I just got a 01 dodge dakota 4.7 with 150k on it the engine was tapping and didnt run the guy i got it from took it to a shop they said the oil pump was bad when i took the valve covers off i found that the chain tensioners where broken and chain was loose common issue. I am not sure if the pump is bad but would rather change it to be safe Is it possible to change it in the truck without dropping the pan? since the oil pump is in the front of the engine?

 

The pan has to come out to change the pump.

It's unlikely it is bad, but, you may have a lot of sludge in the engine that caused the timing chain tensioner problem, clogged oil passages.

You may want to pull the pan anyways.

 

ok took it apart doesn't appear to be a lot of sludge at all so il hold off for now on taking the pan off However how common is it for Both sides and the main tensioner to break they where all cracked????

 

If all the plastic guides went bad and cracked could it mean that the oil pump was going or do they just break from being a pos it has 150k on it?