2005 Xterra Timing Chain Noise - Rattling, tapping, VQ40DE
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- A quick video of the noise coming from my 2005 Xterra, and what caused it/fixed the issue. I replaced the timing chains, guides, and all three tensioners on mine, and the noise has not come back yet.
This was exactly the video I was looking for. So many have recorded the noise with the problem but not knowing how it sounds when the problem doesn’t exist is extremely important.
Good job. I had the exact same issue. Actually drove it for nearly 10k miles that way. It's a very common issue where the plastic piece on the primary guide breaks and slides down. I had already replaced the primary tensioner awhile back when I first started hearing a little noise, since u can replace it without removing the timing cover. That's when i noticed that the guide was broken. I replaced all parts, except the upper tensioners, with melling components and factory guides for the upper tensioners and did the water pump too. My only suggestion for people doing this is to snap a pic of the cover just as u are about to remove it, so u will know where the 5 big bolts go. The cover has several big holes. Only one of the bigger bolts is shorter and if u have the schematic of the tightening sequence , I think it's #4 or # 7 and the all the 10mm are the same except two and I think it's #24 n #25, so no need to have a panic attack worrying about where the timing cover bolts go. Also, get a pair of chain vise grips, harbor freight 9.99$. Absolute life saver. Use it the move or hold the big cam sprockets. I didn't use any special tools or special crank or cam locking tools. I see a lot of people fighting with it trying to get the crank sprocket back on, b/c they don't have enough slack, simply grab the driver side big cam sprocket with the vise grip and give it a slight bump counter clockwise and that will put slack on the side where the primary tensioner guide is located and the crank gear will slide on super easy. Thanks for the video
Can you make a video of your explanations please?
@@user-tx9gs5ef8o would luv to, but im out of town and don't have any way to video it. I wish I were in a nice shop and was able b/c I kinda enjoyed doing it, especially in a good environment with no rushing. That's the main thing, take your time and just get everything out of your way. I took out the complete air box assembly (not necessary), but I knew once I got it apart, I would have to order n wait for parts (rock auto 👌) so I wanted to do some cleaning while in there, hell I even pressure washed the front of the engine once I got the front cover off. I put some to block off the oil pan to keep much debris from getting in the oil pan, but wasn't really worried much about water and coolant b/c I knew i was going to flush it out anyway, which i did mostly by pouring marvel mystery oil into to pan and letting everything go out the drain plug. Get some cheap oil n filter and run it once u are done for a short distance, then change it again. I had the plugs out so I could easily rotate the engine and once I had the timing components installed I rotated the engine many times to verify I had no piston / valve coming into contact. U can put the components on and off a few times until u have it licked, I played with my old components doing some trial runs while waiting for my new parts..please take that center water pipe that runs through the top middle of the timing cover, It makes life much easier with it out of the way, a pair of long nose needle pliers is all u need to squeeze the clamp and put it back on once u have he cover back on. When installing to the front cover, install it a couple times without rtv so u get a feel for it.i did not remove to two covers that cover the upper cam gears, u can but its not necessary. Get everything out of ur way and remember its not a race. Looking back, the hardest part was getting to it, installing the components is not really hard. Mine is a 6sp so I left it in gear and maybe that helped hold things in place a little, but I used an impact so no worrying about trying to hold anything and don't worry about timing, u can do that once u have it apart and with the plugs out yiu can insert something in the #1 cylinder to help see where the piston is while setting timing (tdc). I think there is already a video on how to use the chain vise grips to help hold and rotate the timing assembly, I will see if I can locate it and post a link for u
Thanks for the video! Thankfully I do not think my engine is anywhere near having timing chain issues but now I know what to listen for! An old frontier I used to use for work had this issue, and now I am like "AHA!" if only I could go back in time and tell my old boss xD
Thanks for this video. I believe that my truck is at the beginning stages as it does not make the sounds all the time and it is most audible now in the winter with the cold weather.
Who changed the guides and tensioner for you? How much did it cost?
Thanks for this. The box tip is great too.
Very informative, thank you!
I am in the process of doing the secondary tensioners as well and am trying to find the torque specs for those hex bolts. Even the FSM doesn't say. Did you just go with good-n-tight?
How long did the process take? My mechanic heard the same noise coming from my 05 and immediately said replace the engine. After slamming my brakes to that one, I felt there has to be another option. Thank you for providing hope.
Just seeing this comment, sorry! It probably took me 2 weeks total. Keep in mind, I am a shade tree mechanic, with no formal training and a lot of that time was waiting for new parts to come in and double checking my work with videos/service manual. I bet it took a solid 8-10ish hours of work to get it apart and back together (not including breaks for checking instructions, and if anything goes wrong, fixing that)
The reason why he probably wants to replace the engine is because of the labor cost. Sometimes the mechanic will just drop the whole engine out of the car to replace the guides. If he can get an engine that saves a lot of labor for him.
Thank you for the reply.
Was the job difficult to do? I have little experience doing work like this on a vehicle but confidence and time. Plus the engines In found aren't cheap.. How long did it take you in full completion?. Really appreciate the feedback
According to AllData labor on primary and or camshaft chains at a skill level of b 9.3 hour's. If your mechanic is charging a cheap 90 an hour it's $837
Mine is the tensioner getting weak. It chatters upon startup. But once it warms up, I rev it between 1700 - 2400 RPMs and it will all of a sudden stop. So id say the tensioner is weak.
Mine just started at 130K miles but it’s much less pronounced noise so far . How long I got ?
Thank you for this video
Mine just started rattling... Not looking forward to this job.
If I were to record the sound of my car at idling or at speed, can you tell me if my maxima has a chain tensioner issue ?
Im thinking I will have the same issue. My xterra is 2005 also and sometimes, when I start the engine it sounds, turn off then back on and the noise is not there.
There is a lawsuit aginst nissan, you could get money back if yours is purchased in some states. I believe is the east coast only.
I’m getting a loud ticking noise in my 05 Xterra 6spd 4x4 between 2200-2600 RPM. Any suggestions?
You probably have a weak tensioner also. But either way, the noise comes from behind the Engine Cover where ALL the Timing Components are. Which is: 1 Primary Chain, 2 Seondary Chains, 3 Guides and 3 Tensioners. Replace those things and youre pretty much gyaranteed another 300,000 miles at least.
See i could take it apart but i could never put it back together without stand there with a handful of bolts scratching my head
Let me ask you a question. When you replaced these parts, did your power/torque increase? Low end torque and power?