My car seems to start and run fine, the only thing is that after i start it and it turns over, it makes a weird metallic / chain rattling noise. This only happens when the car is cold. When it is fully warm and than started again, it does not make that noise.

Here is a video (via tinypic) :

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its probably a timing chain tensioner, those are notorious on our cars. what happens is; the piston inside the tensioner has no oil pressure and until the pump starts turning and it reaches the optimum pressure to tighten the chain it will make a horrible noise. if you search you will find an abundance of info on this. if it only does it when its cold just warm it up before you drive it. and from your video it looks like its REALLY cold where you are.

 

Yea it sounds definitely like your chain tensioner, I had exactly the same problem and after I replaced the tensioner it went away. Its also relatively easy to change.

 

is there a write-up on how to replace it ? and what's the OEM part # for it ?

 

+1 that is it

 

What tensioner did you replace it with? I've read that the OEM tensioner is redesigned and requires the guide to be replaced? Has anyone used an aftermarket tensioner like the Beck/Arnley 0241181?

Reading the Engine Mechanical service manual it appears you just need to remove the chain tension cover to reach that tensioner?

 

Theres an access for it by the waterpump.

Tensioners a Bish to replace. FSM in my sig.

 

What did you replace it with? An OEM or aftermarket? I've read the redesigned OEM tensioner requires it's guide to be replaced also?

Has anyone successfully used the Beck/ Arnley 0241181 tensioner?

 

hey buddies i don't speak english but i got to try jeje
emm when i start my maxima 1997 this have a noise like a wiiiiiiiiuuiiii!!!!!!!! and doesn't stop when the engine is warm and the belt sound's too whan i start at morning and at morning i got to depress the acelerator to mantain the revolutions at 1000 rpm because if i don't do the car turn's off what could be the problem??????

 

glad i found this since i dont have 15 post i couldnt post the question

 

tps or crank sensor, the noise could quite possible be the tensioner its hard to diagnose just by the "wwwiiiiiiiiuuuuuuuiiiiii"

 

There is no write-up, not sure what the oem part number but you can call David Burnett at Courtesy Nissan he will give you a pretty good price mine make out to like $76 shipped with the guide, they actually redesigned both tensioner and guide but you can just replace the tensioner since to change the guide it would require taking off the cover off which is a pain.

- Removing Cover
Now as far as replacing it, the access to the tensioner is on the far side of the engine close to the firewall you will see a black lid cover there are three bolts as I recall 10 mm (if not its a 12 mm but I'm pretty sure its 10), get those off and pry the cover off, after you did that, you will be able to see the tensioner with 2 screws as i recall its also a 10 mm head. Now comes the tricky part feel the chain if its really tight then you will need to get some slack on it by rotating the engine slowly. They way you do so attach a 21 or 22 mm head to crank pulley nut and rotate it slowly clockwise it should be half a turn you will feel little slack on the chain then your done with that. (remember by rotating the motor you will create pressure in the cylinder and it it will get harder to rotate)
-Removing Tensioner
So now the tensioner unscrew those two bolts (be careful not to drop then down the cover because they you have a big big problem) anyways take them out and then comes the delicate part of taking off the tensioner. Note that behind the push rod there is a spring so be very careful taking it off and try to keep your hand over the push rod because once you take it off it will shoot out you need to be careful that both push rod and the spring does fall into the cover then you are done with that to install the new tensioner is really simple.
-Installing New Tensioner
The new tensioner have a "grenade pin" make sure of not pulling it until after the install, so alight it with the bolts tighten it "see the fsm for the torque specs I did it by hand, after you tighten the bolts and you see that everything is aligned nicely pull the grenade pin and push rod should fly out and push against the guide. then put some silicone on the black cover and seal it back tighten the bolts and you should be done.
Now in my case when I started the car I head the same exact noise (don't freak out) just let it run for about 15-20 min and it should go away it if it doesn't stop the car and restart it there should be no noise. Then job done and you can go get some beer and celebrate.

Sorry its to wordy if you have any questions please pm me. If anyone have any other suggestion or correction please correct me but that just how I did it.

 

Before doing this I would try a oil cleaning additive ( not too hard to destroy all the seals.)

The tensioner adjust itself with the oil pression by a hole big like a needle head.
It could be dirty in the best case, if not, the guide is bad, you need to replace.


It looks almost like this: