95 Dakota SLT 3.9L V6

Someone told me the sounds my truck makes is the timing chain hitting against the cover. I looked it up and found this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8RcTiZz7G4&NR=1

it sounds just like that, now my question is should I get it fixed asap or will it hurt anything, and how long does it usually take for it to completely go out when it's doing this?

 

x2, mine does this also. I've been wondering if this is serious or not. I thought I read somewhere before I bought the truck, that this is a common problem for the 1st Gen Dak's. It hasn't gotten worse the whole time I've had it.

 

My truck has a lot of highway miles, I bought it early last month and drove it probably 500 miles and it sounds the same.

Is it easy to replace? Don't you have to take the radiator and fan out?

 

Its easy if you are good with your hands, Fan, water pump, AC, Alternator, all come out. Radiator stays but fan shroud out.
Use the FSM and a definitely use a puller for the drive chain. Pay attention to the details.
good luck

 

My 94 Dakota V6 started doing it at around 75,ooo miles I had it replaced,I had replaced the water pump before in cold weather so I had a shop do the chain.

 

Can anyone tell me the shop labor hours for doing this timing chain?

I know 2 Non-shop/garbage people

one said $250 and the other said $500 for labor and I know he charges $65/h..

 

My 1996 SLT makes the same sound once warmed up but only in park or neutral at an idle. I thought maybe a Valve floating a little but if this is the overwhelming consensus then maybe mine is the T-chain too. I have 85,467 miles on my truck and it hasn't gotten worse so I'll wait until the water pump needs done and do it then.

 

Yeah, it was the timing chain and the dude that did it said my water pump was very bad (although it wasn't overheating), had it replaced with no extra charge except for the part itself.

 

So what did you end up paying for the Timing change replacement? That is if you don't mind saying please.

 

Timing chain labor was $250

I could have got it done for $210 but I'd rather have a shop do it.

I bought the timing chain and the timing cover gasket and the timing gears for like $60 or something I can't remember.

I got ripped off from them though, I didn't have a ride to get to autozone to buy a waterpump and they wouldn't buy it from them, they said they buy all their parts from bumper to bumper and they boosted it up $30 over autozone price.

Sad thing is, autozone is like 1 block away from them.. lazy bastards.