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Nissan Murano: VQ35DE Timing Chain Tensioner Rattle and Slack

VQ35DE Timing Chain Tensioner Rattle and Slack is a common engine fault on the Nissan Murano on the 2002–2014 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $900 to $2,800 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 21 documented faults on the Nissan Murano.

Vehicle
Nissan Murano
Engine
VQ35-DE
Years
2002–2014
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
cvt
System
Engine

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

All Nissan Murano faults21 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 VQ35DE uses a primary chain driving the jackshaft and two secondary chains driving the camshafts, each with a hydraulic tensioner. When oil pressure is slow to prime on cold start — or when the tensioner ratchet mechanism wears — the chains run slack, producing a pronounced rattle that lasts from one to several seconds before oil pressure builds. Sustained operation with slack chains accelerates guide and sprocket wear and can in severe cases allow a chain to jump a tooth, causing valvetrain timing loss and engine damage.

What you would notice

  • Metallic rattling noise from the front of the engine on cold startup lasting 2-5 seconds
  • Rattle persists longer as mileage increases or oil maintenance is deferred
  • In advanced cases, check engine light with camshaft position correlation codes P0011, P0021, P0014, P0024

How to check it

Where to look. Front of engine block, behind the timing cover on the passenger side

With the engine cold, listen for a metallic rattle immediately at startup that fades within 3-5 seconds. Check oil change history — tensioner bleed-back accelerates with infrequent oil changes. Remove the oil filler cap and inspect for sludge. If a workshop inspection is possible: A mechanic can remove the upper timing cover inspection plug to check chain slack with a dial gauge.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$900 to $2,800 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 I hear the engine started from cold right now?”
  • “What is the full oil change history and what oil weight has been used?”
  • “Has the timing chain or any tensioner ever been replaced?”

Now check the Nissan Murano 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.

Nissan Murano buyer questions

Is vq35de timing chain tensioner rattle and slack serious on a Nissan Murano?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Murano. The VQ35DE uses a primary chain driving the jackshaft and two secondary chains driving the camshafts, each with a hydraulic tensioner. When oil pressure is slow to prime on cold start — or when the tensioner ratchet mechanism wears — the chains run slack, producing a pronounced rattle that lasts from one to several seconds before oil pressure builds. Sustained operation with slack chains accelerates guide and sprocket wear and can in severe cases allow a chain to jump a tooth, causing valvetrain timing loss and engine damage.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Murano?

$900 to $2,800 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 Nissan Murano years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2002–2014 Nissan Murano. 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?

With the engine cold, listen for a metallic rattle immediately at startup that fades within 3-5 seconds. Check oil change history — tensioner bleed-back accelerates with infrequent oil changes. Remove the oil filler cap and inspect for sludge. If a workshop inspection is possible: A mechanic can remove the upper timing cover inspection plug to check chain slack with a dial gauge. Look here: Front of engine block, behind the timing cover on the passenger side