Loose timing chain?

[rigovasquez88]

My 03 Ram 1500 is ticking bad. Found out the timing chain is a bit loose. Could this be the cause?

 

[justin13703]

Whether that is the cause of your noise or not, you definitely need to get that fixed. That thing jumps or breaks and your motor is trash.

 

[rigovasquez88]

So this is not normal? There should be no slack in the chain?

 

[Redtruck-VA]

Anytime I hear 03 hemi and ticking I think valve springs....

 

[rigovasquez88]

It has the 4.7 engine. No hemi. Here is a video of the noise for reference. Sounds like a rattling chain noise when the engine revs up and then fast ticking at idle.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

With as many 4.7's I have worked on since 1999, I'm betting if you pull the timing cover off you will find that the timing chain tensioners are fully extended or that one is possibly missing it's pad at the top.

This thing needs to come apart for further diagnostics. Get it torn down so this thing doesn't grenade itself. You are still at a point now where it can be repaired.

 

[buddy guy]

and if it just all of a sudden "dies" before you get a chance to do this, DON'T try to restart it. experience speaking

 

[justin13703]

So this is not normal? There should be no slack in the chain?

There should be no slack in a timing chain whatsoever.

 

[rigovasquez88]

The issue ended up being a bad chain tensioner. The chain was slapping against the plastic guide causing the ticking noise. Replaced chains,guides sprockets, and tensioners. No more ticking. Thank you to everyone who replied.