Just for reference, I have a 91' 240 hatch.
I've been reading up on the timing chain rattle that nearly every KA24 owner has experienced. Through the FAQ and various threads on here, I figured out that the little metal part that sits between the two cams on my KA is to blame, and (as recommended by Nissan) should simply be removed. The way I read, there's only two bolts holding the thing on.
My question is this: How involved is taking the thing off? I'm looking at my KA, and I see a valve cover with four bolts holding it to the block. Is it as simple as removing that cover, taking the metal part off, and replacing the cover? I have a Chiltons guide, and all I can find relating to the timing chain are procedures involving TDC and the distributor, which I hope isn't necessary in my case, since I'm not actually messing with timing here, just removal of a part.
Can anyone help me out? That rattle at idle is driving me up a f***ing wall, and makes my 240 sound like a POS.
Valve Cover Removal
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twofourzeroSX
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Silvia D Rifter
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Yeah, I'm wondering this, too. Is there a sequence to the bolts, and should I use my torque wrench when replacing the cover?MR2NER wrote:Is it fine to just tighten the valve cover by hand or should it be torqued down?
I don't think it's my exhaust heat shield, either. I've put my ear right next to the front of the valve cover, and it seems to be coming from right there.
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twofourzeroSX
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Silvia D Rifter wrote:Yeah, I'm wondering this, too. Is there a sequence to the bolts, and should I use my torque wrench when replacing the cover?
Yes, there's a sequence and yes you need to follow the torque specs.
Unfortunately, I don't have my FSM right now. Keep in mind that the head is aluminum and you DO NOT want to overtorque anything.
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Silvia D Rifter
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Well, I popped off the valve cover tonight, and found something interesting. The guide in question was supposed to attached to the engine between the two cam gears, by two bolts. Well, it appears that the guide was either broken off, or broke off on it's own, leaving the two bolts and the base piece of the guide still in the engine! I'll have a pic soon, as soon as I can get a hold of my camera.
I'm thinking the guide was broken off intentionally, cause looking down the chain, I can't really see where a piece like that would go with out seriously f***ing something up.
*sigh* I had come up with two possible solutions to my rattle problem. One was using regular oil instead of synthetic, which I tried with no success. This was my second possability. Since there is no guide to take off, it means I've probably got a more serious problem on my hands, something relating to a timing chain replacement.
Well, I guess I'll go back and put the cover on. I've got the DLable version of the FSM here, so I should be able to get the cover on with out incident. Wish me luck!
I'm thinking the guide was broken off intentionally, cause looking down the chain, I can't really see where a piece like that would go with out seriously f***ing something up.
*sigh* I had come up with two possible solutions to my rattle problem. One was using regular oil instead of synthetic, which I tried with no success. This was my second possability. Since there is no guide to take off, it means I've probably got a more serious problem on my hands, something relating to a timing chain replacement.
Well, I guess I'll go back and put the cover on. I've got the DLable version of the FSM here, so I should be able to get the cover on with out incident. Wish me luck!