Nissan Navara: Timing chain tensioner and guide wear — cold-start rattle (2.4 KA24E / KA24DE)
Timing chain tensioner and guide wear — cold-start rattle (2.4 KA24E / KA24DE) is a common engine fault on the Nissan Navara on the 1997–2008 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,200 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 45 documented faults on the Nissan Navara.
- Vehicle
- Nissan Navara
- Engine
- KA24-E / KA24-DE
- Years
- 1997–2008
- Fuel
- petrol
- System
- Engine
What you are looking at
Example of the part — not this vehicleThe front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.
What goes wrong
The 2.4 petrol four in the D22 is notorious for timing chain guide and tensioner wear — the same 'death rattle' documented across every Nissan that used the KA24. The tensioner bleeds down overnight so the chain slaps on cold start, and the plastic facing peels off the guides and ends up in the sump; owner communities report guides grinding away from roughly 130,000 km. Left alone the chain wears into the case and can jump timing. Most surviving trucks have either had the job done or need it.
What you would notice
- Marble-in-a-tin-can rattle from the front of the engine on cold start
- Rattle at idle that fades as revs rise
- Noise steadily worsening over weeks rather than coming and going
How to check it
Where to look. Front of the engine — timing chain case behind the radiator
Start it stone cold and listen at the front of the engine: a few seconds of rattle that fades is the tensioner bleeding down, and a constant rattle is worn guides or a stretched chain.
Ask directly whether the timing chain, guides and tensioner have been replaced and for the invoice — on a truck this age with no record, assume the job is yours and price it in.
Listen again at hot idle after the test drive.
If a workshop inspection is possible: the rocker cover can come off to check the upper guide (commonly found broken) and look for plastic fragments, and the tensioner's extension shows how much chain life is left.
What it costs to put right
$1,200 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Has the timing chain kit ever been done, and is there an invoice?”
- “Does it rattle on the first start of the day?”
Now check the Nissan Navara 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.
Where this comes from
- Ratsun forums — 'KA24E timing chain rattle on start up' (guides notorious for grinding up from ~80,000 miles)
- NICOclub tech archive — 'Fix your timing chain rattle' KA24 upper guide article
- Everything Nissan D21 KA24E owners group — timing chain and guide failure threads
- JustAnswer — 1997 Nissan pickup KA24E timing chain and guide replacement Q&A
Nissan Navara buyer questions
Is timing chain tensioner and guide wear — cold-start rattle (2.4 ka24e / ka24de) serious on a Nissan Navara?
We rate it major and common on the Nissan Navara. The 2.4 petrol four in the D22 is notorious for timing chain guide and tensioner wear — the same 'death rattle' documented across every Nissan that used the KA24. The tensioner bleeds down overnight so the chain slaps on cold start, and the plastic facing peels off the guides and ends up in the sump; owner communities report guides grinding away from roughly 130,000 km. Left alone the chain wears into the case and can jump timing. Most surviving trucks have either had the job done or need it.
How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Navara?
$1,200 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 Nissan Navara years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 1997–2008 Nissan Navara. 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 it stone cold and listen at the front of the engine: a few seconds of rattle that fades is the tensioner bleeding down, and a constant rattle is worn guides or a stretched chain. Ask directly whether the timing chain, guides and tensioner have been replaced and for the invoice — on a truck this age with no record, assume the job is yours and price it in. Listen again at hot idle after the test drive. If a workshop inspection is possible: the rocker cover can come off to check the upper guide (commonly found broken) and look for plastic fragments, and the tensioner's extension shows how much chain life is left. Look here: Front of the engine — timing chain case behind the radiator