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CriticalCommonEngine

Nissan Teana: VQ35DE Secondary Timing Chain Tensioner Rattle

VQ35DE Secondary Timing Chain Tensioner Rattle is a common engine fault on the Nissan Teana on the 2003–2008 cars, and we rate it critical. 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 20 documented faults on the Nissan Teana.

Vehicle
Nissan Teana
Engine
VQ35-DE
Years
2003–2008
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
auto
System
Engine

This page covers the Nissan Teana 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 Teana faults20 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 3.5-litre V6 fitted to J31, J32, and L33 Teana models shares the well-documented secondary timing chain tensioner failure pattern common across Nissan VQ-series engines. The secondary chain on the driver-side bank loses tensioner pressure as the hydraulic tensioner fatigues, causing a pronounced metallic rattle on cold start that typically clears within 30–60 seconds as oil pressure builds. Continued use risks chain skip and catastrophic valve damage. Oil maintenance history is critical — sludged oil from infrequent changes accelerates tensioner wear and blocks the feed galleries. At the mileages common on NZ JDM imports this fault is frequently already present.

What you would notice

  • Cold-start metallic rattling from the top of the engine, typically driver's side
  • Rattle clears within 30–60 seconds of warm-up
  • Rattle worsens after overdue oil changes
  • Check engine light with camshaft timing codes in advanced cases

How to check it

Where to look. Driver-side cam chain cover, upper engine

  1. Cold-start the engine immediately and listen for chain rattle from the cam cover area.

  2. Check for oil sludge on the dipstick and inside the oil filler cap.

  3. Request full oil service history with dates and mileages.

  4. Ask specifically whether tensioners have ever been replaced.

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

  • “Has the secondary timing chain tensioner ever been replaced?”
  • “Can you show me the full oil service history?”
  • “Has there ever been a rattling noise on cold start?”

Now check the Nissan Teana 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 Teana buyer questions

Is vq35de secondary timing chain tensioner rattle serious on a Nissan Teana?

We rate it critical and common on the Nissan Teana. The VQ35DE 3.5-litre V6 fitted to J31, J32, and L33 Teana models shares the well-documented secondary timing chain tensioner failure pattern common across Nissan VQ-series engines. The secondary chain on the driver-side bank loses tensioner pressure as the hydraulic tensioner fatigues, causing a pronounced metallic rattle on cold start that typically clears within 30–60 seconds as oil pressure builds. Continued use risks chain skip and catastrophic valve damage. Oil maintenance history is critical — sludged oil from infrequent changes accelerates tensioner wear and blocks the feed galleries. At the mileages common on NZ JDM imports this fault is frequently already present.

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

$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 Teana years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2003–2008 Nissan Teana. 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 immediately and listen for chain rattle from the cam cover area. Check for oil sludge on the dipstick and inside the oil filler cap. Request full oil service history with dates and mileages. Ask specifically whether tensioners have ever been replaced. Look here: Driver-side cam chain cover, upper engine