Timing chain noise or???

I have a 1999 with a 2.7 liter, 210K. It make this noise that sounds like cam chain slap at lowish RPM when it has a decent load on it. It's worse when its cold and kind of goes away when it warms up. It got better after the last oil change but then I heard it again the other day.

 

more than likely the tensioner or guides are worn.

 

Is it difficult to replace? Accessing it looks easy but Im not sure about setting it. Or how much should someone charge me to replace?

 

not a job for a first timer. Quasi special tools needed.

 

Sounds like a timing chain noise. It is NOT easy to access, you have to drop the oil pan and pull a bunch of other stuff. Have a mechanic do it if you think you can't. Good time to go through and reseal everything and maybe do the water pump too.

There's a nice Japanese-made timing chain kit with everything you need by OSK that you can get from 209Yota1, I just installed it on my 3RZ and the noise went away.

 

What if its just the tensioner? I don't want to put a new timing chain in thats big $.

 

I just replaced my timing belt, water pump and all parts (see photo of all parts that will be replaced) from a shop which cost $1000. Good that I did since the water pump is leaking all over. Thanks

 

1000 bucks isnt that bad. Hopefully its the same for a timing chain

 

Same $, the tensioner is in there under the timing cover too. I've heard it's usually the plastic guides that wear out on these engines and that was my experience as well.

None of these parts are all that expensive, it's the labor of pulling everything apart to access it that you're paying for

 

Cost of parts is $400 and labor is $600. Its labor that is expensive. It took the whole day to replace all. Thanks

 

I have a 2005 2TR-FE with some miles on it, and I've taken the best possible care of this truck in its life. I too have had the chain slap/piston slap noise at startup, which started about 18 months ago. One day, after every start up, even some "warm" startups, after a in/out to the grocery store, etc.. Warm weather, cold weather, didn't matter, it would make the chain slap noise and "check engine" light on the dash. Last month, after having enough of this nonsense and rough-running motor, which made me wonder if it was fuel injection issues, my mechanic said it's a loose timing chain ($4200-4400 to repair) according to the check-engine light, error codes, etc.

Well, I did a thing... MAYBE it worked, time will tell, but here's what I did:

• Added full can of Liqui-Moly Pro-Line engine flush to existing (dirty) oil and ran for a little over 15 minutes at idle only.
• Flushed the old oil and let it drip for a long time, to ensure it was all out.
• Added a fresh oil filter (Fram) and fresh 0W30 Mobil1, and drove it around for a while to really get it circulated and flush out the Liqui-Moly, then drained.
• Added yet another fresh oil filter (YZZD1) and fresh 0W30 Mobil1 and added a full can of Seafoam to the gas tank, then topped-off the fuel with regular old 87 octane, per usual.

The truck sat for about 7 days, since it's not my daily driver anymore, and at startup, it sputtered and made the chain slap/piston slap noise (it's loud), so out of shear anger, I goosed the go-fast-pedal and it blew some blue smoke, coughed a little and then smoothed out. After that, not another noise or misfire. I let it sit for the past 4 days and then drove it again today, NO noise and no rough idle, nothing... drives like new again, with 228,200 miles. Liqui-Moly & Seafoam????