I have a 2009 Nissan Maxima SV with only 187,000km (116,000 miles) on it that has been giving me hell. It only has 2 modifications done to it, a full straight pipe exhaust (muffler, resonator, cat delete) + cold air intake (takeda). When I first purchased my car, the timing chain was starting to rattle only on cold starts. I took it a local mechanic shop, and got over ($4,150+) of work done to it. Below is all the parts/work that have been done:
- Replace Inner Tie Rod (MEVMS30719 A/V)
- Replace Serp belt(4070670 P/S)
- Replace Lower accessory drive belt idler pulley (89506 P/S)
- Replace Upper accessory drive belt tensioner assembly (89525 P/S)
- Alignment
- Remove/Replace Battery (MPG35 P/S)
- Replace Chain (130289HP0A OEM)
- Replace Chain (13028JA10B OEM)
- Replace Guide (13091JA10A OEM)
- Replace Guide (13085JA10A OEM)
- Replace Tensioner (130709N00A OEM)
- Replace Tensioner (13070JK21C OEM)
- Replace Tensioner (13070JK21B OEM)
- Replace Silicone Gasket (135107Y000 OEM)
- Replace Silicone Gasket (15066ZL80C OEM)
- Replace Silicone Gasket (15066ZL80D OEM)
- Replace Timing Cover Gasket (TCS45997 P/S)
- Replace Engine Oil Pan Gasket Set (OS30688 P/S)
- Replace Engine Oil Pan Gasket Set (OS30696 P/S)
- Replace Water Pump (GAT43520 A/V)
- Replace VVT Sprocket (13025-JK21A W/P)
- Replace Drive Belt Tensioner
- Replace Gasket (GA1/32 AES)
- Replace Gasket (GA1/64 AES)
- Replace Silicone Gasket (23797JA10B OEM)
- Replace Seal (15066JA10A OEM)
- Replace Wheel Nut (559-114 P/S)
- Replace Exhaust Gasket (31377 P/S)
- Remove Unnecessary Heat Shields (That were causing rattling noises)
- Replace Secondary Timing Chain Guide/Tensioner
- Labour (11.50 hours, $1,345.50)
This is also what the mechanics wrote down:
"Remove and replace timing chains, tensioners, guides and re-seal oil galleries. Other shop called timing job, removed front cover, found one VVT was bad, found primary tensioner had a blown seal and leaking oil and found a gasket for the rear oil galleries to be leaking. Replaced VVT, resealed rear oil gallery and replaced all timing related components as per invoice. Reassembled, checked, starts and runs great. Please note, oil gallery that was leaking that we resealed is part of rear timing cover, the gaskets were not sold separately. Rear timing cover was over $700, discussed with customer, this was too much for them. We made gaskets for it and believe it will be okay but will not be able to warranty repair. If it leaks again vehicle will need a new rear timing cover. A/C leak found. Replaced O'rings on high pressure and low pressure lines going to A/C compressor. No gas found in system. No gas was put in after repair. In order for the A/C to work, will need to check leak and refill."
The mechanics said in the text above, that $700 was too much for the customer (me). I never told them over the phone it would be too much or anything like that. After I got my vehicle back from them, it just fine with a slight rattle noise for about a month and then I had to come back due to severe rattling noises from one of the timing chain tensioners. I was pretty angry (reasonably so), the mechanics did mention to me that possibly some of my other VVT's were going bad and yet again they told me they did not replace them because I told them I didn't have enough money to get them to do the job... which again isn't true. So now just recently they replaced a timing chain/tensioner again (for free under "warranty" lol), and then did my spark plugs (which I asked them to do), and then made me pay for some gaskets (totaling around $300). And now the timing chain tensioner is rattling again...
I'm on this forum just asking on advice on what I should do, because this is my first car as a teenager and I've literally poured all my money into this car and can't afford to buy a new one (especially in today's market I won't find anything good where I live). I have a feeling that the reason I keep going back to this mechanic shop and what keeps causing rattling noises is the VVT sprockets and possibly pinions I think they're called. But I am really not sure. If anybody would know what the possible causes would be of the tensioners to keep failing to be, would be very insightful.
Below are videos to someone to better understand the noise/sound:
* Rattle While Revving: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17IkN1NIf3PnoElnAg1YEx58O5JRGRvjq/view?usp=drive_link
* Rattle While Idling: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LKBIrXEV9b-w6TGYULXjSYFssU1CTFI4/view?usp=drive_link
* Slight Rattle Noise before everything went wrong: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dpY6nyuLVtj5XdkIlCXbWHyqo_whnDFo/view?usp=drive_link
Well, it could easily be the VVT rattling. I often do that. It kind of sounds like it but I'd have to see that in person. Any good mechanic with the stethoscope can listen to it and tell you where the noise is coming from though. And if it is the VVTs if it makes the noise only for a very short time when startup and stops, most guys will live with it in your monetary situation cuz it caused the fortune to rebuild those engines
Thanks for the reply Scotty. I'm pretty confident it is the VVT rattling but I also do know for sure it's the timing chain tensioner (s) aswell. Would having a bad VVT cause the timing chain tensioners to fail and allow the timing chains to start rattling? Because the mechanics already replaced the timing chains/tensioners 2 times already and it's still causing the same issues, and the tensioners keep failing about 1month later.