Right about 97K miles and the water pump goes... what the heck happened to getting like 150K+ out of these things? Coolant leaking from around three corners of the the oil pan though... it is what it is.

Anyway, I realize that the replacement of the timing chain tensioner is recommended with the pump replacement since it's gotta come out anyway.

My Q is... which tensioner am I purchasing? Based on the location of the tensioner cover plate and based on the fact that the tensioner has a cover plate associated with it all, tells me that it's tensioner for the main chain... correct?

 

Yes, main chain tensioner.

 

I did not change mine with my pump change out. Changed it around 170K, I have 205K now. No problems.

Had I known I probably would have. Anyway, the dealer would be able to tell you.

good luck.

 

You have to remove it to get slack in the TC anyway ... why not replace it? Why do all that work (removing the mount, TC tensioner, moving the PS rez ... so on) and not replace it? Seems senseless to me to risk dropping something into the timing case by doing it two times (for a total of four.)