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Toyota FJ Cruiser: 1GR-FE Rear Cam-to-Cam Timing Chain Tensioner Wear

1GR-FE Rear Cam-to-Cam Timing Chain Tensioner Wear is a common engine fault on the Toyota FJ Cruiser on the 2006–2018 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $1,800 to $3,500 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 15 documented faults on the Toyota FJ Cruiser.

Vehicle
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Engine
1GR-FE
Years
2006–2018
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
auto
System
Engine

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

All Toyota FJ Cruiser faults15 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 1GR-FE 4.0L V6 uses two separate timing chains — a primary chain and a shorter secondary rear cam-to-cam chain. The secondary chain tensioner is oil-pressure fed and wears progressively, especially with infrequent oil changes. A worn tensioner produces a distinctive cold-start rattle from the rear of the engine valley. This is one of the most widely documented mechanical issues on the FJ Cruiser platform, confirmed across hundreds of owner reports and multiple specialist writeups. Ignored wear leads to chain jump and catastrophic valve damage.

What you would notice

  • Cold-start rattle from the rear/top of engine valley, clears after 10-30 seconds
  • Rattle that worsens in cold weather or after oil changes using thinner oil
  • Check Engine Light with VVT or camshaft position codes (P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019)
  • Rough running after cold start

How to check it

Where to look. Rear of engine valley between cylinder banks, secondary cam-to-cam chain

Cold start the engine and listen immediately for a rattling or clattering sound from the upper rear of the engine. If rattle is present and clears quickly, the secondary tensioner is worn. Ask owner to describe cold-start behaviour. Review oil change history for extended intervals. If a workshop inspection is possible: Pull OBD codes — cam correlation faults confirm timing chain slack.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$1,800 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.

Ask the seller

  • “Does the engine rattle or clatter on cold start before settling?”
  • “Has the secondary timing chain tensioner been inspected or replaced?”
  • “How frequently has the oil been changed and what specification was used?”
  • “Has the Check Engine Light ever shown timing-related codes?”

Now check the Toyota FJ Cruiser 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.

Toyota FJ Cruiser buyer questions

Is 1gr-fe rear cam-to-cam timing chain tensioner wear serious on a Toyota FJ Cruiser?

We rate it critical and common on the Toyota FJ Cruiser. The 1GR-FE 4.0L V6 uses two separate timing chains — a primary chain and a shorter secondary rear cam-to-cam chain. The secondary chain tensioner is oil-pressure fed and wears progressively, especially with infrequent oil changes. A worn tensioner produces a distinctive cold-start rattle from the rear of the engine valley. This is one of the most widely documented mechanical issues on the FJ Cruiser platform, confirmed across hundreds of owner reports and multiple specialist writeups. Ignored wear leads to chain jump and catastrophic valve damage.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota FJ Cruiser?

$1,800 to $3,500 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 Toyota FJ Cruiser years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2006–2018 Toyota FJ Cruiser. 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 and listen immediately for a rattling or clattering sound from the upper rear of the engine. If rattle is present and clears quickly, the secondary tensioner is worn. Ask owner to describe cold-start behaviour. Review oil change history for extended intervals. If a workshop inspection is possible: Pull OBD codes — cam correlation faults confirm timing chain slack. Look here: Rear of engine valley between cylinder banks, secondary cam-to-cam chain