Is this the timing chain guide? (pic inside)

[Gonad]

I had heard a rattle (not on startup) a couple weeks ago and wastold it could be upper timing chain guide.

Apparently this piece is supposed to come loose or even start to crackor break off when the rattle is heard. However, mine seems to beon tight and isn't cracked when I took it out to inspect.

Here's the pic (the piece circled in red):

I took the piece off however I haven't put the cam cover back on yet(it's still drying from painting it). I'll keep it off for a few days to seeif the rattle still persists.

Comments?

[Structure240sx]

yes that is one of the guides. the rattle comes from the chain becomin loose and hittin that. r u think of drivin the car without the cover on it? or do u mean without the peice on? just keep the guide off i took mine off and im fine, i also replaced the tensioner tho which was really worn out.

[p00t]

there are ones below that which could be the culprit. how many miles are on the engine?

[Gonad]

Obviously driving without the guide. And the motor has 86K mileson it. I'm the 2nd owner (prev. owner was a woman - and yesI'm pretty sure she never beat on the car).

[DAEDALUS]

Maybe never changed the oil either. If something's rattling, it's a sure bet it is NOT the fault of a fixed, rigid object bolted down! The rattling is probably from the chain being too loose. Caused by what? Bad tensioner and/or low oil pressure would be my guess.

[Nismo_Freak]

Maybe never changed the oil either. If something's rattling, it's a sure bet it is NOT the fault of a fixed, rigid object bolted down! The rattling is probably from the chain being too loose. Caused by what? Bad tensioner and/or low oil pressure would be my guess.

It's every Nissan owners dream! You get to replace the tensioners and most likely the guides!

Congratulations!

[Unnatural]

It's every Nissan owners dream! You get to replace the tensioners and most likely the guides!

Congratulations!

wooooooooooooooooooooo! :ylsuper~Brendan

[Nismo_Freak]

wooooooooooooooooooooo! :ylsuper~Brendan

Woooo Woooooo!

BubRub!

[trpower7]

Your upper engine is SICK clean btw, I don't think I've ever seen one that clean. Mine is kept in GREAT shape and still looks nearly black everywehre.

[Gonad]

I am doing regular maintenance and I've kept every record(hell I've even kept all the gas fill up receipts).

I spent most of today driving around and at the end of the dayafter I got back, I popped the hood while the car was still onand I didn't hear the rattle I had heard before.

Will find out for sure after I drive it a bit more.

As for the engine being clean, all I can say is I had nothingto do with it. I think the prev. owner was a good owner.

[groundhogday1976]

I took mine off today. Weird thing is, it was broken right where it bolts to the head. I pulled it off and there was a piece of it still held on by the two 12mm bolts. I removed that too, of course. Also weird is, it was all metal except for the part directly above the cam gears, which was plastic bonded to metal. The guide and tensioner were still intact. Is the plastic bonded to metal the updated guide, or is that the bad old design? Also, where can I get that guide without having to buy a whole timing set?BTW, I see in the picture that the marks on the cam sprokets aren't lined up w/ the silver links on the chain. Don't know if it matters, but the FSM says the little dots on the sprokets are supposed to be lined up w/ the silver links.

[NISTECH]

that is what happens to them. there was a TSB on that and all we did for the repair was throw it away . it was determined by nissan not to be nessesary. the marks on the chain will change location once the engine is running. and the location of the links to the cams will change.