Timing Chain rattle and squeak
 

My timing chain has been rattling at startup and now I'm getting a squeak at the back of the engine that I'm assuming is related. Looks like it's time to replace the tensioner. I read through the pelican article and looks quite a bit more painful than even the ims job. Just how painful is this to do with the motor in the car?

In any other car. the steps in pulling the tensioner is put the engine at TDC (no cams activated) car in 1st gear then lock the parking brake. Remove and clean tensioner. Inspect function and replace as necessary. Looking at the location, it shouldn't be that difficult with the engine inside the car.

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Not difficult at all, but will require some special tooling. And yes, it is exactly the procedure to prep for an IMS swap. You need to rotate the engine by hand (clockwise only) until #1 cylinder is at TDC, then insert the locking pin the crank pulley. Now remove either one or both (5 chain vs. 3 chain engines) cam plugs on the front of the passenger's side cylinder head, and insert the cam locking tool. Now the hydraulic tensioners can be remove and replaced