Just bought 95 Altima - Has timing chain noise!!

[Kegard]

I wish I would have done more research before I bought this car. I'm used to owning Honda's, where every car has a timing belt instead of a chain.

Anyways, I looked at the 95 Altima with 129K on it last night and it seemed in great shape. The guy told me he had replaced the timing belt and water pump at 85k miles. So when I heard the tapping in the engine, that went away when you accelerated, I figured it was a belt tensioner or something else minor.

After purchasing the car and taking it to a mechanic, he said he's seen this problem before with the timing chain tensioner and that the safest thing to do is open the engine up and replace the chain and tensioners (he said there is a kit to do this). And the best part is that the entire job will cost about $950!!!

I'm tempted to try and return the car to the seller, or at least see if he will meet me 1/2 way on the job cost. Is that a good price for this job? How hard is it to do it yourself?

[Cold_Zero]

Talk to the seller and see if he will cover half or a portion of the repairs... But it really is Buyer Beware when you are buying a used car. I did cover half of the cost of some repairs when I sold my used Nissan once.

[180fan]

~1k sounds about right. it's not too bad a job to do, just a little tight up top.

[nc240]

hey i have a 98 altima that runs perfect im selling for cheap!!!! only because i have no title u could use the motor and transmission or both out of that instead of messing with the motor in the car now if u want

[Kegard]

I took it to a mechanic that I trust and he told me that it's not making enough noise to worry about yet. So, I think for now I'm just going to keep an eye on it and if it gets much louder deal with it then. I can't really plunk down another $1000 on a car that I already spent $2500 on!

Does the 98 use the same engine as the 95? How many miles on her?

[nc240]

as far as i know they do they are both ka24de motors and both are fwd so shouldn't be a prob plus i have the whole car it has 115K

[driftnslide1]

this is a common problem with kades. the timing gears are small so when they go over and around the top they tend to wack the valve cover. if you go to a dealer they will say you should replace the entire system; both chains, gears and both tentioners, but its mostly just an annoying noise that comes with owning a KA. im acctually working on cutting the top portion off and re-welsing it so as to add clearance becaise it getts rather annoying. but theres really not a whole lot you car do. as soon as you fix it, the chain will strech and it will do it again. best fix...... try not to listen.