Ok, I really need some help in this forum geared towards the Mechanically inclined.
I started to hear a chatter/rattle coming from the engine compartment of my 2001 with 42K miles on it. Upon further inspection it sounded like the noise was coming from the front of the header where the timing chain and cams are located in front of the valves.
I brought my car to the dealer and after I explained the problem and had a couple of mechanics look at it, they confirmed my suspisions. They told me the tension for the serpintine belt needed to be replace because it was wore out. Then they told me the tensioner that holds the timing chain also needed to be replaced. It seemed that this tensioner as they called it was out of alignment or put in wrong...or was wearing out.
The cost in parts and labor would be around $600. I know getting to the timing chain requires most of the front end to be removed. So it seems that this may be a reasonable estimate. However, I do need to mention that this dealer had adjusted my valves about 300 miles ago. This noise was never present before this valve adjustment. Does a valve adjustment require them to also adjust the cams or the timing belt. The reason I ask is because if they did, then they should be responsible for this new problem. Please response if you have any feedback in this matter. It would be greatly appreciated with respects to both my wallet and piece of mind knowing that they are not trying to shaft me. Thanks in advance for any help!!!!

 

No.

 

Sounds like they buggered up the valve adjustment. Get a mechanic's stethoscope and listen to different parts of the engine to try and find the source of the loudest rattling. Be careful of the belt and other moving/spinning parts. If it's the timing chain tensioner, you'll hear it most on the front cover of the engine block near the head gasket. If it's the serpentine belt tensioner, you can put the probe carefully on the center shaft and you'll hear it fairly distinctly.
I'm betting it's a noisy valve, in which case, you'll hear it on the top of the valve cover. Remember, there are 16 valves and you should listen at all 16 locations. If you have one or more badly adjusted valves, you'll hear the difference.

 

Thanks for the information so far guys, it is greatly appreciated.
Another point I would like to add is if I do need tensioners for both the timing chain and serpentine belt, doesnt it seem way to early to be changing both of these parts out? The car only has 42k on it.

 

Not necessarily. However, keep in mind that it is unlikely that BOTH have gone bad. There have been a few examples of the cam chain tensioner going bad very early (like in the first year). Also, 42K miles is not excessive for a belt tensioner to go either. Since this noise is so coincidental with your valve adjustment, you should concentrate on those first.

 

..."out of alignment", "wore out", "put in wrong"(<-my favorite)???


By your post, it sounds like all the mechanics are doing is guessing...or trying to blame something else for a botched valve job. Do you trust these guys??? I'd take somewhere else for another opinion.