Loud rattle by passenger side of motor.
 

Like the title states, I am getting this loud rattle by the passenger side of the motor. At first I thought it was the idler pulley or the ac compressor, but now I am having second thoughts as it's getting louder every day and now appears to be coming from the top of the motor.

Could it be my timing chain or tensioners and if so, how much is this going ot cost me to fix it.

My insurance company just totaled the car out and sold it back to me, so it's now a salvage title car. I really don't want to throw any cash at it to get it fixed.

Loud rattle sound could be just so many things depending on what you are doing, is it at idle or under acceleration? really do need more info to help ... perhaps make a short video of the sound and post it up.

I can almost promise you that its the tensioner! And it is a HECK of a job! Depending on money...and how well you have taken care of that engine...you could do like I did and drive it until it goes and drop a newer engine in it. It was a lot cheaper option for me than to pull that engine replace that tensioner and throw it back in. Not worth it in my book unless you have a young engine. Just drive her till she goes and put a fresh one in! Labor will be cheaper too! Good Luck!

The noise you are talking about is most likely coming from the timing chain area. And like others have said, it was an issue with VQ35 motors to develop that noise.

The sound is at idle and under load. It doesn't change.

I purchased a new idler pullel thinking it might be the case. It was only $20.

So, after taking off the belt to replace the idler pulley, I started the car and no sound. That's a relief. Now it can only be the idler pulley, alternator or the AC compressor. I installed the new pulley since it's only $20. I figured it's better to just pop it on now then to have to take the car apart sometime in the future do do it. So new pulley on and belt back on, it still makes the sound and now it appears to be the compressor, which was just replaced less than 1 year ago.

I knew that I should have purchased it from a well known company. you get what you pay for. Now I have to do a RR on the air compressor, something I really don't have time to do. What a pain in the A**.

Thanks for the replies. I'll post back up when it is fixed.