Timing chain noise when cold

[SDHNTR]

88 22re with 238K miles. Timing chain makes a racket after a cold start up. Sounds like a somehwat soft rattle of nuts/bolts in a coffee can. It goes away rather quickly once I start driving. Serious? How much time do I have? With this many miles I am anticipating a rebuild at some point in the near future, so tackling this job alone really doesn't make sense. Is this something that could suddenly get worse and leave me stranded?

 

[99blackSE]

Mine's been doing that since I bought it at around 296,000 km and I have 304,000 km on it now. If it's warmed up and you start it it's fine or?

Mine also rattles letting off the throttle above 2k. Heard it could have been a rod bearing or a main bearing, did the pulled plug wires trick and the noise didn't go away so I doubt it's a rod bearing going. That leaves main bearing, slack in the chain, or an over tightened valve cover and something in the valvetrain hitting the cover.

 

[purevenom1]

My 84 Toyota pickup w/ the 22re was doing that also. I finally got around to looking into it and the plastic guides were completely gone. May would want to go ahead and get it done they get too much slop and you have to change valves. The job isnt really that bad. Had mine tore down and back together the same day. That is w/ trips to parts store once I found out what I needed. If the timing chain jumps you are going to be doing more than just a timing job. You are going to ve doing valve and or pistons depends how bad the valves hit.

 

[sugarshack]

yup, gotta be valve noise. you can re**** the timing a little by turning the distributor clockwise a hair. might lessen the noise. but if it sounds like nuts in a coffee can, they are probably ready to be serviced.