Hello all,

This is my first post so here goes. I just picked up a 1994 4Runner SR5 4clyinder auto. "My" Truck...lol Is fuel efficiant with no blue or black smokey exhaust, no/little spot rust on the body and undercoated since birth......and a good suspension/tranny.

This being my first truck and 4x4, wich works just fine, am pretty happy that i got such a good vehicle in a great condition..........

EXCEPT !!!

When i start it up, i can hear a rattle in my front engine cover, now i know this is the timing chain and whats it's purpose and mission is.
It's got 222,000km on it, i don't know if the origional chain or not and the sound of the rattleing goes away pretty fast after starting, then i never hear it again. There are no leaks, the engine, the idleing of the engine, everything is normal and within limits, no rough idle or surging, lopeing RPM, just a good truck.

Here is the deal... Do you think what i described above, warrents an "immidiate" timing chain change, or perhaps....... It's just starting to loosen up and rub... or at the worst, it's never been changed in 222,000km "unlikely but i don't know for sure" and i push her to 300,000km...scarey i know but you can see my problem and why i'm scratchin my head,

My friend at work has a toyota 4 runner with 325,000km on it, and on the origional chain, and he's not worried about it, say, "it's a toyota man, relax. lol"

Help me out and give me your honest opinion , even if your own timing chain didn't break on you, what do you think???? Are there any of you out there with origional timing chains, pusshing or past 300,000km ??? would love to find out..

HERE ARE SOME BEFORE PICS, ......
Timing Cover... and oil pan on the bottom front.....

Another of the front cover...stock, never been replaced.....

Just a before shot of my 22RE... The chian is supposed be changed the weekend of july 6th 2007, will try and get lot's of pics....

 

How long does the rattle last?

 

If it goes out there will be a lot more to replace than the chain. If you can take the valve cover off and get an idea about the chains condition. Your motor is not an non interference engine. Which means if the chain goes valves can and will bend.

 

Sorry, I re-read that, nevermind.

Andy

 

i ran mine noisy for a while but i would replace it as soon as you can

 

It lasts about 5 seconds, then it's good, other times, i can't even hear it or have to listen close for it.

 

could it just be the valves chattering before the oil really gets to them?

 

I wish... Sadly i had it to toyata, just for an inpsection and oil change... the tech there started it up, told me he could hear the timing chain on start up, but as oil pres went up, it quieted down. He has seen cases where it eat's through the case.

That's his opion, but i want the peoples opinion, and thoughts on it. his opinion may be a little pumped up to get my buisness......

Other peoples timing chains are alway's audible, mine is only on start up...


Thanks everyone and keep the suggestions and thoughts rolling....

 

Its slapping against a thin section of alluminum that seperates the chamber that the water pump uses and the place the chain runs. The problem is you dont know how thin that section is now. Could be tin foil. Who knows. But thats the reason I got my truck so cheap it cut a slot through and just flooded the motor with water. If it was me I'd do some preventitive maintenance now.
Jim

 

replace it!! better safe than sorry. You are going to have to do it at some point so go ahead and get it over with.

 

Had a friend who ignored this for too long on his 22re - chain broke and took some valves out with it on it's way. That mixed with a slight warp in the head, and he spent over $2k to get it all patched back up. If you dont have a reciept stating that it was done within an acceptable amount of time, i would get it done and save yourself the headache down the road. But i am anal about my truck.

 

Change it, mine did the same thing and only when it started up, when i did the chain like 1k miles afterwards half of the guide was in the oil pan.

 

yes, you ight want to check your gude in there, and if its gone drop the pan and get the peiced out.

 

I realy apprciate all the help everyone, and input and experiance. I got a $500 Budget to work with..... And i'm getting some parts today. Any Suggestions?????

 

Change it!! change that chain soon. Your engine bearings will not like being flooded with water. If you can hear that rattle, it is whacking the aluminum, the plastic chain guide is gone and it is in your oil pan, possibly clogging your oil sump. If it is the 2nd chain, you never know if they cleaned out the oil pan.
http://www.engnbldr.com/
Great place to get your parts from, even if you have someone else do the work.

 

You oughta be able to change it/get it changed for $500, no problem I believe.....

 

I 2nd that recommendation.

 

just make shure ya put the new sprockets on the right way i learned that the hard way.

 

yeah mine ticks before oil gets up there or if the oil is broken down.

there is a difference between a tick and a rattle:-)

 

Previous owenr put a cheap chain in. It stretched out, wore the discussed area thin. Later I changed the chain and not the cover, looked fine, just slightly worn.

After I overheated my motor, I began to have issues with coolant in oil. There mus have been a hairline crack in the grrove that the chain scored. Replaced the worn cover and all is good now.

CHANGE IT!!!

Get a TOYOTA chain. Get metal guides. The plastic ones are crap and teh after market chains are crap.