Title says it all. I need to change mine, it rattles like hell after cold starts, and even when hot, you can sort of hear the chain when you pop the hood. Could that affect timing somewhat?

 

I dont think so.

 

No I do not believe that it could.

 

No it couldn't.

But there is a fix for the rattling chain floating around in the 5th gen forum. Apperently some oil passages that supply oil to the chain and tensioner get clogged up and when you do some kind of engine flush the noise disappears. Just something to think about...

 

or..
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....t=timing+chain

 

He has a 3.5 in his car. The fix i'm talking about is specific to it.

 

I have the 95 timing chain.

Replaced the tensionner yesterday. No more rattle.

 

how much was the tensioner, and di dyou take a picture i need to do this immediately..

 

It was 60$ canadian, came with a guide but you you can't change the guide without opening the timing chain covers so I said f*ck it. Took the 4 bolts off the black plate closest to the firewall, then you see the tensionner. 2 bolts, take it off, careful not to drop anything in the timing chain covers, then replace it with the new tensionner, which points downward more and is a real b*tch to get in there correctly.

 

I think yes, it could affect timing in that it makes rattling/clacking noise, that the knock sensor will pick up and pull timing?

I recently replaced the tensioner in my infiniti as it was getting louder as time went on, and let me just say... JCLAW is right when he says "careful not to drop anything in the timing chain covers" My gasket got dropped in there, and a 1hour job turned into a 1 day job.

 

I think he meant cam/valve timing when he asked...