Toyota Land Cruiser 70: 1VD-FTV Timing Chain Elongation & Stretch

The 1VD-FTV 4.5L V8 diesel uses a multi-stage timing chain system that is highly sensitive to oil change intervals. At high mileage or with neglected oil changes, the primary and secondary timing chains elongate, causing the variable valve timing (VVT) system to lose accuracy. This produces a characteristic cold-start rattle that clears within 30-60 seconds as oil pressure builds. Left unaddressed, timing drift triggers P0016/P0017 correlation fault codes and can lead to catastrophic engine damage if a chain skips or breaks. The repair requires full front-of-engine teardown and is labour-intensive. Oil change history is the single best predictor of whether a given engine will develop this fault.

• Rattling or clattering noise from front of engine on cold start that clears after 30-60 seconds
• Rough idle or slight misfiring
• Check engine light with P0016 or P0017 VVT timing correlation codes
• Increased oil consumption
• Hard starting in cold weather

1. 1

   Start the engine from cold and listen carefully to the front of the engine for the first 60 seconds.

2. 2

   A rattle that fades as oil pressure builds is a strong indicator of chain elongation.

3. 3

   Request the full service history and verify oil changes were performed every 10,000 km or less with 5W-30 fully synthetic diesel oil.

4. 4

   Scan ECU for stored or pending timing codes P0016 and P0017.

5. 5

   Inspect oil filler cap underside for sludge build-up indicating neglected intervals.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

$3,800 to $7,500 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.

• “Can you provide the full service history showing oil change intervals and oil specification used?”
• “Has the timing chain ever been inspected or replaced?”
• “Has the vehicle ever had a check engine light related to VVT or timing?”
• “What oil brand and grade has been used?”

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.