Yet another potential timing chain issue?

Im running a 2010 LR4 with 82k miles, purchased 10 months ago. The other day I noticed a sound that made me shiver. After doing plenty of research on timing chain issues, im afraid im the next to fall victim. I'm not currently reading any faults from my IIDTool. I've tried the oil filler cap tension test multiple times, from cold start, running a bit, and it still seems to be appropriately taught. (less than 1/8in movement with decent pressure). All that being said, the sound leads me to believe it has to be the timing chain. I'd thought I get a second or third opinion on the sound, as it seems pretty pronounced, but there may be an alternative cause I hadn't thought of.

Video of the engine sound:
Got two quotes from indy shops for a timing chain overhaul, 10k and 12k respectively, which is financially quite untenable. Encouraged by a few of you doing this yourself. Still weighing my options.

Any feedback appreciated!

Not sure what that sound is. It's not like any timing chain sound I've heard before, but that doesn't mean it's not the timing chain. But sounds to me more like a pully or something associated with the serpentine belt. Water pump, etc.

Regardless, the timing chain won't normally throw any codes until it's been bad long enough where the timing is actually off.

Thanks for the input @ryanjl, I agree, its quite a bit more pronounced than timing chain noises I've listened to. With the mileage and the engine, my mind immediately went timing chain. Now that you mention it, the sound does remind me of a loose pulley issue I had on an old wrangler. I'll inspect them tonight and see if I can't get more info.

Take belts off and start vehicle. Time consuming but will help you narrow it down.

That honestly sounds like the belt tensioner. That's a $125 part that you can definitely do yourself. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/la...-range-rover-sport-genuine-rover-rov-lr035546

If you're adamant about doing your timing chains, which I highly recommend doing anyways, I say go for it and do it yourself. It's a daunting task if you don't have any wrenching skills. But if you can wrench, it's really not that bad. I documented what I did and I am more than willing to help others! https://www.landroverworld.org/threads/diy-timing-chain.31050/

Thanks everyone for the input, I inspected the belt and pulleys last night and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Im going to follow @ktm525's recommendation on starting without the belt.

@djkaosone I read your chain replacement thread about 5 times, that was some great reading! Appreciate your willingness to document all that. Will definitely be doing it myself should I need to. Tried inspecting the tensioner last night, but it seems to be functioning well enough (aka applying tension). Any recommendations on how to check for a more specific fault?

I'll be able to take a better look at it when I take the belt off. Waiting on spanner large enough to get the fan off, will report back.

westernrover said:

Tried inspecting the tensioner last night, but it seems to be functioning well enough (aka applying tension). Any recommendations on how to check for a more specific fault?

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Someone mentioned that it takes 2 people to check. 1 to start the truck and the other to use an automotive stethoscope against the valve cover to listen for the slightest chain noise or sound variance within the first 2 seconds of starting the truck. You'll want to do this on bank 1 and bank 2. From what I heard (the source), it's the most sure fire way to know.

westernrover said:

I'll be able to take a better look at it when I take the belt off. Waiting on spanner large enough to get the fan off, will report back.

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It's a 36mm spanner wrench on a reverse thread. I have this and it works, https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-43600-Universal-Clutch-Wrench/dp/B0076PBXSU. If I were to do it again, I would get this tool instead,

djkaosone said:

Someone mentioned that it takes 2 people to check. 1 to start the truck and the other to use an automotive stethoscope against the valve cover to listen for the slightest chain noise or sound variance within the first 2 seconds of starting the truck. You'll want to do this on bank 1 and bank 2. From what I heard (the source), it's the most sure fire way to know.


It's a 36mm spanner wrench on a reverse thread. I have this and it works, https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-43600-Universal-Clutch-Wrench/dp/B0076PBXSU. If I were to do it again, I would get this tool instead,

Click to expand...

I was able to get the belts off and start it up. Good news and bad news.

The good news: the original noise described above is gone. Has to be the tensioner or one of the pulleys. Could be bad belt, looks ok to me.

The bad news: Sans stethoscope, I videoed the start up, and it seems like I can hear some faint chain slap. Obviously its a distance away, and it could be any noise, but I've got my suspicions. I'll see what you guys think.

Beltless Start Up Video (Potential New Chain Sound):

It's not as noisy without the belt tensioner, but its still a bit noisy due to loose chains.

there was chain slap for the first few seconds