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CriticalCommonEngine

Honda Odyssey: K24A Timing Chain Stretch and Tensioner Wear

K24A Timing Chain Stretch and Tensioner Wear is a common engine fault on the Honda Odyssey on the 2003–2013 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs ≈A$1,660 to ≈A$4,140 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 45 documented faults on the Honda Odyssey.

Vehicle
Honda Odyssey
Engine
K24A
Years
2003–2013
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
auto
System
Engine

This page covers the Honda Odyssey as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda Odyssey faults45 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The K24A 2.4L engine in RB1 and RB3 Odysseys is prone to timing chain elongation and hydraulic tensioner failure when oil changes are neglected or degraded oil is used. Worn tensioners allow chain slack, causing cold-start rattling that may progress to jumped timing and valve-to-piston contact if left unaddressed. The failure is oil-maintenance dependent and accelerates above 10,000km service intervals.

What you would notice

  • Rattling from front of engine on cold start fading within 10-15 seconds as oil pressure builds
  • Persistent rattle that does not clear indicating advanced chain stretch
  • Check engine light with P0341 or camshaft timing codes
  • Rough idle or misfires following chain jump

How to check it

Where to look. Front of engine, timing chain cover and tensioner assembly

  1. Cold-start the engine after sitting overnight and listen for a rattle from the front of the engine in the first 5-15 seconds.

  2. Check oil change history for intervals exceeding 8000km.

  3. Scan for timing or camshaft position sensor fault codes.

  4. Pull the oil cap and look for sludge buildup indicating chronic neglect.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

≈A$1,660 to ≈A$4,140 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, converted to Australian dollars, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Can you provide the full oil service history?”
  • “Has the timing chain or tensioner ever been replaced or inspected?”
  • “Does the engine make a rattling noise in the first seconds after a cold start?”

Now check the Honda Odyssey you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car still has money owing on it, has been written off or reported stolen, what kms it showed in past sale ads, whether it has had accident repair claims and what it is worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate and its state for the A$17.90 Vehicle Check, or the full history from A$24.99.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Honda Odyssey buyer questions

Is k24a timing chain stretch and tensioner wear serious on a Honda Odyssey?

We rate it critical and common on the Honda Odyssey. The K24A 2.4L engine in RB1 and RB3 Odysseys is prone to timing chain elongation and hydraulic tensioner failure when oil changes are neglected or degraded oil is used. Worn tensioners allow chain slack, causing cold-start rattling that may progress to jumped timing and valve-to-piston contact if left unaddressed. The failure is oil-maintenance dependent and accelerates above 10,000km service intervals.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda Odyssey?

≈A$1,660 to ≈A$4,140 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda Odyssey years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2003–2013 Honda Odyssey. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Cold-start the engine after sitting overnight and listen for a rattle from the front of the engine in the first 5-15 seconds. Check oil change history for intervals exceeding 8000km. Scan for timing or camshaft position sensor fault codes. Pull the oil cap and look for sludge buildup indicating chronic neglect. Look here: Front of engine, timing chain cover and tensioner assembly