2009 Toyota Camry 2AZ-FE timing chain slack

[iCurious]

Did the valve cover (original) on my friend's 2009 Camry - the valvetrain was spotless (no pics sorry); however, I notice the timing chain has some slack. I can lift the chain up and down with my fingers. I've done a few 2AZ-FE valve cover gaskets and I have never noticed the timing chain slack. There are no codes, the car runs fine. I looked at the live data and STFT & LTFT are at single digits. MAF was about 2.4 gm/s. Ignition timing was at 15 degrees at idle in park. Should the customer be concern?

 

[charbaby]

Do you have any start up rattle?
The slack is taken up by the tensioner upon start up & while running.
However, IDK what you’re seeing from where I am sitting so it’s hard to
judge but, I’d wager that your most likely just fine.

 

[iCurious]

Do you have any start up rattle?
The slack is taken up by the tensioner upon start up & while running.
However, IDK what you’re seeing from where I am sitting so it’s hard to
judge but, I’d wager that your most likely just fine.

So the tension is not constant? Found it bizarre because the other 2AZ-FE didn't have this amount of slack.

 

[rijndael]

I'd note that it has a a ratcheting tensioner, so it shouldn't be losing tension on engine off.

 

[JavierH19]

Do you remember how the position of the chain tensioner looked. Was it fully extended? Even when off it should still be tight and not be easily moved with a finger.

 

[iCurious]

Do you remember how the position of the chain tensioner looked. Was it fully extended? Even when off it should still be tight and not be easily moved with a finger.

I believe it is not visible from the valvetrain area. I believe it is located in the back by the firewall which is not visible.

 

[iCurious]

Here is a pic of a recent 2AZ-FE I did and it didnt have slack.

 

[JavierH19]

I believe it is not visible from the valvetrain area. I believe it is located in the back by the firewall which is not visible.

It's not visible with the eye but one can get a boroscope down to the tensioner to see how extended it is. In some engines it's possible to do it through the fill cap without removing anything. I'm thinking of a Hyundai engine that had the fill cap on the timing chain cover so you could see some of it through there.

 

[iCurious]

Update: After doing some research, there shouldnt be any slack. It will need a new timing chain tensioner. It's gonna be a pain since it's from the back.

 

[supton]

Bummer! Good luck with the repair.

 

[The Critic]

Update: After doing some research, there shouldnt be any slack. It will need a new timing chain tensioner. It's gonna be a pain since it's from the back.

There is probably nothing wrong - you just happened to remove the valve cover when the chain was in the slack position. The tensioner has a ratcheting mechanism but is also fed with hydraulic oil pressure.

 

[iCurious]

There is probably nothing wrong - you just happened to remove the valve cover when the chain was in the slack position. The tensioner has a ratcheting mechanism but is also fed with hydraulic oil pressure.

The car seems to have a massive oil leak all over by the drive belt. On the back of the timing chain tensioner is also wet. I think it's coming from that direction. So I was planning to replace the timing chain tensioner and the gasket.

 

[The Critic]

The car seems to have a massive oil leak all over by the drive belt. On the back of the timing chain tensioner is also wet. I think it's coming from that direction. So I was planning to replace the timing chain tensioner and the gasket.

Need to reseal timing cover. Cover is likely leaking from the seam where the block, head and timing cover meet.

 

[Nessism1]

Chain slack between the cams is usually normal, and relates to how the cams parked when the engine stopped. Sometimes the cam, if a follower or two are just past the nose of a lobe, can rotate a smig when the engine stops, creating the slack. You can check by bumping the engine over a little, the slack will change and maybe go away since the cams move to a different position.

 

[iCurious]

Need to reseal timing cover. Cover is likely leaking from the seam where the block, head and timing cover meet.

The vehicle does have over 200k miles. Didnt know timing cover leak was a thing on these.