I'm about to pick up another 5th gen this weekend. It has 145k on the clock.
I am positive it's not the timing chain

The problem I'm mainly worried about is a constant ticking sound that I heard from the engine. It wasn't very loud.

The seller claims that it is the injector pulse.

I'm afraid that it's a lifter noise and the last thing I want is to be surprised with hundreds/thousands in repairs..

Is it something to be worried about?

Help!

 

Well, it's not lifter noise, since our cars don't use lifters.

It could be the valves ticking. I've been around quite a few Nissan models, and valve tick is pretty apparent at idle, even in new cars. My mom's 2.5 Altima had some of the noisiest freaking valves I've ever heard. But the car ran just fine.

Is it something that's audible inside the car, or just standing outside? If it's so loud that you can hear it through the firewall and into the cabin, I'd stay away. If it's just something you hear standing next to the car, I'd chalk it up to normal engine noise.

 

Yea I suspected that it was normal but I just wanted some reassurance. It can't be heard through the firewall. Only outside when in front of the engine