[Jnk1296]

So I had the valve cover off of my '14 2.4L yesterday to replace the gasket due to oil leaks. While I was in there, I noticed the timing chain seems rather slack.

(forgive the image quality, this is from a picture of the entire head. It never even dawned on me to take a photo directly of the chain itself...)

I'm able to push down and in on the chain and get it to mesh with the rest of those teeth on the front of the sprocket. Unfortunately I'm not too familiar with the tensioners on these cars, if they're hydraulic, if this is normal or not or really anything. 😄 I've seen in the past on here that others have had to replace their TCTs for grinding noises, but outside of a small handful of 0F starts in winter of last year when the oil got a little lower than I'd like, it never grinds at all.

Is this normal (chain slack w/ engine is off) or is this a TCT failure? Car has 110k miles on it. If it is the tensioner, can I just replace the tensioner or should I spring for a complete timing job and do the guides, new chain, VVT sprocket, etc considering the mileage? Thanks in advance!

 

[WiiMaster]

People have had to replace the VTC actuator for the cold start (nothing to do with temperature of the environment, it has to do with the engine temp), but I don't recall people having to replace the timing chain tensioner. I know I didn't.

 

[Jnk1296]

I think I was mainly remembering this post.

 

[Hudouc]

People have had to replace the VTC actuator for the cold start (nothing to do with temperature of the environment, it has to do with the engine temp), but I don't recall people having to replace the timing chain tensioner. I know I didn't.

I know it's a very long stretch, but I'll put this out here. I was told that the tensioner on the K24 is known to 'fail' and allow car to jump timing (especially at start up) in HIGH OUTPUT applications. I was recommended to upgrade the tensioner to the ones made by drag cartel, but the ones they make are only available for K24A. It seems like the OEM hydraulic tensioner could be a minor weak point in these motors.

 

[Jnk1296]

More than anything, I think I just want to know if that slack would still be there while the engine is running. As best I can tell, the tensioner is ran off of oil pressure (maybe?). When I started the car after doing the gasket, it made the same noise it typically makes for a few seconds immediately following an oil change, making me wonder if there just was no oil pressure behind it when I happened to be looking at it. Again, IDK. It just seems odd for the chain not to be hugging the gear.

 

[greg1c]

More than anything, I think I just want to know if that slack would still be there while the engine is running. As best I can tell, the tensioner is ran off of oil pressure (maybe?). When I started the car after doing the gasket, it made the same noise it typically makes for a few seconds immediately following an oil change, making me wonder if there just was no oil pressure behind it when I happened to be looking at it. Again, IDK. It just seems odd for the chain not to be hugging the gear.

The tensioner is on the the other side of the cams, it does use hydraulic pressure using engine oil to provide tension. There is a locking mechanism on the tensioner that does not allow the tensioner to go backwards and loose tension. If there is slack on the untensioned side, either the chain is worn OR the timing is off.

While you had the valve cover off did you check to see that everything lined up?



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[Jnk1296]

I did not. Never even occurred to me lol.

It wouldn't be too much of a hassle to pull the cover back off (assuming I can reuse the valve cover gasket) and check, though it'll have to wait until this weekend when I get a day off. Kind of wish I'd thought of that earlier, now, but I was in a bit of a hurry to get finished. 😁

That said, the car doesn't act like it's out of time IMO. Basically runs about how I'd expect an engine with 110k to run. Though I do wonder what "normal" chain life is. "Lifetime" really doesn't provide a whole lot of insight...

I'll check the timing this weekend, try to get a better idea of the slack and report back.

 

[greg1c]

The chain is a wear item and there is nothing that moves that does not wear. As the distance from the crankshaft to the exhaust cam gear is set, any wear in the chain will show clearly on that side of the engine. The other side has the tensioner. Make sure the chain guide on the exhaust side is in good shape and is not broken or worn.

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[sequoiasoon]

I think I was mainly remembering this post.

I have a '17 LX with the 2.4 it had a slight rattle each start up. My dealer said the VTEC had a TSB, didn't say anything about the cam tensioner. I printed and gave him the TSB for new tensioner he looked confused. Mechanic verified the cold start rattle (I had to leave it overnight). They replaced the tensioner under the powertrain warranty, noise is gone.

 

[Jnk1296]

I have a '17 LX with the 2.4 it had a slight rattle each start up. My dealer said the VTEC had a TSB, didn't say anything about the cam tensioner. I printed and gave him the TSB for new tensioner he looked confused. Mechanic verified the cold start rattle (I had to leave it overnight). They replaced the tensioner under the powertrain warranty, noise is gone.

Would that be TSB 19-019? The car had been sitting for about a day and a half when I did the valve cover...

 

[2Accordz]

If you're handy, the tensioner TSB is an easy fix.

Follow what @WABOOM laid out in this thread and you'll be fine.

 

[Jnk1296]

I already ordered the tensioner and pin from my local dealer lol. I figure best case, that's all it is and it fixes my issue. Worst case, it's one less part I'll have to buy if I'm looking at 500$+ for a timing kit. But it seems to match up with what I've seen and experienced.

Typically the car only makes any kind of grinding noise for an absolute split second to the point I typically don't even notice it and otherwise runs perfectly. But when I started it right after seeing that slack, it made that grinding noise for a good solid second or two, like if I were starting it immediately after an oil change. That, to me, says tensioner.

 

[sequoiasoon]

Would that be TSB 19-019? The car had been sitting for about a day and a half when I did the valve cover...

Yes that is the one the did on mine.

 

[Domosho90]

Just replaced the cam tensioner on a 2014 accord 2.4 with an oem part less thab 80 bucks. Seems to have fixed that issue so far just would recommend going oem dont mess around with ebay parts

 

[JohnnieAnn]

I just replaced the timing belt tensioner on my 2016 V6 coupe 78,245 miles for the 2nd time! It started with rattling at start up then started sounding like it was ran completely out of oil! Loud! The guy who worked on it texted me saying I had to be the luckiest woman on this earth because he literally pulled the belt off with his pointer finger! Well the replacement started making same noise not even a week after paying over a grand. Thank goodness I wasn't going down the road when my car started shaking and trembling I quickly turned it off. The new one basically crumbled. So I'm now on the 3. And I swear I hear that noise sometimes.

 

[KW2004Accord]

I just replaced the timing belt tensioner on my 2016 V6 coupe 78,245 miles for the 2nd time! It started with rattling at start up then started sounding like it was ran completely out of oil! Loud! The guy who worked on it texted me saying I had to be the luckiest woman on this earth because he literally pulled the belt off with his pointer finger! Well the replacement started making same noise not even a week after paying over a grand. Thank goodness I wasn't going down the road when my car started shaking and trembling I quickly turned it off. The new one basically crumbled. So I'm now on the 3. And I swear I hear that noise sometimes.

Sounds like your mechanic is using cheap parts (made in China), if the timing belt or tensioner goes so does your engine most likely. For such critical parts go with oem parts only.