (not even take off the valve cover) There's just something about valve timeing that scares me. I'm definately going to search for a whole replacement system. Deathkeeper says Tsubaki makes the replacement for nissan, but where should I go about buying this? Do any of our sponsors sell it? What all do I need to make sure I get for the replacement?

[mkory]

bump

[Hijacker]

when i got the chain kit for my SR, I went to a local parts store (not advance auto or any crap like that). They normally sold for $200, but I managed to get a discount through a friend and snagged it for $150.

As long as you have a service manual, timing in a motor is simple. All you need to do is place it at TDC, and then start ripping all the covers off to get to the chain. Then take your new chains, and with the help of the shop manual so you know where everything is supposed to be, start putting the new chain on.

As I always say, if I can do it, anybody can do it.