My '97 3.9L is making a noise that I suspect as the timing chain hitting the side of the timing cover. If I record a WAV, MP3 or video of the noise does anyone think it can be determined yes/no as the timing chain by a forum member?

Bit of work to change the chain & gears so I want to be sure before spending the day wrenching.

 

Do post one or all three if you can. Wait a minute I will find a link of one.

 

Finally found it:
dodge talk dot com/forums/showthread.php?t=248936
Take out the spaces and change the word to the symbol and on that thread there is a video of the fellows engine with the sound of the timing chain noise. Hope this helps.

 

"This video has been removed by the user."

 

Well that is a bummer, wonder why he did that. And why does it show the first pic of the video if the video is not even there? Oh well, I tried.

 

Well, thanks anyway for the effort. I'll get my A/V posted at the next opportunity so we can determine what's causing the noise. If it is the timing chain I don't want to leave it this way too much longer.

 

i'm not sure of the configuration of your belts and such, but if you can SAFELY get a short piece of pipe, metal or pvc, against the block and timing cover, you should be able to pinpoint the noise.

 

I have never owned a 318 engine without a loose timing chain. They seem to wear out within 50k miles so chances are yours is bad. I just did mine and it really was not too bad a job. I find if you take the front seats out you have room to work. Also, be sure to unscrew the fan before you take off the belt, it's much easier, and check the timing cover for wear or pinholes behind the water pump. Mine had a hole in it and I was getting water in the oil. Glad I found it early.

 

Why would you take the front seats out to change a timing chain?

 

The 97 and older vans have the engine starting at the firewall. I did need to remove two braces (one attaches the rear of the AC compressor to intake manifold and one from beside the alternator that is attached to the AC/alternator bracket that also attaches to the intake manifold) and I chose to go through the doghouse opening to get to them. On the 98 and newer, because the front of the engine is more forward of the firewall you may be able to get to even those braces with out going through the doghouse opening.

But I did not need to pull the seats to do it. It would have taken me 4 times longer to pull and reinstall the braces if I had pulled the seats.