timing chain noise??

[cleets-s13]

i have a 91 240 w/a ka24de and after i changed the oil yesterday the slight noise i had before coming from underneath the valve cover is about 5 times louder now. it goes away after about 1500-1700 rpms, but at idle it ticks bad. it sounds like its right on top of the #1 cylinder. could it be the valve springs or the elusive timing chain guides seeing as how they have never been replaced and my baby is sitting on 146000 miles?

[fuzion]

wow we have like the same mileage.. i hate that noise. so annoying.. not sure what it is

[rico05]

Dang. This is weird. I have the same mileage and mone does the same thing. My timing chain was replaced before I bought it. I am not even going to mess with it.

[Stuntman240]

might need a valve adjustment(done with shims i know theres no adjuster screw) and possibly valve guides and while youre at it might as well replace the springs

[DOOM240sx]

the noise is some kinda protector plate on the timing chain....at least thats what i was told...but i had mine removed...and i still hear the noise.

[NoezUP]

yeah, same here. just about the same mileage too. But I looked under the valve cover and it has a little wear on the bottom from the chain. Guess I have to take it to Nissan cuz I don't think I am skilled enough to do it myself. DOOM240sx, Where you at in FL?

[Stuntman240]

if you are referring to the top bracket it is only 2 bolts you can take it of w/ a craftsman.

[BadMojo]

the noise is some kinda protector plate on the timing chain....at least thats what i was told...but i had mine removed...and i still hear the noise.

The timing chain death rattle? I know it well.

It's probably a bad chain tensioner causing the chain to hit one of the guides (or worse, the front timing chain cover). You can try taking off your valve cover and removing the guide that sits right between your cam sprockets.

The guide is no longer necessary, but IMO that's not solving the problem, just hiding the symptoms.

Do a search for timing chain....there are more than a few posts about it. I 'm looking forward to replacing both upper and lower chains, guides, tensioners, etc. this spring. Wheeee!

[NoezUP]

No, it is the valve cover, I already took off the guide.

[BadMojo]

No, it is the valve cover, I already took off the guide.

Either way, there's slack in the chain and it's hittin' stuff.

[NoezUP]

Yes it is and it is pi55ing me off.

[DOOM240sx]

im in the Tampa area

[Demonic240]

Yeah, I had the same problem, the upper timing chain guide was completely broken off at the bolt heads, so I removed it. The constant rattle (like marbels in a fish bowl) has stopped, but I have another rattle that started up. This only occurs when the car is pretty warmed up (say about 45 minutes stop-n-go traffic. I believe what is happening is the timing chain is expanding a little and knocking on something, but anyway, i just want the motor to last me 3-4 more months. Does your rattle sound like marbels in a fishbowl, and is there a vibration that you can feel right at the very top front of the valve cover?

[NoezUP]

yup

[sen-pai]

mine too.... and i iwent to nissan here in seattle and they want 1200 dollars just for labor on the timing chain....geeez

[Dattebayo]

i have an idea.Maybe the front main oil seal is going bad, and your crank connection to the timing chain is vibrating about and causing this slack.

[teampro687]

I recently had the same problems. I removed the upper guide and it still rattled. It turned out to be the lower chain tensioner. I bought the timing chain kit and replaced everything while I had it apart. I had never done a timing chain before and I must say that if you take your time and mark everything as you take it apart it isn't to bad. Good Luck.

[tonynalli]

i had to do that on my car. but i made the mistake of using the tensioner that comes in the rebuild kit. and i had to take it apart and i used one from nissan. the orrigianl one. even though it might cost a little more it will be worth it.

[navysnail]

sounds like alot of people need to work on timing chain. one word of advice-don't wait, it will be the death of the engine.

[tonynalli]

he is right. you dont ever want to wait. if you think that you dont have the money right now. think when you are on the side of the road with all your valves bent or broken. then you will be with out a car. and for some of us that means you ride the bus to work. so splurge and get it done soon.

[sen-pai]

what are the serious symptoms if any of a timing chain ready to go. some peeps at a meet said mine doesn't sound very loud and they think its the upper plate and guide???? could this be tru

[aleph1]

I have this same problem, but I checked the tensioners and they both seem to be fine...and the lil metal plate is also removed....I'll get a video recording of the noise soon so I can see if its the same noise we are all talkin about.

[wickedpelf]

yia i have the same rattle...its not a steady rattle its kinda random...my mecahnic thinks it might be the water pump...but after reading all this...i dont know...guess the only way to find out is trial and error