As a beater and something my gf can drive. It has 172k on it and the 2nd owner has had it since it had 70k. He said 40k ago (130k) it started making engine noises near the tensioner/timing chain. He had it diagnosed and the shop told him if it isn't affecting driveability is shouldn't be a problem. Well 40k later it still makes the same noise but isn't burning oil, has plenty of power and is getting the same mpg (22 highway average)

Is this car something I should look into? it's priced very competitively so I think it's worth at least a look. Any members have experience with this noise?

 

no one? :\

 

most likely the chain guides broke, causing a rattle. This was common on older nissan engines, actually on any timing chain engine that uses plastic guides.

It might not effect driving now but it could affect you down the road when the chain skips a tooth!

 

You sure it's the timing chain making all that noise? These cars have notoriously noisy AC pumps.

Seems to me like a problem waiting to happen, if it were me I would not put my girl in it unless I fixed it first.

 

Is it an easy fix? Im all about DIY'S. Thx for thr replies guys

 

Well everything is a DIY if you think about.

If you've done timing belts, its a little harder with chains. Since they arent design to be changed easily. There isn't any DIY documents here or much info on the web. Most of the work is removing the timing cover. Once in it should be cake.

swivel mentioned a good point. IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CHAIN. This is just worst case scenario. Could be as simple as a BAD idler pulley. My idler went bad near 60k. Timing chain issues are somewhat rare on this board.

 

Doing a search on the web it seems the VQ35's are prone to a failed timing chain guide in which the tensioner will assert pressure on the wrong area on the guide causing the noise. I'm going to see the car tomorrow so I guess i'll watch a few youtube vids to get an idea of the noise. He brought it to a shop and they diagnosed its coming from under the timing chain cover

 

Its a guess at this point. I just dont remember reading many cases of bad tensioners/guides on here. Or maybe i've missed those postings. We have a lot of guys in the 100-200k range as well, most of them dont mention chain issues.

I would buy the car and plan for a engine swap. So if it doesn't you win, if it does need a new motor in the car you dont loose. Buy the car with expectations of the worst. I dont know rates of VQ35 but i'll take a stab at $1000-1250 should get you a good wreck car pull.