[Shotimes] Failing Cam Timing chain tensioner sound?

[Bruce Malachuk]

Ahh see I have that bump sound, which is what I would call it. But up higher
round the 2700-4000 range I have what sounds like a clacking rattle or
something. Almost sounds like something rattling in the intake. But I know
all my MAF bolts are there, and the intake hasn't been off the car in 2-3
months. Hmm perhaps I need to pull the front cover and take a look. Worst
case I suppose I'll have wasted maybe 2 hours to know for sure if it is or
isn't the tensioner for the chain. 


Bruce Malachuk

94 Opal Frost MTX

93 Black ATX soon to be parts

93 Green MTX - black interior...a turd with wheels right now


-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Mallinson [mailto:dmall@mwonline.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 10:05 AM
To: 'Bruce Malachuk'; shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Failing Cam Timing chain tensioner sound?

The V6 Cam chain tensioner makes noise at idle.  Slight rattling sound from
the chain "bump" at the back of the valve covers.  Almost always this is
harmless and putting in all new gears/chain/tensioner won't help.

There is a belt on the front  and the tensioner there can go bad but not
very often.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net 
> [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
> On Behalf Of Bruce Malachuk
> Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 6:28 PM Can anyone describe the sound 
> a failing tensioner would make? I have this wierd rattling sound that 
> is only present from 3000rpm and up, but it only happens some times. 
> I've verified that it's not the TOB as it doen't go away when the 
> clutch is pushed in. I seem to really hear it coming thru where my 
> pillar pod is mounted, as the spots where the clips used to be affixed 
> are open, and I think they carry sound from the engine bay up into the 
> car. I put a piece of a broom handle on the tensioner area of the 
> front head, and there is a slight noise there, but not like waht I'm
hearing while driving.
> The back head is silent as far as I can tell.
>  
> Is it possible that the front tensioner might be failing, and letting 
> the chain slap around, and if so is it something that can kinda happen 
> one day but be quiet the next? My Opal is up to 95k miles and is 
> perhaps a week to a week and a half from comming off the road for the 
> winter. I have a 3.2 that will be going in there over the winter, but 
> I wanted to troubleshoot this and see if it's gonna be ok to keep 
> driving on it till I've made sure the winter beater is up to snuff so to
speak.
>  
> Is there any sure fire way to test out a tensioner and see if it is 
> bad? I know it's like a 25 min job to get the front valve cover off, 
> 15 of that being the intake. :-)
>  
> Thanks in advance
>  
> Bruce Malachuk