Timing Chain Rattling..

[XxDriverxX]

Hey guys..

First of all, thankyou all for being so helpfull in my previous posts.

I've recently been pushing my car (1992 240sx LE). I've noticed that the rattling of the timing chain has increased. It used to only rattle when I'm parked on a slant, now it rattles even when I'm driving (at 2000RPM). I know that this is a sign that my engine is about to go since the timing chain is warn out (right?).

I'm wondering now, what should I do? My engine has 130,000 miles on it, and I'm not sure if the timing chain inside was ever changed (I heard its recommended to change it at 60,000miles).

What should be my next step? I hear some people just take the guides off, but thatd oesnt solve the problem, only quiets it down.

Should I go and change my timing belt right away?
Should I wait till it goes off on me? (risking screwing over my engine)?
Should I replace the timing chain or just get a new engine all together?
How much is the job anyways to replace the chain? Is it feasable on my car?

ANY help would be greatly appriciated! Thankyou all in advanced.

[bing]

change it immediatley, dont wait... do it tomorrow if possible...

i had mine done at nissan last year for $844 total thats canadian dollars too, everywhere else wanted more thn $700 just in labour..

go to nissan get it done right and forget about it forever...

[XxDriverxX]

<!--QuoteBegin--bing+Mar. 19 2002,11<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (bing @ Mar. 19 2002,11<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>9)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i had mine done at nissan last year for $844 total thats canadian dollars too.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Where in Canada are you?
How many k's were on your engine?
How bad was the rattling..
Would I be able to get the same deal too?

[XxDriverxX]

anyone else with any answers?

[camppain]

60 k is for a timing belt chains are not a replacement item like oil filters etc.

i did mine myself cost me about 150 bucks in parts

[XxDriverxX]

You replaced your timing chain urself? Well, considering I got no knowledge when it comes to engines, I'll leave that as plan B for now..

But what I'm saying is, is it time to change it now? Should I change it or just buy another KA24DE engine?

[Natesnosrocket]

first of all is it dohc
second have you checked that little bracket under the valve cover that gaurds the valve cover from the chain. Those are notorious for braking and making that rattling noise

[sykikchimp]

You should remove the valve cover and look at the chain and see if it shows signs of wear. &nbsp;Look at the upper guide and see if it has wear as well. &nbsp;If things don't look so great then get it changed. &nbsp;If your not sure.. &nbsp;Get it Changed. &nbsp;Unless you can tell for sure the chain is fine.. &nbsp;Get it changed. &nbsp;You have enough miles on the car to constitute it.

Remember, if the chain breaks, you will likely bend a LOT if not All the valves. &nbsp;Which the price of that to repair is usually more expensive than to buy a good used engine...

[9591]

I keep going back to your &nbsp;comments that it used to only happen when you were parked on a slant, and that it now happens in other situations, as well. I gotta ask: Have you checked the oil level? Because this sounds like a possible case of oil starvation.
If you're OK there, then check the oil pressure, or have someone check it for you. Low pressure will cause the chain tensioner to loosen up, thereby allowing the chain to flop around making noise. Low pressure can also cause valve tapping. If pressure is low, a new oil pump should do the trick.
If oil pressure is OK, then you'll need to go a little deeper than (I think) you want to. The chain tensioner might be stuck or bad, and getting to it is almost as much labor as replacing the chain.
Speaking of the chain, notice how I haven't, up to now. Because it isn't the problem. Timing chains break about as often as crankshafts do, which is, according to my highly sophisticated calculations, not too often.
Oh, and you can remove the chain guide under the valve cover.

[Fuzzy Ewok]

If you've got no real knowledge of that kind of engine stuff, don't mess with it yourself. &nbsp;If you do have a critical failure about to happen, and you miss it, you'll probably be buying a new engine or paying as much for repairs.

A 130k engine should still have a lot of life left. &nbsp;I can't quote prices on swapping in another engine, though, because I don't know 'em...someone else should, though. &nbsp;I do know, however, that it could be something minor or it could be something major that's wrong. &nbsp;Since you said you don't know too much about that area, I wouldn't risk it and would take it in.

[DuffMan]

Well theres a number of things that could be causing the rattle. It could be the upper guide breaking apart and hitting against the chain. It could be the tensioners not tensioning and allowing the chain to get too slack. The chain itself could be stretched out, but most likely this isnt the case. Unless it is, theres no reason to replace the chain, but you would want to have someone find out what is causing the rattle. But don't just take it in and tell the mechanic to change your timing chain.

[XxDriverxX]

Hey..

Thank you all..

Yes, my engine is DOHC, I got a KA24DE.

Ok, well, I wrote down a list of what could be causing the problem (including oil pressure, etc..) and now I'm wondering, should I take it to my Japanese mechanic who owned the EXACT same car as me 3 years ago, or should I take it to a Nissan dealer (more proffesional) to give it a check up? &nbsp;I personally don't know jack so I wouldn't touch it!

Does it take alot of time ($$$<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> to check the valves and the tensioners? Or to remove the guides? or to tighten the tensioners? Oil pump..? &nbsp;I need to know what these things cost before I get a heart attack when they tell me..

Thanks <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[pinoy nismo]

i also have the same problem but my engine is a sr20det blacktop its rattling like hell &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> , does anybody knows how to fix this ive already been to dealer they say its the tensioner and i was surprised when told me that they cant fix problem......... delearship in our country sucks.
ive downloaded a service manual and i know were the tensioner are located is there anyone here thats familliar with sr? can i just take the tensioner off and maybe fix it myself?
still another question, is the tensioner from sr20de interchangeable with the sr20det?

[camppain]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (pinoy nismo @ Mar. 21 2002,10:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i also have the same problem but my engine is a sr20det blacktop its rattling like hell <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> , does anybody knows how to fix this ive already been to dealer they say its the tensioner and i was surprised when told me that they cant fix problem......... delearship in our country sucks.
ive downloaded a service manual and i know were the tensioner are located is there anyone here thats familliar with sr? can i just take the tensioner off and maybe fix it myself?
still another question, is the tensioner from sr20de interchangeable with the sr20det?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
they are the same also do your chain while your in theresince everythingas apart

[pinoy nismo]

hey campaign ,
dude you just save me, btw have you than this repair before? cause, dyi is the only way for me to go and i need alot of advice like do i need a torqe wrench if yes im willing to invest on one, what problem to expect and many other things.
thanks dude <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[sil80]

Sorry to bring up an old topic. I got my 91 FB for 1900 cause the chick thought it was a lifter. I pulled the valve cover off and there was that damn Timing chain guide just setting on the timing chain. I just left it out and my car runs fine. I talked to a pretty good friend that is a mechanic and suggest not leaving it out cause it is also an oil guide or something.

Well my main question is that I plan on doing my timine chain since im not sure what damage it took from that piece just bouncing off of it. Can anybody that has done this give like a in depth tutorial please. I know it is a pain to type something like this up but if someone would do it im sure it would be greatlly appreciated.

KA24DET

[91blk240]

I'll just say this.....what appeared to be my timing chain knocking against the cover do to it being loose ended up being the lower part of my motor....very bad ending to my story....Good luck man, i know its a pain in the ass and i hope you get it fixed

well maybe not that bad becuase an sr20 is going in it now....

Oh yea, the advise about it being my timing chain came from 3 shops, one was the nissan dealership...

[240meowth]

ok, guys, i've been baffled by this for quite some time, i've always thought it was the valves/lifter making that noise, till i saw a post on it later.

so, how do i check this? i take the cover off...? &nbsp;and...? what torque spec am i suppose to put the bolts back on? and do i have to put some seal back on after i take it off? &nbsp;and i really need to know how much i'm suppose to torque these guys, 'cause one of these bolts on the top center of my cover is leaking oil little by little, and i'm afraid to touch it, 'cause i torqued up my old festiva (not mine anymore, thank God), and the bolt snapped...

[sil80]

First unscrew the bolts holding the spark plug wire brackets(4).
Then unscrew the three bolts holding in your injector wire thingy(??name??).
Now unscrew the three bolts on top of your valve cover between the spark plugs.
Now unscrew the bolts around the valve cover.
***note*** Put the bolts in a jar/glass or something.
Now pull off the valve cover and you will notice that the seal is rubber and pressed into the valve cover.
***Note*** Got get a new seal and make sure they give you the right one. Trust me, make them double check.
Now up front on the head you will see the timing chain and there should be a bracket on top of it that is about and 1 1/2 inchs wide and about 3 inches long. It bolts right between the first lobs of each cam shaft.
If its broke replace it, if not............ well then put it all back together and take it to a shop &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> &nbsp;.
Now getting to putting it back together. Well you can go buy a torque wrench and do it right or you can put ill back on together and get them all snug. Once they are all snug go back and turn them all a 1/4 more. Now this might not be the right way but it worked for me and my car is still driving with zero oil leaks........... well from that area atleast
&nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>
You will need a 10mm and 12mm socket for this task.
And change your oil while your at it.... actually during the project.

[240meowth]

what about the guides or somthing? can i replace these? and is it absoultly necessary to change the oil? i just changed it w/ fram's new oil filter (7000miles dowg), and it was quite pricy, (but since i had coupon, thought i'd try), so i don't feel like changing the oil till 7000 miles later...