Toyota Probox: 1NZ-FE / 2NZ-FE timing-chain tensioner and VVT-i cam-gear cold-start rattle
1NZ-FE / 2NZ-FE timing-chain tensioner and VVT-i cam-gear cold-start rattle is a common engine fault on the Toyota Probox on the 2002 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $750 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 6 documented faults on the Toyota Probox.
- Vehicle
- Toyota Probox
- Engine
- 1NZ-FE / 2NZ-FE
- Years
- 2002 onward
- 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 1.5 1NZ-FE and 1.3 2NZ-FE petrol engines are chain-driven and generally very durable, but the timing-chain tensioner, chain guides and the VVT-i intake cam actuator are the known wear points as the chain stretches. On a hard-worked Probox/Succeed this typically shows up well into fleet life, commonly from around 150,000-200,000 km, as a 1-2 second rattle on cold start-up before oil pressure loads the tensioner. It is usually the VVT-i actuator gear or a tired tensioner rather than the chain itself, but a badly stretched chain left unattended risks jumping timing. No factory recall applies; this is normal high-mileage wear. Treat a persistent cold-start rattle as a reason to budget for a tensioner and VVT-i actuator, and inspect chain stretch.
What you would notice
- Brief metallic rattle or death-rattle for 1-2 seconds on cold start-up
- Rattle fades once oil pressure builds and engine warms
- Faint chain/whirring noise from the timing (accessory) end of the engine
- Check-engine light with VVT or camshaft timing correlation codes in worse cases
How to check it
Where to look. Timing (accessory-belt) end of the engine, front of the engine bay
Start the engine dead cold (first start of the day) and listen at the front timing-cover end for a short rattle; a recurring cold-start rattle points to the VVT-i actuator or a worn tensioner.
Ask when the timing chain, tensioner and guides were last checked or replaced and check service history for any VVT/camshaft-timing fault codes.
Confirm oil has been changed on schedule, as neglected oil accelerates chain and tensioner wear.
What it costs to put right
$750 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Does it ever rattle for a second or two on the first cold start of the day?”
- “Has the timing chain, tensioner or VVT-i actuator ever been replaced, and at what mileage?”
- “What is the oil-change history and what interval was used?”
- “Are there any stored engine or camshaft-timing fault codes?”
Now check the Toyota Probox 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
- uscarsnew.com - Toyota 1NZ-FE/FXE 1.5L engine: timing chain stretch and rattle plus VVT actuator cold-start noise from around 100,000 miles
- motorreviewer.com engine profile #170 (1NZ-FE/FXE): timing chain and VVT-i actuator noise at higher mileage
- sergei.nz - 'Replacing timing chain tensioner on a 1NZFE' NZ owner write-up documenting tensioner wear and replacement
- vehiclefreak.com - Toyota 1NZ-FE common problems: noisy timing chain and VVT issues at high mileage
Toyota Probox buyer questions
Is 1nz-fe / 2nz-fe timing-chain tensioner and vvt-i cam-gear cold-start rattle serious on a Toyota Probox?
We rate it major and common on the Toyota Probox. The 1.5 1NZ-FE and 1.3 2NZ-FE petrol engines are chain-driven and generally very durable, but the timing-chain tensioner, chain guides and the VVT-i intake cam actuator are the known wear points as the chain stretches. On a hard-worked Probox/Succeed this typically shows up well into fleet life, commonly from around 150,000-200,000 km, as a 1-2 second rattle on cold start-up before oil pressure loads the tensioner. It is usually the VVT-i actuator gear or a tired tensioner rather than the chain itself, but a badly stretched chain left unattended risks jumping timing. No factory recall applies; this is normal high-mileage wear. Treat a persistent cold-start rattle as a reason to budget for a tensioner and VVT-i actuator, and inspect chain stretch.
How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Probox?
$750 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 Toyota Probox years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2002 onward Toyota Probox. 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 the engine dead cold (first start of the day) and listen at the front timing-cover end for a short rattle; a recurring cold-start rattle points to the VVT-i actuator or a worn tensioner. Ask when the timing chain, tensioner and guides were last checked or replaced and check service history for any VVT/camshaft-timing fault codes. Confirm oil has been changed on schedule, as neglected oil accelerates chain and tensioner wear. Look here: Timing (accessory-belt) end of the engine, front of the engine bay