Gen. 2 Timing Chain Tensioner Pics

161390 Views 393 Replies 122 Participants Last post by smj999smj, Nov 19, 2016

ballon78

Discussion Starter · Jan 5, 2009 (Edited)

While I replaced the tensioners, last week i snapped a bunch of pics. When i was searching on the forum i couldn't find much info other than the problem and the fix so here are some photos. Took me about 16 hours, i broke it up in a few days over christmas vaca, and did it in my garage which isnt the ideal location because if the size. Didn't need anything spec. just the basic tools, even though i have pretty much every tool!! Very involved, you have to take, lots apart, including the front cam journals which are ontop of the tensioners, valve covers, alt, ac, all belts, intake plenum, bunch of wiring harnesses, Parts were about 300.00 with all fluids, and thats 20% off on nissan parts. Hope these help.

Just click on the link to Photobucket.

ballon78/Nissan Timing Tensioners - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

I meant to mention, see how far worn down the plastic blocks are compared to the new ones. See how there wasn't any plastic left and the timing chains were just metal to metal, when they start to make noise, this is when the chain comes in contact with the metal, so it need to be taken care of asap. The chains start to kink, and not flex like they should, my chains were smoked fom riding on the metal button on the tensiners. My truck is a 2005 with 66,000 miles.

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NEFrontier

· #2 · Jan 5, 2009

Nice Job

Great job on the work and the pictures. I just bought a 2007 Frontier and found out about this problem and want to learn everything I can about it.

Do you know if the replacement guides have been improved or will you be doing this again? Also, is this a problem on certain model years or are we all going to deal with this sooner or later. What I've read leads me to believe we will all have this problem at some time. I can't believe Nissan left everyone holding the bag on such an obvious problem, I guess all car makers are the same when it comes down to it!

Anyway, how did the repair turn out is everthing quiet? Again, great job and thanks for the pictures. It makes the problem easier to understand we I can see it.

Mike

Pro2X

· #3 · Jan 5, 2009

Im getting scared everytime I see this problem with the mileage listed...I guess I need to go ahead and start a savings account...

I have an 05 w/ 60k miles

ballon78

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 5, 2009

From what i understand 05-07 have this problem, and yes they say that the parts are updated and they do have different part numbers on the box....the bad news is they look the same, couldn't see any different plastic material or anything that will make them last longer..but we will see. It was loud, sounding like a supercharged one, and now its very quiet, cant even hear it idle. While i was in there, i replaced, the thermastate, idler wheel, idle tensiner too and belt, all of which are known problems with these years. I just bought the truck 3 weeks ago and knew the problem when i bought it, so dont know how the truck was treated before me, but the inside of engine was spotless, very clean. I am running syn. oil now to help with the friction on the tensioners.

NEFrontier said:
Great job on the work and the pictures. I just bought a 2007 Frontier and found out about this problem and want to learn everything I can about it.

Do you know if the replacement guides have been improved or will you be doing this again? Also, is this a problem on certain model years or are we all going to deal with this sooner or later. What I've read leads me to believe we will all have this problem at some time. I can't believe Nissan left everyone holding the bag on such an obvious problem, I guess all car makers are the same when it comes down to it!

Anyway, how did the repair turn out is everthing quiet? Again, great job and thanks for the pictures. It makes the problem easier to understand we I can see it.

Mike

bdhaeh

· #5 · Jan 5, 2009

Holy plastic garbage Batman!

Why would they design the engine this way?

ballon78

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 5, 2009

So they can get 2500.00 for the whole job, when your truck hits 60,001 out of warrentee!!!!

zoomzoom

· #7 · Jan 5, 2009

The tensioner, belt problem sucked big time for me too on my 05. Luckily I was able to resolve it under warranty after numerous trips to the dealer.

scuba91ta

· #8 · Jan 5, 2009

glad i had my extended out... deductble is pretty cheap too...

Hasn't made the noise yet - almost wish it would so i could just have it done...

kenyonja

· #9 · Jan 5, 2009

Would this be a common problem for the Gen 2 4-cyl? I know the engine layout has to be drastically different from the 6-cyl, but maybe they use the same tensioner, maybe they don't even have a timing chain, etc? I've never looked into this before, but I am curious now.

Zedbra

· #10 · Jan 5, 2009

good job - thanks for the pics (and future warning)

ballon78

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 5, 2009

No this is just for the v6 4.0 gen 2, not the 4cly gen 2.

FitzIngarage

· #12 · Jan 5, 2009

Perhaps an enterprising aftermarket supplier will come to the rescue with tensioner shoes made of longer wearing material. I've not had any problem with this so far, but have only 18,000 Miles on mine. I wonder if the 3.5L suffers a similar failure?

2WD_NISMO

· #13 · Jan 5, 2009

Ugg...wish we had belts instead of chains.

PoolRunner

· #14 · Jan 5, 2009 (Edited)

I lose a little more sleep everyday when I read about this problem. Does anyone have a II Gen 4.0L VQ with over 90K miles and never had the problem? I was really hoping to keep my '08 for as long and as many miles as my '86 720 Nissan truck (278K) miles on original un-rebuilt motor but it looks like I'm going to be back into another Tacoma unfortunately after the warranty period expires. Question? How does the VQ keep winning awards for best V6 motor (Although not this year) when there is this inherent defect? I love my II Gen Frontier to pieces, excellent ride for a truck, lot's of power from the V6, hauls a load good and works hard all day long but it's has two strikes against it for me. 1) Crappy 4WD engage and disengage function and 2) This chain tensioner time bomb issue one more retarded design issue I hear about and I'm done with it. Sorry to be a sour grape yall but these issues could have easily been avoided, and are grossly unacceptable this does not look good for long term Nissan loyalty.

-Ryan

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05cc4x4

· #15 · Jan 5, 2009

How difficult would you say this was? I'm no mechanic but I'm pretty good at taking stuff apart and putting it back together. My main concern would be taking the chains off and putting them back on. Is there anything special to it? Specifically where they are timing wise? Do you have to be careful nothing moves? I've never gone that in depth but it looks do-able. Thanks for posting this up.

Zero Six LE

· #16 · Jan 5, 2009

FitzIngarage said:
Perhaps an enterprising aftermarket supplier will come to the rescue with tensioner shoes made of longer wearing material. I've not had any problem with this so far, but have only 18,000 Miles on mine. I wonder if the 3.5L suffers a similar failure?

I'm not sure about the 3.5. I have almost 70,000 on my Maxima and it's good to go so far.

PoolRunner

· #17 · Jan 5, 2009

Zero Six LE said:
I'm not sure about the 3.5. I have almost 70,000 on my Maxima and it's good to go so far.

My Dad has a 3.0L VQ in a 2000 Maxima Se, hes got well over 120K trouble free miles. But I'm not sure if that engine is the same architecture as our 4.0L VQ? I know it sits in the Max's bay transversely, but it visually looks different than the engine in my Frontier?

-Ryan

mrgrayaz

· #18 · Jan 5, 2009

Well they are both VQ engines, so of course they are the same architecture....

greenmachine

· #19 · Jan 5, 2009

Thanks for the pics and great job! I have an 08 so I hope I have avoided this issue. I am going to ask the mechanic how many of these they do a week next time I am at the dealership. This issue is unacceptable and Nissan should be ashamed. I love my truck. I just hope she treats me well.

zoomzoom

· #20 · Jan 5, 2009

One reason I bought my first Nissan was due to seeing my friend's Maxima with well over 200k miles running strong. These problems shouldn't be happening.

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