Engine camshaft chain tensioner lower think broken

Hello New to this forum and have recently purchased a new to me 2007 tacoma trd off road with 4 litre v6 with 250,000km. Trucks engine started sounding ruff just after it threw a check engine light. Was for a knock sensor in bank one. Has a loud ticking in the upper cam area of the drivers side. Started to search if it was rodent damage so took the intake off but no damage to wiring. Had a look at the spark plugs which found out are original and have never been changed in 250,000km or the life of the truck! Denso passenger side NKG drivers with almost no electrode left and huge gap. So found that disheartening for the previous owner of 10 years was a service manager at a Nissan dealer. There was some oil present on the sides of the plugs when took spark plug coils off so decided to take the valve covers off and do the gaskets while it was apart. The drivers side found a black plastic chain guide lying below the upper timing chain area for the cam chain. The cam chain is very loose on the bottom section but tight across top.
From searching toyota parts images it this tensioner assembly section which has broken.
TENSIONER ASSEMBLY, CHAIN, No.3
Part Number: 13560AD010

 

Just checking if anyone has done this job or can send me a link to the repair process?

 

This is what I think is the broken chain guide from the chain tensioner found this laying below the tensioner when took the valve cover off.

 

I need to replace just the small tensioner between the two upper sprockets for the cams. Can it be done without having to remove the entire cam chain system?

 

It should be possible. Once you get another tensioner you can squeeze the ends and slide it between the chains and bolt it in.

here is mine for reference -- those black pieces in your pic must be what fell off and down. but I am confused b/c looking at your pic it seems I can see the cam tensioner - circled?

 

Yes that's the piece the bottom black plastic part is the one that fell off the top is still there. In one of the photos posted earlier i stuck a bore scope between the chains and you can see damage to the metal that the plastic guide attaches to. Thanks for your reply very helpful.

 

Just in time!!!
Its amazing how long a "recommended 40k mile change plug" can go.

 

Yes 40k or every three years whichever comes first or can in a pinch extend it out to 18 years or 160k miles if you're busy with other nagging Toyota suggested maintenance requirements.

 

Just an update! Got the tensioners from Toyota for the secondary chain left and right bank. Had to take the sprocket off the exhaust cam to replace there's no way to slide tensioner in without removing sprocket. Sadly the secondary chain has become stretched and when put the new tensioner in there's just too much slack in the chain to feel good about running it. I ordered a complete timing chain kit and all the associated gaskets to begin the repair.

 

Skipping the 40k spark plug suggested non sense is a good start for aiding and better using resources towards oil lube maintenance and the like.

 

Hopefully Toyota brand parts & not some cheap crap to make life easier & save a few cents....
Not worth the effort...

 

Got the timing chain job completed. It’s a big job with a lot of parts to replace since you’re in there. Replaced along with all the timing chains and sprockets and tensioners the fuel injectors, vvt solenoids, camshaft sensors water pump, serpentine belt & pulleys
Sounds and runs so much better.

 

Welcome to TW! Thanks for posting the updates. The OP doesn't mess around....1st thread and the front end of the engine has been torn apart and reassembled. Impressive!

 

This link on how to do the work involved on the timing chain replacement on a v6 1gr-fe motor was invaluable in showing a professional engine rebuilder showing the steps involved in a clear and concise manner. https://youtu.be/QBwn3owWzE0?si=zizioA073NS9Ut7v
And this parts supplier: https://partsouq.com had the best website I came across showing all the part numbers linked to the schematic drawings of all the parts involved in the truck.
I ordered parts through them as well for their pricing was the best I could find for OEM Toyota parts. Granted I'm in Canada but it still made parts much more reasonable even with freight charges.

 

I've found Brantford Toyota or Toyota Parts Direct to have the best pricing in Canada for Toyota OEM.... but for certain parts, still cheaper to buy from US.

 

Thanks for your kind words earlier! Used Toyota Parts Direct too for a lot of parts lately but the pricing from PartSouq.com out of Dubai when ordering all the timing chain parts o-rings etc made economic sense when a big order offset shipping worldwide. The ease of using their website to find parts and part numbers required is worth a visit alone!

 

good job OP -- I'm a novice here so others PLEASE chime in, but I did do this as part of a HG replacement in May. I fear that you are off a tooth at the bottom at the crankshaft?



here is what mine looked like:

 

Thanks for the concern! Was very careful to line it all up! Thankfully it's just the angle the photo was taken makes the dot on lower sprocket seem off one tooth.
The harmonic balancer cutout was perfectly on the 0 timing marker too when reassembled further. It's a complicated process setting it all up but luckily that video I linked to earlier was/is very useful in allowing for a successful outcome of checking and rechecking assembly steps.

 

I see -- makes sense. congrats again!

 

Yes it's been quite the early introduction into Toyota Tacoma inner workings that wasn't planning on taking so soon after purchasing.
I've changed all the fluids in differentials, transmission and transfer cases added an extra leaf kit in the rear to help the rear suspension as well as front wheel bearings and lower control arm ball joints.
Hopefully that's it for awhile and can enjoy driving it more than repairing