timing chain..fiction? or non fiction?

[dvs240]

Hi, I know you guys have probably heard this question many of times,but here it is agian! I have heard many different things from different sources about my timing chain on my 240sx. Some say it needs to be changed, others say it doesnt.. it's sort of mixed information all around..and when they do tell me it needs to be changed some say 100k miles, 150k miles or 80k miles. I'm just confused! I dont know who to listen to, my engine makes a funny ticking noise coming from the front of the valve cover. But it seems to only make the sound sometimes ( i cant reproduce it on command so it's hard to get a mechanic to diagnose it ) So is what these people are saying fiction or non fiction? You 240 experts tell me..thanks

[240marcuSX]

i think its pretty much common knowledge around here that the timing chain tends to eat through the guides, and start rattling, and then eventually breaking which could do more damage.

well for the SOHC: take off your valve cover and shine a light down to see what condition your guides are in, if they look messed up then you should probably get a new chain (from nissan, not that autozone crap) no offense all you autozoners out there.

how many miles do you have?

[VipeRVenoM]

The timing chain will probably never break, but it might get loose enough to skip a tooth and mess up you timing and maybe ruin your engine.

[quiksilvia]

it should be done at 120k miles, you can get all the parts from the dealership for like 250 i think.

[Chingon]

i have a 92 and my brother has a 91 and we both have the knocking noise. I've been wanting to remove the guides, but I don't know if the the valve cover has to be torqued in a certain way.

[quiksilvia]

everything has to be torqued in a certain way, that doesnt mean you can just deny the work that needs to be done.

[aleph1]

I have a rebuilt KA24DE with new timing components with only 13K miles on everything. My timing chain does click/rattle at idle and low rpms, I cant tell if it does it at higher rpms because the engine is too loud.

I heard that it might just be the tensioners getting stuck and need some fiddling/lube. Eh?

[quiksilvia]

never heard that, possibly iguess

[Touchdown038]

I have a rebuilt KA24DE with new timing components with only 13K miles on everything. My timing chain does click/rattle at idle and low rpms, I cant tell if it does it at higher rpms because the engine is too loud.

I heard that it might just be the tensioners getting stuck and need some fiddling/lube. Eh?

Mine's doing the same thing.... only 10k after I finished doing my timing chain job. Really hope I did everything right now....

[Calvin]

Every bleepin' time this subject comes up, people seem to forget that the SOHC ('89-'90) and the DOHC ('91-'98) have completely different chain setups, and we aren't psychic.

Everyone who posts or replies should tell readers whether they have a DOHC or SOHC, so readers know what information is relevant. Some information applies to both chains, but some doesn't!

[240doc]

Could the rattling be coming from the upper cam chain guide? nissan update recommends to leave the upper chain guide out. the one that is over top of the cam chain. (DOHC)

[aleph1]

Oh ya, I heard about that as well. Heard it was an easy fix, do you take the valve cover or upper timing cover to take that off?

[240doc]

you can just take off the valve cover. you will see two bolts attaching it to the cylinder head. I have a DOHC on a stand and there is enough slack in the chain to "slap" the bottom of the guide and probably make the noise at low rpm. BTW, the engine I am talking about has 154 K on the clock and a cracked intermediate timing gear.

[Camel]

I have had 2 DOHC's. The first fell victim to the upper guide breaking and bouncing around between the cover and the chain. End result - new chain needed. I sold the car instead and went from a 91 to a 98. The kid who bought it from me said the car is running quiet as ever, after the TC job.

I would suggest you take off your valve cover and check the guide or else you may be paying someone to fix your motor for you. Not to mention that metal shavings and oil don't mix well.

C