I changed my chain tensioner today to try and get rid of a slight noise when I started the car cold, after changing it I now have the death rattle all the time which I didn't have before I'm hoping I didn't ruin my guides somehow but I tried throwing the old tensioner back in and got the same result, I suspect the tensioner isn't popping out anyone know why that might be?

 

What "death rattle" are you talking about? Can you post of a video? When the engine is idling does it make the noise? If so, can you watch the tensioner and see if it's bouncing around on the belt?

Are you sure it's the tensioner and not something else like the throw out bearing on the clutch? Those will make a rattling noise if they are wearing out...but usually if you push it the clutch it gets quiet again.

 

It's definitely not the throwout bearing I changed the clutch and throwout less than 1000 miles ago

https://youtu.be/7JZNG1uVVo4

It sounds exactly like that

The chain tensioner doesn't seem to be putting tension on the chain at all it seems stuck like it won't pop out

 

they are machined really tight, I had this problem with one of mine. Did you buy genuine or oem?

one of my originals is stuck collapsed I cannot get it apart now, was gonna check for wear in it.

 

It's not genuine I got it from autozone

 

Yup, it sounds like it's just stuck closed, I have been able to pop them open by applying pressure to the center with a socket extension while on a hard flat surface, to fully collapse it, but it did take a few tries.