I was just curious...how many of you had to replace the timing chain tensioner? I would like to know how common this problem is.

My car is making some weird noises on cold starts and sometimes lasts up to several minutes. It eventually goes away. I still got to check it with a mechanic but I'm guessing it could be the tensioner. It sounds to me it's coming somewhere from the driver's side of the engine bay. My car has a little over 130k miles.

 

if it was the timing chain tensioner it would be from the passanger side. It will make a ratttling noise. There have been many with high mileage cars who have complained of this, I get a little bit of rattle from mine upon start up, but I have yet to hear of problems beyond just the temporary noise.

 

I see. Plus, after reading about timing chain tensioner in TSB from 4th gen section, I don't think mine applies anyway.

I took the car to mechanic today and he really couldn't tell what the problem was. Or rather, I don't think he really wanted to take a look at my car for whatever reason. Well, no business for him. Kept gving me this bullcrap about how it's got 100k+ miles and whatnot.

Excuse my ignorance...I don't know much about knock sensor but could this also cause rattle too? This vibration I think is coming from the driver's side and I can feel it through the pedals along with the rattle sound.

Thanks.

 

About two months ago. I had a grinding metallic noise coming from my engine. I went to several local shops and all those morons did not know where the problem was. One of them even specialized in import cars and told me it was the timing chain and that was a common problem, quoted me around $2200.00 for changing the belt and labor. So I went to Infiniti and for $90 they told me that the alternator bearings were worn and was making the noise when the car was cold. It was a loud noise that you really did not know where it was coming from.
New alternator = $150 put it on myself

Ps. Never trust mechanics, they usually only know how to change parts.
Gain experience and be proud of doing your own work.

Hope this helps

 

Yes, first thing you should do is to drop the belts, while it might be a pain, it will help you pinpoint the problem.

regards, Bart