Timing chain woes

LpPepper

Car is an 04 Micra 1.0L, 86k miles. No service history but check oil once a week and level is always spot on.

Had the cam shaft position sensor replaced by dealer when bought last August. The idle would rise and drop for about 5/10 seconds on Startup. New sensor seemed to solve the problem.

This idle on cold starts has Started again the past few weeks and occasionally on start up there's a rough noise - maybe tensioner?

Car has always driven fine and not really given any trouble. Engine check light has appeared as of today. Can't hear any Chain rattle from the engine bay. I reckon when I plug a code reader in it'll give the cam shaft sensor error again...

So if the timing chain needs replacing how much am I looking at? Local indy garage has quoted €600 for parts and labour.

PukkaStukka

It's a big job to change the chain in those, engine out if I'm correct. However, you are assuming the worst here and based on the description of the fault, it may well not be the chain. Get the diagnostic done first and proceed from there.

corks finest

LpPepper wrote: »

Car is an 04 Micra 1.0L, 86k miles. No service history but check oil once a week and level is always spot on.

Had the cam shaft position sensor replaced by dealer when bought last August. The idle would rise and drop for about 5/10 seconds on Startup. New sensor seemed to solve the problem.

This idle on cold starts has Started again the past few weeks and occasionally on start up there's a rough noise - maybe tensioner?

Car has always driven fine and not really given any trouble. Engine check light has appeared as of today. Can't hear any Chain rattle from the engine bay. I reckon when I plug a code reader in it'll give the cam shaft sensor error again...

So if the timing chain needs replacing how much am I looking at? Local indy garage has quoted €600 for parts and labour.

Sounds about right, fairly big job,but ring around

matt-dublin

Possibly a faulty / spurious cam position sensor I would think.

If it was the chain you would hear a rattle at start and possible misses whilst driving

barneygumble99

As a rough guide, an excessively stretched chain can usually be spotted by a noticeable fluctuation of the rev counter needle. Engine doesnt have to come out to do them though.

corks finest

barneygumble99 wrote: »

As a rough guide, an excessively stretched chain can usually be spotted by a noticeable fluctuation of the rev counter needle. Engine doesnt have to come out to do them though.

Would there not be damage done?driving a stretched belt/chain

barneygumble99

corks finest wrote: »

Would there not be damage done?driving a stretched belt/chain

No, it'll just be noisy, mainly on start up, you'd hear some really bad but no effect on the car other than engine management light on. I've never heard of Nissan chains breaking yet.

LpPepper

Started the car just there and went for a short drive around the estate. Started on the button and drove fine. Engine light still on.

Here's a quick clip of the engine at idle after 5 mins of driving: https://youtu.be/oWhmVHaAwSQ

Confused really, car seems perfect. Will bring to mechanic in the morning anyway. Don't hear any Chain rattle at all...

Previously it done this: https://youtu.be/DPzeXZug8_E
And has started doing that a little bit again over the last 2 weeks or so...

corks finest

barneygumble99 wrote: »

No, it'll just be noisy, mainly on start up, you'd hear some really bad but no effect on the car other than engine management light on. I've never heard of Nissan chains breaking yet.

Just goes to show what I know, so a complete different animal from a timing belt,obviously, as a lot of damage is done if that goes,and u try to drive/start it,tnx for information

JohnBoy26

When the chain stretches on these it puts the timing out enough to cause the car to run rough but not enough to do any engine damage. When the chain stretches on those Nissans it will usually cause rough running rather than a rattle. It will also cause the eml to illuminate, a diagnostics check will usually show a camshaft position sensor fault even though a stretched chain is usually the issue.

A snapped timing belt is a completely different situation. If a chain were to snap on an interference engine you would have the same problems as an interence engine with a snapped timing belt.

LpPepper

Brought to mechanic today and got the dreaded camshaft position sensor error code - position over advanced. Booked in to get the chain replaced tomorrow. Bit of a pain but at least the car will be back to how it should be.

nmacc

Don't forget that the cause of the timing chain isn't wear, it's rot.

By their nature Micras suffer from lots of short runs where the engine never fully warms up. This means an over-rich mixture which drains down into the crankcase, where condensation mixes with the sulphur and produces sulphuric acid, which rots away the chain.

The fix is frequent oil changes, irrespective of the mileage.

JohnBoy26

nmacc wrote: »

Don't forget that the cause of the timing chain isn't wear, it's rot.

By their nature Micras suffer from lots of short runs where the engine never fully warms up. This means an over-rich mixture which drains down into the crankcase, where condensation mixes with the sulphur and produces sulphuric acid, which rots away the chain.

The fix is frequent oil changes, irrespective of the mileage.

I'd seriously doubt it tbh. I've never seen rust on the chain on these, or the almera either. The chain stretching and putting the timing out is the problem.

Plenty of older k11 Micra's out there doing short runs and no chain issues.

nmacc

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

I'd seriously doubt it tbh. I've never seen rust on the chain on these, or the almera either. The chain stretching and putting the timing out is the problem.

Plenty of older k11 Micra's out there doing short runs and no chain issues.

Since the chain is continuously lubricated, you won't see rust. Chains aren't elastic dear.

I don't expect you to believe me immediately, but please Google first. Start with Honest John. He's quite good with Micras, although he misses the serious issue of fuel filler corrosion.

JohnBoy26

nmacc wrote: »

Since the chain is continuously lubricated, you won't see rust. Chains aren't elastic dear.

I don't expect you to believe me immediately, but please Google first. Start with Honest John. He's quite good with Micras, although he misses the serious issue of fuel filler corrosion.

I don't have to rely on google. I've seen these stripped down with the chain out. They stretch just like on the almera.