Nissan Presage: VQ35DE Secondary Timing Chain Tensioner Bleed-Down Rattle

The VQ35DE 3.5-litre V6 fitted to U31 Presage models uses two secondary timing chains — one per cylinder bank — driven off the primary chain. The hydraulic tensioners for these secondary chains rely on engine oil pressure to maintain adequate chain tension, and when oil drains back past the tensioner check valves overnight, the chains run slack during the first seconds of cold start. Repeated tensioner bleed-down accelerates wear on the secondary chain guide rails, and in advanced cases the chains can jump a tooth, causing catastrophic valve-to-piston contact.

• Pronounced metallic rattling from the front of the engine for 5–30 seconds on cold start, ceasing once oil pressure is established
• In advanced wear cases, rattle persists at idle or reappears at low rpm under light load
• Intermittent check engine light with camshaft position timing over-retarded codes on one or both banks

1. 1

   Cold-start the engine after it has sat overnight and immediately listen for a chain rattle from the front of the engine that typically lasts 5 to 30 seconds before disappearing as oil pressure builds.

2. 2

   Check engine oil level and quality — degraded oil worsens tensioner bleed-down.

3. 3

   Scan for any fault codes relating to cam timing.

4. 4

   Confirm applicability of Nissan Technical Service Bulletin NTB06-016 covering VQ35DE secondary chain tensioner replacement.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

$1,400 to $3,500 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.

• “Does the engine rattle for a few seconds on cold start before settling down?”
• “Has the timing chain or tensioner been replaced under Nissan's service bulletin NTB06-016?”
• “What oil viscosity and brand is currently used, and how often is it changed?”

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.