will bad timing chain guides **** the engine?

Or maybe I should ask how long could a person get away with not changing them once the noise and DTC's start kicking in.
I've been searching for an LR4 for the bride, found one at an attractive price, but it needs (according to the listing) timing chains and chain guides. Research tells me that guide failures are common on 2010 LR4's with the 5.0 and that the dealer cost is $5K, because it's an 18 hour job and for me probably a bit longer. Research also tends to say that the chains are usually OK, but the slack in the guides causes trouble with engine timing. My question is has anyone heard of the chains actually coming off the sprockets in the meanwhile until I would get around to replacing the guides?

The LR4 I'm thinking of is about 200 miles away, it's $5K below market value.

As the problem progresses it will cause the timing chain to wear and stretch, which will throw off the engine's timing. When that happens, a check engine light will pop up. I'm assuming the vehicle may even go into limp mode at some point.

There's theories that you can change the timing chain guides without changing the chain, and without removing 1/2 the stuff you need to do the full job. Look towards the end of this thread for more: https://www.landroverworld.org/threads/lr4-5-0-chain-guides-actual-problem.29035/

This would be more preventative repair, though. If the problem already exists, you may need to replace the whole chain.

I bought a 2011 LR4 HSE Lux+ the same way. Priced well under market.

Local shop that has experience is doing them right now. $3200. Still under NADA market value. Wonderful truck in every way possible....and now hopefully it will be quiet and stop stressing me out.

You can definitely **** an engine if you have enough slop to skip a tooth. It is an interference motor.

I threw a timing chain on a Dodge Intrepid once. Smashed all the valves, mucked up the cams. Was it ruined? No. Was it a ton of money to rebuid? Yes. If you think you can fix it before it happens you will save yourself a ton of money and headaches getting it done proactively.

Mine was clicking for 2+ years before they would fix it under warranty.

i had this conversation at length with my service advisor regarding my 2011 RR SC. he said in his 13 years he has never seen an engine go ****. he said its really no big deal and there is plenty of warning before it actually needs to be done.

I want to ask! Please how much does LR4 2012 timing chains and chain guides cost and would after market purchase be ideal or must it be from Land Rover part dealer?

Jonathan Ikemba said:

I want to ask! Please how much does LR4 2012 timing chains and chain guides cost and would after market purchase be ideal or must it be from Land Rover part dealer?

Click to expand...

Dealer quote on my 2011 rr sc was 8k. Not sure if lr4 is the same. Havent heard of ppl going aftermarket and as i mentioned in a different post the premier independent LR shop in my area wont touch a timing chain job. Said to go straight to the dealer fwiw.


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Jonathan Ikemba said:

I want to ask! Please how much does LR4 2012 timing chains and chain guides cost and would after market purchase be ideal or must it be from Land Rover part dealer?

Click to expand...

I'm by no means an authority on this, but I believe it is about $5k from a dealer. It's not worth buying aftermarket parts, in my opinion. Most of the cost is labor.

The information is all out there if you search for it.

spoke to a dad at my kids soccer game - they have 2 2010 LR4s, each with 175k miles. hasnt had to do a timing chain on either but said the water pump every couple years is driving him crazy on both cars.