Nissan Timing Chain still rattling

Most likely bad timing chain, guide or tensioner SALE Maxima Altima 350Z Murano Timing Chain Kit 3 5L V6 VQ35DE with...

There is, in fact, a timing chain on your car. Unfortunately, the Altimas around this year have issues with stretched chains. This car probably should not be driven. If the chain breaks, you will destroy your valves and need to get your head rebuilt. The parts for this repair can be had for under 100 dollars, however, the labor involved is quite a lot. I was quoted $1000.00 for the job and thought it was too much until I got into it. Very time consuming and not for a beginner mechanic. If you know someone who is a VERY good mechanic, maybe they can give you a break on the labor.

It may have to do w that timing chain due to vacuum advance being off too.

Instructions

1. Remove Your Timing Chain
   • 1 Check your owner's manual for the recommended mileage for replacing your timing chain. Replacement for a Nissan Altima is 60,000 miles.
     
   • 2 Locate the timing chain. Replace it if the automatic chain adjuster (also known as the tensioner) is damaged or worn.
     
   • 3 Drain the cooling system and disengage the negative battery cable. Undo the spark plug wires and set the No. 1 piston at "Top Dead Center" (TDC) of the compression stroke.
     
   • 4 Disconnect the engine undercover, vacuum and fuel hoses, harness and connectors, drive belts, power steering reservoir, alternator and bracket, upper radiator hose, air duct, front exhaust tube, intake manifold collector supports, collector and exhaust manifold and the distributor.
     
   • 5 Prop up the oil pan and take out the front engine mounting, the valve cover, camshaft sprockets, cam bearing caps, camshafts, cylinder head bolts (reverse the installation order), cam sprocket cover, upper chain tensioner, chain guides and chain, idler sprocket bolt, cylinder head, intake manifold and cylinder head gasket and the steel oil pan.
     
   • 6 Place a steel cutter between the steel and aluminum oil pans. Slip the cutter around the oil pan's edge. Disengage the steel oil pan, baffle plate, oil strainer and the front tube.
     
   • 7 Secure the car on jack stands and place a seal cutter in between the oil pan and cylinder block. Slip the cutter around the oil pan's edge.
     
   Install Your Timing Chain
   • 8 Reconnect the crankshaft sprocket, oil pump drive spacer, idler sprocket and lower timing chain. Position the lower timing chain on the sprockets and line up the mating marks.
     
   • 9 Rub on an unbroken bead of liquid gasket and put in a new front cover and oil seal. Secure the bolt at 105 to 112 foot pounds (142 to 152 Nm).
     
   • 10 Eliminate any old material from the pan and cylinder block mounting surfaces. Rub on a 3.5 to 4.5mm bead of liquid gasket over the oil pan and cylinder block.
     
   • 11 Attach the upper timing chain to the idler sprockets and secure the cylinder head bolts.
     
   • 12 Refill the cooling system and add clean oil in the engine.
     
   • 13 Hook up the negative battery cable and any other disconnected parts or items. Start the engine and look for leaks.
     

Tips & Warnings

• Procedures for replacing timing chains in Nissan Altimas vary slightly depending on engine size.
  
• Make sure the new timing chain matches the chain you are removing.
  

A Nissan ultima does not have a timing belt,it has a timing chain,look up in your manual for your maintenance schedules when and at what mileage you are needed to change the chain,usually the chain is changed when it is loose through stretching in wear over mileage,a very loose chain has a rattling noise in the engine compartment by the cam gears,good luck ,hope that I was helpful.

Engine - Timing Chain/Front Cover Revised Procedure
Classification:
EM98-009
Reference:
NTB98-107
Date:
January 15, 1999
GA16DE TIMING CHAIN/FRONT COVER
REVISED SERVICE PROCEDURE
APPLIED ENGINE:
GA16DE
APPLIED MODELS:
1991-94 Sentra (B13) w/GA16DE
1991-93 NX1600 (B13)
1995-99 Sentra (B14) w/GA16DE
1995-98 200SX (B14) w/GA16DE
SERVICE INFORMATION
A revised service procedure for the engine front cover/timing chain has been adopted for the GA16DE. It is no longer recommended to remove the
cylinder head when removing the timing chain/front cover(s). Utilize the following steps when servicing the front cover, timing chain, guides or
tensioner(s)
PARTS INFORMATION
CLAIMS INFORMATION
Please reference the "Revision C" pages of the Nissan "1992-1999 Warranty Flat Rate Information Manual", Section "AG", Op Codes AG12AA,
AG14AA, AG142A, AG143A, AG144A and AG24AA. Also reference Section "CA", Op Codes CA20AA and CA22AA. You will note that the
descriptions and flat rate times applicable to the B13 and B14 vehicles (with GA16DE engines) for these Op Codes have been revised to reflect this
new procedure.
Caution
^ After removing the timing chain, do not turn the crankshaft and camshaft separately or the valves will strike the piston heads.
^ When installing chain tensioners or other sliding parts, lubricate contacting surfaces with new engine oil.
^ Apply new engine oil to bolt threads and seat surfaces when installing the camshaft sprockets and the crankshaft pulley.
^ Do not spill engine coolant on the drive belts.
^ Please refer to the Service Manual for the correct tightening torque.
Removal
1. Set # 1 piston at TDC on its compression stroke.
2. Remove the spark plug wires.
1995 Nissan-Datsun 200SX L4-1597cc 1.6L DOHC MFI (GA16DE) Page 2
3. Remove the rocker cover (see Figure 1).
4. Remove the coolant reservoir tank with bracket and reposition it for clearance.
5. Support the engine with a suitable jack.
6. Remove cylinder head front mounting bracket.
7. Remove engine front mounting, then the engine front mounting bracket.
8. Remove cylinder head front cover.
9. Remove the upper chain tensioner (see Figure 2).
1995 Nissan-Datsun 200SX L4-1597cc 1.6L DOHC MFI (GA16DE) Page 3
10. Wipe off the links of the upper timing chain next to the timing marks on the sprockets. Put paint marks on the timing chain, matching them with
the timing marks on the cam sprockets and idler sprocket (see Figure 3)
11. Remove the four (4) front cover to cylinder head bolts.
12. Remove side and lower engine compartment splash covers.
13. Remove the accessory drive belts.
14. Remove the crankshaft pulley.
15. Drain coolant by removing the cylinder block drain plug and opening the radiator drain **** (Refer to MA section of the Service Manual).
16. Drain engine oil.
17. Remove intake manifold support of engine front side.
18. Remove power steering pump, pump bracket and tension rod. Position pump aside for clearance.
19. Remove the thermostat housing (See Figure 4).
1995 Nissan-Datsun 200SX L4-1597cc 1.6L DOHC MFI (GA16DE) Page 4
20. Remove the lower chain tensioner (see Figure 5).
21. Remove the front exhaust tube. Refer to the "FE" section (Exhaust System) of the Service Manual.
22. Remove the front and rear engine gussets (if equipped) on either side of the oil pan.
NOTE:
On A/T models, remove the rear plate cover.
23. Remove the oil pan (see Figure 6).
a. Insert the Tool between the cylinder block and oil pan.
CAUTION:
Be careful not to damage the aluminum mating face. Do not insert a screwdriver, or the oil pan flange will become damaged.
b. Slide the Tool by tapping it on the side of the Tool with a hammer.
24. Remove the A/C compressor and position it aside for clearance.
25. Remove the A/C and alternator bracket with the alternator.
26. Remove the oil pump drive spacer.
CAUTION:
Be careful not to scratch the drive spacer when removing it.
27. Remove the front cover bolts and front cover.
1995 Nissan-Datsun 200SX L4-1597cc 1.6L DOHC MFI (GA16DE) Page 5
CAUTION:
One bolt is located on the water pump (see Figure 7).
*1: Located on engine front mounting bracket.
*2: Located on the water pump.
*3: Located on the power steering oil pump adjusting bar.
CAUTION:
Be careful not to tear or damage the cylinder head gasket.
28. Remove the cylinder block to front cover alignment dowels.
CAUTION:
Do not hit the dowels or the cylinder block will crack.
29. Wipe off the links of the lower timing chain next to the timing marks on the sprockets. Put paint marks on the timing chain, matching them with
the timing marks on the idler sprocket and crankshaft sprocket (see Figure 8).
Installation
1. Install the crankshaft sprocket, making sure the mating marks face the front of the engine.
2. Install the idler sprocket and lower timing chain using the mating marks and the paint marks made during the removal process.
CAUTION:
1995 Nissan-Datsun 200SX L4-1597cc 1.6L DOHC MFI (GA16DE) Page 6
Be careful not to tear or damage the cylinder head gasket.
3. Install the lower chain guides.
4. Front cover installation:
a. Using a scraper or other suitable tool remove all traces of liquid gasket from the cylinder block and front cover mating surfaces.
b. Install new crankshaft seal in front cover.
c. Install new oil passage O-rings and apply a continuous bead of RTV sealant to the front cover (see Figure 1).
NOTE:
Use Genuine Nissan RTV silicone sealant P/N 999MP-A7007, Three Bond P/N TB1207D or equivalent.
d. Install the front cover to the engine.
CAUTION:
Be careful not to tear or damage the cylinder head gasket or oil seal.
5. Align oil pump drive spacer with the oil pump, and install.
6. Install the oil strainer.
7. Install oil pan, referring to "Installation" in the "OIL PAN" section of the Service Manual.
8. Install upper timing chain and sprockets, using the painted reference marks made during removal.
9. Install upper chain tensioner.
1995 Nissan-Datsun 200SX L4-1597cc 1.6L DOHC MFI (GA16DE) Page 7
a. Before installing the chain tensioner, insert a suitable pin into the pin hole of the chain tensioner (see Figure 2) to hold the tensioner in.
b. Once the tensioner is installed, remove the pin.
10. Install the lower chain tensioner (See Figure 3).
NOTE:
Make sure the gasket is facing the proper direction before installing the tensioner.
CAUTION:
Now rotate the crankshaft by hand. Check that no binding or interference problems occur when the engine is rotated.
11. Install the thermostat housing.
a. Use a scraper to remove all traces of liquid gasket from the mating surfaces of the engine front cover and the thermostat housing.
1995 Nissan-Datsun 200SX L4-1597cc 1.6L DOHC MFI (GA16DE) Page 8
b. Apply a continuous bead of RTV sealant to the housing as shown in Figure 4.
NOTE:
Use Genuine Nissan RTV silicone sealant P/N 999MP-A7007, Three Bond P/N TB1207D or equivalent.
12. Install camshaft sprocket cover:
a. Use a scraper to remove all traces of liquid gasket from the mating surfaces of the cylinder head and camshaft sprocket cover.
b. Apply a continuous bead of RTV sealant to the cover as shown in Figure 5.
NOTE:
Use Genuine Nissan RTV silicone sealant P/N 999MP-A7007, Three Bond P/N TB1207D or equivalent.
d. Install camshaft sprocket cover.
1995 Nissan-Datsun 200SX L4-1597cc 1.6L DOHC MFI (GA16DE) Page 9
13. Apply RTV sealant to rocker cover gasket (see Figure 6a) and install rocker cover, tightening the bolts as shown in Figure 6b.
14. Install the following parts:
a. Crankshaft pulley.
b. A/C compressor and alternator bracket with alternator.
c. A/C compressor.
d. Power steering oil pump and tension rod.
15. Install front and rear engine gussets (if equipped), and rear cover plate (A/T models).
16. Install front exhaust tube.
17. Install upper right engine bracket and mount.
18. Install coolant reservoir tank.
19. Install alternator, power steering and A/C compressor drive belts.
20. Install engine compartment splash guards.
21. Install vacuum hoses, electrical harnesses and connectors.
22. Install spark plug wires.
23. Refill with coolant. Refer to the "MA" section ("Changing engine coolant, Engine Maintenance") of the Service Manual.
24. Refill with engine oil. Refer to the "MA" section ("Changing engine oil, Engine Maintenance") of the Service Manual.

After 2002 Altima offers two types of engine: the new 4 cylinder 2.5 L QR model engine which is fairly powerful (175 horsepower) and, I believe, one of the best engine in its class the 3.5L V6 VQ model engine with 240 horsepower. The same V6 model as in in the Nissan Maxima, Pathfinder and Murano.
Both engines feature continuously variable valve timing using a silent chain instead of timing belt. Throttle cable is gone - the throttle operates electronically by wire based on gas pedal sensor readings. This design provides smoother transmission shifting and lower emission.
The 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5L Sedan, has a Timing Chain, and an Ignition Coil Pack. NO DISTRIBUTOR.

I have a '94 Altima with 2.4 liter 4 cyl. engine. At around 150K the timing chain and tensioner were replaced - should solve your problem, too. If you're sure the chain is rattling you should really get it serviced now, not later. Also, if your car is running rough it could be more than just the chain and tensioner; it could be your ignition system, such as plugs, coil, distributor, etc. Bottom line is, your car needs to be checked out right away.

there will be a rattle the front of the engine. the end with all your pulleys and belts on. And it will be hard to work out if it's in the engine or the pulleys.

It is a common that a TICKING coming from the front of the engine is the timing chain guide.

This -->LINK<-- will help you alot.

Regards

Philip

Hi there,
you will need new upper timing chain and sprockets. Common problem on altima your year. Nissan has TSB for it. First they had us remove the upper timing chain guide, but after that, they had us replace all top chain components.