is this the infamous chain guide?

[jb240sx]

Okay this is my car ('91 s13 130,000):
http://members.sparedollar.com/ab9967/chain1.jpg
This is my parts car ('91 s13 140,000):
http://members.sparedollar.com/ab9967/chain2.jpg

Notice a difference? Today I was trying to diagnose the cause of the rattling coming from my valve cover and thats what I found. Does this normaly break it seems to big for me not to have noticed it. The rattle is only present at start up when the engine is cold and only happens between 2500-3000 rpms.
It could have been broken before I bought the car and some one cleaned it out cause I can't see any pieces or metal shavings. My question is has this happened to anyone else and is this the chain guide? Also should I take the good one off my parts car and put it on my daily driver?

Any replys would be helpful thanks.
John

P.S. I'm not a newbie I lost my password for my username (icer) and I don't use the same email account. Maybe an admin ca help me out? :wiggle:

[kandyflip445]

Just junk the piece. Nissan even left it out of the timing chain kit cause it's not needed and breaks.

[jb240sx]

But is this the reason for the rattle or is it something else. I can't see how something that big would be floating around in there it must have been taken out prior to me buying it.

[mjjstang]

the rattle just happens

[jb240sx]

So its not even worth it to take the one off my parts car and replace it?

[projectRDM]

Take both out, throw away. They're the cause of the rattle. If the broken piece can't be found in the front cover, you should be OK. If it got caught further down you would have already done serious damage.

[jb240sx]

So what do you guys think is making the rattle at start-up? Could it be the tensioner?
Thanks for the replys.
John

[rrichutt]

there's another useless chain guide under the front timing cover. if that's loose it could be rattling.

have you checked your oil level...? low oil made mine rattle at startup.

i wonder where the rest of that guide went... :x

[jb240sx]

there's another useless chain guide under the front timing cover. if that's loose it could be rattling.

have you checked your oil level...? low oil made mine rattle at startup.

i wonder where the rest of that guide went... :x


The noise happens with full oil. I'm wondering the same.

[projectRDM]

The noise happens with full oil. I'm wondering the same.

The other guide typically makes more noise. Take it out.

[mikespeed95]

so take both tensioners out? mine broke like the top pic as well, and its still rattling, but my valvecover has obivous marks from the chain slapping it.

[phrozen]

its better to take em out. if a piece gets caught in the gears say goodbye to ur motor

[-E-]

My cain was chewing on it
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v95/HEYICU/Crap/cain.jpg

[mikespeed95]

your talking about jsut the top guide correct?

[aznpoopy]

mikespeed: there are *two* 'top' chain guides. one is under the valve cover. the other is under the front timing cover.

when you take off the front timing cover take a look at the tensioner. on the 240sx.org FAQ they say it might be frozen with sludge (perhaps causing a slack chain?). remember to check your oil! i remember reading that low oil will cause a slack timing chain as well... or something. one time i had low oil and indeed i had a very bad sounding rattle. not something you want to drive on if you care about your engine.

[mikespeed95]

i only use my car for drift/auto-x events, and i normally change the wal mart synthetic oil (supertech pwnz j00) after 1-2 events b/c 1) im bored and 2) its like 10 bux. the oil isnt a problem.

do you have a picture of this 2nd tensioner you are suppost to take out?

[aznpoopy]

i only use my car for drift/auto-x events, and i normally change the wal mart synthetic oil (supertech pwnz j00) after 1-2 events b/c 1) im bored and 2) its like 10 bux. the oil isnt a problem.

do you have a picture of this 2nd tensioner you are suppost to take out?

u don't take out the tensioner. it's a second chain guide. i don't have a pic but it looks pretty similar to the one above. you need to remove the valve cover, then distributor, then the front timing cover to get to it. you will need rtv sealant to reseal the timing cover and probably a timing gun to retime unless you're very careful.

while the timing cover is off you can check the top tensioner. this didn't happen to me but the 240sx.org FAQ stated that sometimes the tensioner can get frozen with sludge buildup (and cause a slack chain). in that case, you don't remove the tensioner, you clean it.

[mikespeed95]

thanks dude. ill probably check that out on thursday night.