Rattle/mechanical noise under bonnet w/ video. FIXED

[jay.ritchie]

Yep- Timing chain tensioner.
$800 later and the noise is fixed

[b120ute]

good news, i think mine has the same thing.
im assuming you had someone do the job for you since the $800 bill?

did they replace it with a better tensioner or the same factory part that is destined to be noisy again?

[jay.ritchie]

good news, i think mine has the same thing.
im assuming you had someone do the job for you since the $800 bill?

did they replace it with a better tensioner or the same factory part that is destined to be noisy again?

Haha yeah i took it to a mechanic. Im not handy enough to pull the motor apart.
They replaced it with the same factory part. Although i don't plan on owning the car for another 80,000kms!

[b120ute]

fair enough, glad you got it sorted. its an annoying sound!

does anyone know if a noisy tensioner is something that needs to be replaced quickly before it fails and causes damage?
or is it likely to just be noisy and carry on doing its job?

[jay.ritchie]

fair enough, glad you got it sorted. its an annoying sound!

does anyone know if a noisy tensioner is something that needs to be replaced quickly before it fails and causes damage?
or is it likely to just be noisy and carry on doing its job?

The mechanic explained it to me pretty clearly.
The tensioners (two chains- one on each side) are hydraulic, so the more they wear out, the more likely they are to fail. and eventually the timing chain will be completely slack.
He said this process is slow, but best to get it sorted relatively soon just to be safe.
I'm just happy the engine sounds normal again. cant wait to put some quads on it!

[jay.ritchie]

and im pretty sure he said something about the timing chain 'jumping'. i think that means when it gets slack, it loops on its self. then it'll probably snap. like a bike.

[KiDo_Tuning]

Imagine the craankshaft is the pedal gear on a bike, the timing chain tensioner is the first 'slack point' under hard acceleration. If the engine wants to rev harder and make more torque, it will generate more chain tension which is why the tensioner can become slack... common issue on the Nissan SR20 engines as well with chain tensioners failing or becoming noisy!

[jay.ritchie]

Final invoice came to $865.
169 for the new tensioner
66 for an oil change
630 in labour.

Turns out a little cap off the tensioner got sucked through, and shredded the thread. It ended up in the sump- lucky that it didnt go through the chain. and lucky the motor didn't churn it up either!

[b120ute]

where did you have the repair done? if you dont mind me asking that is....

[jay.ritchie]

where did you have the repair done? if you dont mind me asking that is....

Nunawading engine clinic. Just around the corner from my work.
Nice guys- experienced mechanics

[Ric]

and im pretty sure he said something about the timing chain 'jumping'. i think that means when it gets slack, it loops on its self. then it'll probably snap. like a bike.

He means jumping one position on the toothed cog.
This would throw your valve timing out. If it jumped enough teeth, you could get pistons hitting valves, which is a precursor to empty bank account disease!

[libz05]

hey jay!
i have the same problem as yourself but not on idle!
when the rpm is at say 1 - 2k. there is a slight rattle and then goes away!
do you think its the same problem as yourself!