Land Rover Timing Chain Tensioner Guide - Genuine Land Rover LR051013

Product Information

An Engine Timing Chain Tensioner preloads the timing chain to prevent slack in the timing chain system. Too much chain slack will result in derailment of the timing chain which could cause engine failure. Engine timing chain tensioners are typically oil fed so it is vital to verify you have adequate oil volume and pressure when troubleshooting the timing chain tensioner. Common failure systems include chain rattle or slap on startup, or camshaft/crankshaft correlation fault codes.

• Rattling or Clanking Noise: One of the most common symptoms of a failing timing chain tensioner is a noticeable rattling, clanking, or ticking noise, especially on startup. This is because the tensioner may no longer be maintaining proper tension on the chain, causing it to become loose and hit surrounding components.
• Check Engine Light: A failing tensioner can cause timing issues that may trigger the vehicle’s check engine light. Common faults codes will correlate to a camshaft/ crankshaft fault as these sensors will detect that the timing is off.
• Valvetrain or piston damage: As the timing being off significantly enough in an interference engine can cause the valvetrain to come into contact with the piston surface

About Genuine Land Rover

The same parts Land Rover used to build your vehicle are sold as replacement parts under the “Genuine Land Rover” brand. These are manufactured under Land Rover’s direction, guaranteeing top quality. As you’d expect, they also carry a premium price and are sold exclusively through the Land Rover dealership network.

Genuine Land Rover parts trace their origins back to the earliest days of the brand in 1948, when Rover engineers built the first Series I using robust, serviceable components designed for durability in harsh environments. Over the decades, Land Rover established partnerships with leading European suppliers to ensure consistent quality and performance. This tradition continues today, with Genuine Land Rover parts representing the official replacement components engineered to the same specifications as those used on the production line.

What many owners don’t realize is that Land Rover doesn’t manufacture most of these parts themselves. Instead, they design the components, contract trusted suppliers to produce them, and then verify the quality. Many of these suppliers have partnered with Land Rover for decades. In the industry, they’re known as OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers)—brands you probably recognize, including Lemforder, ZF, Sachs, Bosch, Valeo, Zimmermann, Siemens VDO, Corteco, and more. It’s not unusual to open a Genuine Land Rover box and find one of these brands inside—just re-badged with a Land Rover logo.

On our site, look for OE tags on product pages to quickly spot parts that come straight from the original manufacturers. Choosing these can save you a significant amount compared to buying them in Genuine packaging. For more details on how to identify OE and OEM parts, check out our OE Academy.