Well after Billman250 diagnosing my TCT ( Timing Chain Tensioner ) as the worst he's ever heard gone bad (had been rattling for 6-7k miles) I replaced it this morning with Billman250's Modified Gen 3 TCT and voila no more noise.

I took my time, drank some beer, and it still took under an hour.

I removed my OEM airbox with 10mm sockets and some extensions.
Then removed the maintenance bolt in the block with 8mm hex wrench.
Unbolted the TCT with 10mm socket
Pried through the maintenance hole and ZING the TCT went flying out of the block and seperated into the 5 pieces it contains.
Picked up the pieces
Inserted new TCT
Bolted in new TCT
Removed lockpin through maintenance hole.
Reinstall maintenance bolt with hex.
Reinstall OEM airbox.
Enjoy your car without the TCT rattle.

Thanks again Bill

-Mike

 

Easier than you thought huh?

Too many people let this simple procedure slide. It's easier than changing your oil.

If you've got the tick, replace it quick.

 

Wayyyyy easier than I thought. If I knew it was so easy I would have done it months ago

 

Yeah, I've done a bunch for people. The only time it is a PITA is when they are supercharged!!! The blower plate is about 3 inches away from the block and directly in front of the service hole........making it a challenge to pull the pin.

A well placed mirror and some 90 degree needle nose do the trick though.

I still wish these things (TCTs) would hold up better though.

-Hockey

 

pic of this TCT so i can do this also

 

Is the rattle just an annoying noise kinda deal.....or is it an actual issue? Mine makes a clack clack noise randomly. It doesn't do it consistently, but sounds like either quiet rod knock or loud valve tick.

It does it along with the normal valve tick. Is that the noise?

 

Most people report the tick on cold idle that goes away when you get above 2-3k RPMs or the engine warms up.

Mine was opposite and didn't tick until it was warm at idle, cold it was fine.

It sounds like a heat shield rattling against something.

 

i'd like some pics too... im not 100% sure this is the problem in my car, but i'll replace it anyway!

if you let this go, and not replace it, what kind of damage can it cause?

 

The rattle is caused by worn down teeth on the worm gear inside the TCT. You can see it when you remove the old one. It makes the noise on a warm idle because of the oil pressure scenario. As the revs climb so does the oil pressure and the TCT quiets down because the gears now mesh under force.

It certainly can't be a good thing and I could feel play in the TCT upon removal.

 

Here's a great pic of the TCT broken down that Billman provided me.



The teeth on the screw thing that sits between the springs is what wears down and rattles side to side upon idle.