timing chain tensioner came apart

Aaron K ser@luminus.cx
Fri, 19 Apr 2002 19:09:02 -0500


A couple days ago I posted about a new noise, which turned out to be the
timing chain hitting the upper timing chain guide. I removed that guide, and
it was pretty well worn from the timing chain. Not sure what to think of
that, my timing chain is probably stretched a bit.

Anyway, after that I was still getting some noise from that area, so I
decided to pull the tensioner out. Right when it breaks loose from the head,
it came apart! Carefully, with a magnet, I got what I think is all the
pieces out (the tensioner housing, the big spring, and the piston-type
thing). I haven't pulled the valve cover yet.

Are these things supposed to come apart like this? When I replaced this the
first time (with the redesigned part), it took some serious effort to get
the old one apart (I was curious), so I'm surprised this one came apart so
easy.

Here is a picture of the parts that I retrieved:
http://www.luminus.cx/pics/notlinked/tensioner.jpg

Are there other parts not here? I hope not... Did something fall down? It
looks like there should be a little spring on the catch mechanism for the
piston-type thing (in the blue circle on the above picture).

Can someone that has one of these laying around, or someone that has seen
more of them than me, comment on this? I've got a new tensioner coming in a
couple days, and if possible i would like to reinstall this one (if it can
be put back together), as none of the nissan dealers around here have them
in stock.

Any help is appreciated.

Aaron