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Honda N-Box: S07B Turbo Cold-Start Timing Chain Rattle

S07B Turbo Cold-Start Timing Chain Rattle is a common engine fault on the Honda N-Box on the 2017–2024 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $900 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. 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 27 documented faults on the Honda N-Box.

Vehicle
Honda N-Box
Years
2017–2024
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Honda N-Box 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 N-Box faults27 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 S07B 660cc turbo engine uses a short timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner that relies on oil pressure to maintain chain tension. On cold starts, especially after extended oil change intervals or in low-temperature conditions, the tensioner takes several seconds to build pressure, allowing momentary chain slack. Repeated cycles stretch the chain and can eventually cause the chain to skip a tooth on the camshaft sprocket, leading to loss of valve timing and engine damage.

What you would notice

  • Metallic rattling or clattering noise immediately on cold start, from upper engine, lasting 3-15 seconds
  • Check Engine light with cam timing position codes (P0341, P0345 or similar VVT cam sensor faults)
  • Rough idle or hesitation after cold start until engine warms
  • Oil pressure warning light flickering at idle on cold start in advanced cases
  • Visible metallic swarf or debris in oil when drained

How to check it

Where to look. Front upper engine, timing chain cover behind the cam cover on the left (timing) side of the engine bay

Start the engine cold and listen immediately for a metallic rattling or slapping noise from the upper front of the engine near the cam cover. The rattle should disappear within 5-10 seconds as oil pressure builds. Any rattle persisting beyond 10 seconds or audible at operating temperature indicates advanced chain wear. Check service history for oil change intervals; S07B turbo requires 5,000 km or 6-month intervals with 0W-20 fully synthetic.

Parts involved: Timing chain, Turbocharger.

What it costs to put right

$900 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, 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 show me the full service history with oil change dates and mileage — has it been done every 5,000 km or 6 months?”
  • “Has the car ever had a timing chain or tensioner replacement, and did the previous owner ever report a cold-start rattle?”

Now check the Honda N-Box 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 has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

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 N-Box buyer questions

Is s07b turbo cold-start timing chain rattle serious on a Honda N-Box?

We rate it major and common on the Honda N-Box. The S07B 660cc turbo engine uses a short timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner that relies on oil pressure to maintain chain tension. On cold starts, especially after extended oil change intervals or in low-temperature conditions, the tensioner takes several seconds to build pressure, allowing momentary chain slack. Repeated cycles stretch the chain and can eventually cause the chain to skip a tooth on the camshaft sprocket, leading to loss of valve timing and engine damage.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda N-Box?

$900 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. 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 N-Box years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2017–2024 Honda N-Box. 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?

Start the engine cold and listen immediately for a metallic rattling or slapping noise from the upper front of the engine near the cam cover. The rattle should disappear within 5-10 seconds as oil pressure builds. Any rattle persisting beyond 10 seconds or audible at operating temperature indicates advanced chain wear. Check service history for oil change intervals; S07B turbo requires 5,000 km or 6-month intervals with 0W-20 fully synthetic. Look here: Front upper engine, timing chain cover behind the cam cover on the left (timing) side of the engine bay