What is this noise

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Greg Rozelle - 06 Jul 2006 22:43 GMT

What is this noise?

I have a 1993 Nissan altima that was given to me.

This car was not taken care of very well. It has a lot of mileage on
the car. It was low on oil, not out. Has not had an oil change in
two years.

I heard a rattle in the engine.

I am trying to decide rusted out 88 ford escort and a 1993 Nissan
Altima that needs work.

The ford has everything replace except the engine. Which may be
going bad. The ford is shaking, mainly at stops.

Thank you for any help.

Greg Rozelle

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E Meyer - 07 Jul 2006 00:51 GMT

The rattle is probably the timing chain. No oil changes is a bad thing on
this engine. The chain tensioners stop working. Try changing the oil. If
it quiets down, its OK, otherwise, go with the Ford.

On 7/6/06 4:43 PM, in article uufrg.46$2v.1@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net,

> What is this noise?
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
>

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Greg Rozelle - 07 Jul 2006 12:57 GMT

>The rattle is probably the timing chain. No oil changes is a bad thing on
>this engine. The chain tensioners stop working. Try changing the oil. If
>it quiets down, its OK, otherwise, go with the Ford.

Thank you.

Since a timing chain cost about $1000 to repair.
If the oil keeps it quiet (not stop's the noise). Would it be safe to
drive until March 2006 (Tax refund)? If I keep the oil changed?

I am going to get a compression test done on the engine.

Also,
Is their anyway to test out the transmission?

Greg Rozelle

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E Meyer - 07 Jul 2006 15:48 GMT

On 7/7/06 6:57 AM, in article
2%rrg.127410$dW3.3828@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com, "Greg Rozelle"
<gregrozelle@invaild.invaild> wrote:

>> The rattle is probably the timing chain. No oil changes is a bad thing on
>> this engine. The chain tensioners stop working. Try changing the oil. If
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Greg Rozelle

March 2006? Shouldn't be problem, since its already July.

If changing the oil quiets it down, then it means the tensioners were just
starting to sludge up and the fresh oil allowed them the start working again
(they are operated by oil pressure). If it quiets down after changing the
oil, it will probably run forever.

There was also a TSB on those engines, that corrects chain rattle by simply
removing the chain guides (NOT the tensioner) from the top chain and
throwing them away. You can try that yourself, the upper chain is
relatively accessible.

Test the transmission by driving it - does it shift smoothly & at the right
times? If the previous owner didn't even change the engine oil, its
probable that the transmission fluid has never been changed. Pull the
dipstick on the trans and look at the condition of the fluid - pink is good,
brown/black is bad. Burned smell is bad.

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Greg Rozelle - 07 Jul 2006 16:36 GMT

Thank You again

>If changing the oil quiets it down, then it means the tensioners were just
>starting to sludge up and the fresh oil allowed them the start working again
>(they are operated by oil pressure). If it quiets down after changing the
>oil, it will probably run forever.

Good. I can wait till March 2007 then.

>There was also a TSB on those engines, that corrects chain rattle by simply
>removing the chain guides (NOT the tensioner) from the top chain and
>throwing them away. You can try that yourself, the upper chain is
>relatively accessible.

I am not a mechanic. I am surprised there are no side effects by
removing the upper chain guide. Nissan should of done a recall and
paid for this. If this was a maintenance notice, where could I
download a copy. I may go ahead replace the tensioner as well.
What about putting the bolts back in? I have read a little of this.

>Test the transmission by driving it - does it shift smoothly & at the right
>times? If the previous owner didn't even change the engine oil, its
>probable that the transmission fluid has never been changed. Pull the
>dipstick on the trans and look at the condition of the fluid - pink is good,
>brown/black is bad. Burned smell is bad.

It seems to shift fine. I will still change the transmission and
other fluids.

Greg Rozelle

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E Meyer - 08 Jul 2006 03:45 GMT

On 7/7/06 10:36 AM, in article
Wbvrg.60692$Lm5.12298@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com, "Greg Rozelle"
<gregrozelle@invaild.invaild> wrote:

>> There was also a TSB on those engines, that corrects chain rattle by simply
>> removing the chain guides (NOT the tensioner) from the top chain and
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> download a copy. I may go ahead replace the tensioner as well.
> What about putting the bolts back in? I have read a little of this.

You could try looking on Nissan-techinfo.com for the TSB. I'm not sure if
they go that far back though.

The upper chain is pretty short. It just runs from a sprocket at the base
of the head and around the cams. It shouldn't hit anything without the
guides. On later models, they left them out at the factory. I think it
doesn't really qualify for a recall because its just a noise issue, there is
no real danger of the chain breaking.

Its been about 5 years since I changed the tensioner on my daughter's '95.
I don't remember it being difficult to put back together. I had a Haynes or
Chiltons when we did it and it covered everything we needed to know.

You can't easily get to the lower tensioner or guides. That's the $1000
job.

One other thing comes to mind as I think back to the '95. The accessory
belts also made a rattly sort of noise that sounded remarkably like the
chain when they got old and the inner ridges started to chunk up. Take a
look at the belts. You might get lucky & not have to mess with the chain at
all.

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