Light rattling noise in my KA24DE

[jjang240sx]

I'm assuming that the light rattling noise is coming from the ever so popular timing chain issue? However, compared to some other video's I've seen my noise is a lot less severe. Replacing my timing chain and guide, looks like it'll cost me around $700-800 (I'm not mechanically inclined, so I've got to take it to a shop). I was wondering if there were any other milder/less expensive steps I can take that just might fix the noise.

Also, is the timing chain issue a very serious problem? I've heard it's not going to do any serious damage to the engine, you just have to live with an annoying noise. Then I've heard that the chain constantly hitting can eventually puncture the engine walls causing major problems, such as fluids going inside the engine etc.

Any bit of advice would be great!

Thank you.

[Razi]

No need to replace the guide, simply get rid of it.

[myidea7]

No need to replace the guide, simply get rid of it.

This man is correct, the lower guide breaks and goes into the pan and can lead to pronlems if the pieces are small enough to get into the pickup and clog it. My suggestion is pull the valve cover and remove the guide/protector that is attached to the head itself. It breaks and falls on the chain wearing down to metal as it bounces off the chain it also makes a loud rattling noise that sounds as if its coming from the head. Then, pull the front timing cover and remove the lower chain guide. If it is still in piece reassemble and pat yourself on the back. If not then you undo the swaybar, remove the oilpan and have fun cleaning it out and reassembling. This is how I had to do mine and it took alot of patience to remove the pan with the engine in the car, but it can be done. As for the not being mechanically inclined part, I'm not monetarily inclined so I learn by doing it myself as anyone else can also. Not trying to be smart, just buy a repair manual and follow the instructions and it's just like building a model (only a little dirtier)

[liquid_cool]

Let it rattle man. It isn't worth the hassle or the risk. Whoever told you a timing chain will wear a hole in the block or any such BS is fired.

dont listen to this type of advice...anytime you hear rattling or obvious noise..you know its not what the desighners of the car intended and should be adressed to find the problem as soon as possible..

as for the top timing guide...i actually modifyed it and made a plate out of it..after talkiing with a rep at nissan usa..he told me it had a duel use...1 was for the guide its self..and the other was to add stregth to the thin area on the top of the head...so i cut off the guide area and sanded the edges and rebolted it down with locktite thread lock...the nismo guy might be wrong..but better safe than sorry in my humble opinion.

[myidea7]

as for the top timing guide...i actually modifyed it and made a plate out of it..after talkiing with a rep at nissan usa..he told me it had a duel use...1 was for the guide its self..and the other was to add stregth to the thin area on the top of the head...so i cut off the guide area and sanded the edges and rebolted it down with locktite thread lock...the nismo guy might be wrong..but better safe than sorry in my humble opinion.

This piece actually is the one that breaks in half across the bolt holes of the guide shown in the pic... take it out to be better safe than sorry in my opion as I have seen this happen to many a KAs. So you have 3 options1. Remove & problem gone2. Leave it, it breaks and the piece is too big to go past the timing chain and into the front cover or....3. Cut the top guide off, it breaks, the pieces is small enough to past the chain and into the front cover getting caught in the chain and doing more damage than you might want to repair.Just my $.02, but ask these guys even the one in the rb link is a ka engine that messed uphttp://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=364978http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=274983http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=38129

Modified by myidea7 at 8:14 PM 11/2/2008
Modified by myidea7 at 8:15 PM 11/2/2008

[blackRB240]

Umm, whoops, I actually removed those guides in my engine a few months back, sorry about that. I saw the "puncture the engine walls causing major problems" part and raised the BS flag. Must've been hungover when I posted that one. They are right bro , apologies. However, to liquid_cool, the head on a DOHC is fairly beefy at that spot. I have never heard of anyone having problems from removing those guides.

[blackRB240]

I'm not monetarily inclined so I learn by doing it myself as anyone else can also. Not trying to be smart, just buy a repair manual and follow the instructions and it's just like building a model (only a little dirtier)

[JOEW921]

the only time ive seen anything bad come of removing the upper guide was my dumb a$$ friend took his off left the valve cover off and went to start the car no idea what he was thinking but then the chain skipped and good bye piston and valves hello head job and a lot of work that could have been avoided but he also had a bad tensioner too so he had way too much slack in his chain

[thinhthan]

isnt there like 3 timing chain guides? can someone show me a pic of the guides im suppose to take off?