R50/53 Winter woes - T/C tensioner (sounds like diesel)
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2nd Gear
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Winter woes - T/C tensioner (sounds like diesel)
Hi all,
tough winter for my cooper. It's been down to -30C here in Toronto, ice, snow, massive potholes. I had a truck drop stones and crack my windscreen, reverse sensors are shot (on constant in reverse) and now I have what sounds like a Diesel engine.
my google/YouTube diagnosis suggests it might be the timing chain tensioner. I am "happy" to fix myself but unlikely till the weekend at best. Oil level should be good but going to check again and will top up if need be.
If it is the tensioner Is there any short term fix/hack to lessen the sound that would allow me to drive it for the next little while?
Local mini dealer wants $180 just to diagnose not fix.
It was irionic i drove it from work for 30min, purring like a cat to a garage for emissions test, after test sounded like a diesel. Can't imagine they did anything weird it's only a 15min diagnostic. But the engine was warm when this sound first occurred.
Full disculosure it's a 2006 R52 cabrio s. 103kms but the engine is the same as your r53's and figure there's more people on this thread.
any suggestions much appreciated.
tough winter for my cooper. It's been down to -30C here in Toronto, ice, snow, massive potholes. I had a truck drop stones and crack my windscreen, reverse sensors are shot (on constant in reverse) and now I have what sounds like a Diesel engine.
my google/YouTube diagnosis suggests it might be the timing chain tensioner. I am "happy" to fix myself but unlikely till the weekend at best. Oil level should be good but going to check again and will top up if need be.
If it is the tensioner Is there any short term fix/hack to lessen the sound that would allow me to drive it for the next little while?
Local mini dealer wants $180 just to diagnose not fix.
It was irionic i drove it from work for 30min, purring like a cat to a garage for emissions test, after test sounded like a diesel. Can't imagine they did anything weird it's only a 15min diagnostic. But the engine was warm when this sound first occurred.
Full disculosure it's a 2006 R52 cabrio s. 103kms but the engine is the same as your r53's and figure there's more people on this thread.
any suggestions much appreciated.
Last edited by Mini Putt; Feb 5, 2019 at 07:19 PM.
Before you begin, and in an effort to prevent you from throwing parts at your car, I would suggest you get an automotive stethoscope and try to zero in on the precise area the "diesel" sound is coming from.
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2nd Gear
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Yes timing chain tensioner. I thought the same but most sites use the "belt tensioner" term.
i got the impression it is ok to drive a lower rpms. Good to know it's an easy change. Yes I'll try and zero in on the precise area. I just hope it's not the supercharger.
i got the impression it is ok to drive a lower rpms. Good to know it's an easy change. Yes I'll try and zero in on the precise area. I just hope it's not the supercharger.
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2nd Gear
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Just checked oil. It's stone cold -5C. Oil half way up stick.
Started her and she's purring like a cat agin. I'll monitor tomorrow driving to work as she warms up.
Seems odd to be gone completely as it was loud enough to have me quite concerned.
So possibly a one off. But is this how the tensioner fails, intermittent issues/noise until eventually it is perminalntly noisy or does it typically just fail? Or maybe not the tensioner at all?
cheers again.
Started her and she's purring like a cat agin. I'll monitor tomorrow driving to work as she warms up.
Seems odd to be gone completely as it was loud enough to have me quite concerned.
So possibly a one off. But is this how the tensioner fails, intermittent issues/noise until eventually it is perminalntly noisy or does it typically just fail? Or maybe not the tensioner at all?
cheers again.
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 132
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The tensioner extends with oil pressure. I wouldn't drive the car with the timing chain slap. Just changed the tensioner on my '06. Started as a small rattle when cold starting that would go away after the oil warmed up. I think it's a 19 for the plug. It makes it easier if you remove the oil filter and disconnect the oil cooler hoses so I changed the oil and replaced the oil cooler gaskets while changing it. For a few extra bucks you can also replace the plug. The manual calls for a special tool (a long metal bar will do) to extend the tensioner once installed by pushing on the chain guide so you obviously have to remove the valve cover.
Not very hard at all.
Not very hard at all.
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2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2017
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Just wanted to follow up here and thank the contributors. The sounds went away and then came back again. It became more prevalent recently. Just changed the tensioner today. Didn’t need to remove anything except the wheel. What a difference. Working late hours and parenting has put this easy job on the long finger. Simple quick fix should never have left it this long. But hey she’s purring like a kitten again. (Other than my alternator/battery issues)
thanks again for the replies.
thanks again for the replies.
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