[jkretzer]

my little truck is running bad, it has an irratic metallic sound, missing, lost power. my buddy and i checked compression, it is fine, pulled code 21 and that is it, is there anything else i should check b4 i jsut wait for it to blow? thanks josh

 

[zanegrey]

what is mileage .

kinda sounds like the timing chain lost the tensioners..

pull the valve cover off and look down in with a good light to see what you can see...

 

[jkretzer]

188k, would that cause the timing to change which would be where my loss of power came from. what all is invovled in changing the timing chain? front of the truck and motor have to come off.

 

[zanegrey]

one of my trucks has over 500 k miles on the original tc.
the other has 190 k miles ...

so no not necessarily ..

but those symptoms do sound like it ..pull the valve cover and look down at the tc guides..

imo abuse or misuse causes premature tc troubles...

 

[jkretzer]

i pulled the valve cover over the weekend and the pass side of the timing chain was loose, i have found out throu extensive searching that the guide on that side can be adjusted so i am going to try that tonight to see if the chain is loose causing it to slip timing some. if it does stop any of my symptoms i will replace the timing gear set and retime the motor. i dont want to go through all that work if i have a major problem inside the motor that is causing the rattling and loose of power. what do you think zanegrey? thanks a ton, josh

 

[zanegrey]

to tighten it ..imo .. you must take off the timing cover.
if you have the timing cover off you might as well do the whole job..

chains, for the most part, do not slip or jump time ..they elongate which lets the timing change..

 

[jkretzer]

ok i was under the impression that i could adjust tension with just the vavle cover off. dang, if i would have figured this out yesterday i wouldnt have pulled my bronco in the garage to repair some cancer whcih involved the removal of all the seats, the floor, drivers door, drivers front fender and hood. i am trying to get ready for hunting season. guess i will park the nissan for a few weeks and then tear into a new timing chain. guess iw ill ahve to pull out my dodge diesel to drive to work. thanks josh

 

[lmills]

hmm didn't I tell you the bouncing vacuum gauge was timing????? O my. LOL

 

[jkretzer]

it was sticking out like a sore thumb when i took the valve cover off, i just didnt think about it. the chain was loose on the pass side of the motor, i could move it with a screwdriver about 1/2 in. so i guess it is advanced timing and the motor there is some detonation which is the rattle we heard. so how does the MAD garage look? if it is full a mechanic i talked to last night said he would do it for 200 plus parts, i just bought a timing set for $42. he said it should take him 6 hrs to do it, which i thought wasnt a bad price at all considering he does them all the time. i am not sure yet. let me know. josh

 

[lmills]

bring it up , we will squeeze it in some time. LOL

 

[jkretzer]

just thought i would update for anyone that it may help. get my truck back tonight, mechanic said the guides on the timing chain had all but exploded, the chain had actually started rubbing the block and also the optical sensor in the distributor had gotten hot and was cracked up given irratic spark and missing condition. got timign set from ebay for $42, used distributor from a junk yard for $53, and he is only charging me $150 to do the work. to me the truck was well worth the money, it saves me a ton at the pump.