My engine has just recently started a rattling sound in the last couple of times that I have driven it. My car was purchased with minor front-end damage, so I believe that all warranties would be void, though it only has 59,xxx miles and all maintenance has always been done on time. I found an older thread on the site with a video that matches my sound, but there was no specific answer, and I didn't want to bump the old thread.

This is the video from the thread. Again, this is not my car, but what it sounds like. The oil was just changed after this was noticed with no change to the sound:

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated, thanks!

 

Timing Chain Tensioner.

 

Any clue how long something like this should take a shop? I don't really want to mess with the timing chain if that is where the issue lies. Thanks for any help!

 

It shouldn't take a shop long at all, considering it took me about an hour and I was going slow. At zzperformance.com they have the "upgraded" tensioner that you could buy for your mechanic to install if you wanted a better part.

Before I go further can someone else chip in here to confirm its the tensioner?

 

Confirmed. Some people just take it out and put the new one in real fast (10-30 minutes). Personally, I would take the valve cover off to confirm it didn't jump any teeth when replacing the tensioner.

 

On your car did you just swap it out or go the longer way?

Edit, just noticed you were from Maine too! haha

 

I went the longer way, all you do is remove the valve cover, zip-tie the timing chain, remove the old tensioner, put the new one in, and tap or gently hit the end of the new tensioner once installed to release it.

And wow, I didn't realize you were from Maine until now too. Are ya up North?

 

After reading around I see that the style 2 (AC Delco 12608580) does not have to be released though. I have one stripped bolt on my spark plug cover, but other than that I wouldn't think that I should experience any issues if I did want to take the cover off. How long did the entire process take you? Would you say that it was fairly straight forward? Thanks for the help

I am located about an hour North of Bangor, so I am fairly far up here, haha

 

Take a long flathead screwdriver and place it on the supercharger, on the valve cover, and anywhere else you think the sound may be coming from, and then put your ear up to the handle. It'll be pretty evident what the problem is.

 

The sound is definitely coming from the left side of the engine (timing chain area), I was mostly trying to determine what component is the culprit causing the sound.

BoSStwick: When you changed yours was the sound coming from the entire timing chain area or just one specific area?

 

Change the tensioner.

 

The tensioner going bad causes the chain to be loose, hence the rattle? Correct?

 

Yep.

 

I remember the sound was somewhat hard to centralize, but it was generally around the timing chain area. If you put your hand to the far left of the valve cover right where the gears are you should be able to feel the chain hitting the top of the valve cover (or at least that's how bad it was for me).

 

Mine is very loud, especially towards the top, it is definitely in the timing chain area, The tensioner is only $30 with 2 day shipping, so that isn't too big of a deal. Thanks for all your assistance!

 

you do want to make sure that the black chain guide is not broken or damaged in anyway. I would replace the tensioner and if the noise goes away, good, and if it doesnt, explore further. Good luck.

 

Got the new style tensioner in the mail today, took about 5 minutes to change. Running perfect and no more loud obnoxious rattling coming from the left side of the engine now. Thanks for everyone's help