Hi all,
In the last week I've noticed my magna has been making a ticking noise when its cold on the first start of the day.

At first I thought it was a belt (like alternator or AC) but speaking to friends they hinted towards it being a timing belt tensioner. The belt itself feels ok (according to me)

I called up my mechanic and he said it is most likely lifters if it occurs when its cold, meaning its missed a few oil changes throughout it's life. He also said if its the front ones it'll be easy, but if it's the back ones then I'll be looking at close to $1,000 for it.

I've attached a video for you guys to see and comment on whether I need to buy the $315 timing belt kit from Mitsfix or get my mechanic to change the lifters and keep it over night.

My car's got 80XXxkms and it's last service was at 77xxxkms (i bought it at 76000kms) and it's next due at 84000kms.

If you guys say its the lifters, I'll get it serviced within a fort night

Thanks for the help, appreciate it greatly


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr_W2aZwRLo

If you get the noise, stop the motor, count to 20 and restart, if noise is gone is the tensioner. 99% of the time is that and listening to the noise sounds like the tensioner although is not 100% listening on a set of cheap PC speakers

What's the life on the timing belt, time wise? I doubt it has ever been replaced as it's under 100,000 km, and is probably 9 to 10 years old. Think, TW Magna, 2004/2005? Might be worth getting done if it hasn't already!

I know some people are anti-additive on here, but a friends Magna was making lifter noises caused by carbonisation. A bottle of lifter tune-up and free, a few thousand kilometres of driving, a good quality engine oil flush, then HPR10 (now fully synthetic), it has been running great the last few months with no lifter noise.

Sounds exactly like my mother in laws TH, hers goes away on the the second start. So, my bet is on tensioner

If you get the noise, stop the motor, count to 20 and restart, if noise is gone is the tensioner. 99% of the time is that and listening to the noise sounds like the tensioner although is not 100% listening on a set of cheap PC speakers

Ah ok. So I'll get the $315 complete kit from Mitsfix?

And I'll be looking at the $500 ball park area for the timing belt replacement?

Thanks again

Yes @burfadel it's a 2004 TW VRX on its original timing belt

Mal's right, mine made a similar noise, Mal sold me a tensioner, had my mechanic in Adelaide fit it, noise went away. Some mechanics quoted me a couple of hours labor to fit it but I found a guy who knew how to do in maybe 30mins.

Oh ok.
Mechanic said it wasn't and had it up on the hoist. Did an engine flush and oil change + filter change. Hasn't come back thus far