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Toyota Probox: 1NZ-FE / 2NZ-FE timing chain tensioner cold-start rattle

1NZ-FE / 2NZ-FE timing chain tensioner 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 $900 to $2,000 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

This page covers the Toyota Probox 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 Probox faults6 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 Probox shares its NCP51 and NCP160 platform with the Succeed, carrying the same 1NZ-FE 1.5-litre and 2NZ-FE 1.3-litre engines. The hydraulic timing chain tensioner on both engines is a documented wear item that loses oil retention with age, allowing chain slack and a characteristic cold-start rattle before oil pressure re-engages the tensioner. Commercial Probox vans frequently accumulate very high mileages on extended oil change intervals, making this fault disproportionately common in the NZ/AU import fleet. Ignored tensioner wear can progress to chain stretch and jumped timing.

What you would notice

  • Metallic rattle from the front of the engine on cold start, clearing within 5–15 seconds
  • Rattle that returns or worsens indicates advanced chain/tensioner wear
  • Rough idle or reduced power at cold start in severe cases
  • OBD codes relating to cam or crank timing if chain has slipped

How to check it

Where to look. Front of engine block — timing chain tensioner and guide rails

  1. Cold-start the engine and immediately listen for chain rattle from the front of the engine block.

  2. Check oil change history — commercial vehicles with fleet service histories often show intervals beyond 10,000 km.

  3. Confirm the specific engine variant (2NZ-FE 1.3 or 1NZ-FE 1.5) as both share the same tensioner design and failure mode.

  4. Scan ECU for stored camshaft position codes.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$900 to $2,000 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 timing chain or tensioner been replaced or inspected?”
  • “Can you confirm the oil change interval used throughout the vehicle's commercial life?”

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.

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 Probox buyer questions

Is 1nz-fe / 2nz-fe timing chain tensioner cold-start rattle serious on a Toyota Probox?

We rate it major and common on the Toyota Probox. The Probox shares its NCP51 and NCP160 platform with the Succeed, carrying the same 1NZ-FE 1.5-litre and 2NZ-FE 1.3-litre engines. The hydraulic timing chain tensioner on both engines is a documented wear item that loses oil retention with age, allowing chain slack and a characteristic cold-start rattle before oil pressure re-engages the tensioner. Commercial Probox vans frequently accumulate very high mileages on extended oil change intervals, making this fault disproportionately common in the NZ/AU import fleet. Ignored tensioner wear can progress to chain stretch and jumped timing.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Probox?

$900 to $2,000 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?

Cold-start the engine and immediately listen for chain rattle from the front of the engine block. Check oil change history — commercial vehicles with fleet service histories often show intervals beyond 10,000 km. Confirm the specific engine variant (2NZ-FE 1.3 or 1NZ-FE 1.5) as both share the same tensioner design and failure mode. Scan ECU for stored camshaft position codes. Look here: Front of engine block — timing chain tensioner and guide rails