Altima timing chain?

[J-Roc]

Hi all, I have a 93 Altima w/2.4L and 117k. It runs pretty well, but at a warm idle I can hear a clicking sound coming from the engine. Anyways, I took the valve cover off and noticed excess play in the timing chain- about 1.5"-2.0" This could also be the cause of my fluctuating idle ...Do these need to be replaced or is there a tensioner that can be adjusted or replaced? I've read previous posts on the altima timing chains and have the impression that the timing chains dont need replacing??? What is involved in such a repair? THANKS!!!

[TheQuietThings]

hey i have an altima with 112k miles on it [1993] and i hear the same thing. im not sure if there is a tensioning kit, but a timing chain usually needs to be replaced every 80k miles, when was the last time you changed yours?

[stubacca]

Originally Posted by TheQuietThings

hey i have an altima with 112k miles on it [1993] and i hear the same thing. im not sure if there is a tensioning kit, but a timing chain usually needs to be replaced every 80k miles, when was the last time you changed yours?

Timing belts need to be changed about every 80-100K miles. Timing chains do not! If your mechanic changed yours at 80K miles, they just made some easy money...

The timing chain on Altimas can make a bit of noise when the engine gets older, but 117K seems a bit early (usually not a problem until 180K). Replacing the chain is a big job, and usually well over $1000. In most cases, it's far cheaper to buy a used engine and have it installed.

Noise can be caused by the upper timing chain guides. There's a TSB from Nissan that says these can be removed (for the '00 and '01 model years they were deleted).

http://gspot-altimas.com/Content/TCServiceBulletin.htm