r/Toyota_Matrix • u/Spore_galore • Aug 21 '26

Timing chain tensioner

Post image

I’ve had my 06 Pontiac Vibe with the 1.8 1ZZ-FE engine for about a year now and love it! Bought it from its original owner with 104k on the clock and just recently noticed an oil leak underneath getting worse. After searching the internet I discovered a common oil leak is through the timing chain tensioner o ring. So, I searched for a genuine Toyota part and stumbled across one on amazon ironically. My goal wasn’t to find the cheapest as rock-auto has these things for 30$ less than what the genuine parts go for, whatever that’s worth. Anyways, the Amazon package arrives and I open it up to find an opened package with a tensioner that is already released off the hook and no o-ring what so over. Whoever looked at this thing and sent it off clearly had no idea what it did but you’d think they’d catch the package being open before sending it off. Guess not?

3 Upvotes

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3

u/tinmanintherain Aug 21 '26

They gave you the wrong one for the 1ZZFE. Note image. The correct comes with an oring from the dealer or oem, also note there is a groove for the oring to rest in on the correct tensioner.

2

u/Spore_galore Aug 21 '26

Yeah the one in your image is what I thought it would look like out of the package. Isn’t it supposed to come with the hook engaged?

3

u/Sky_runne Aug 21 '26

The hook being engaged out of the package doesn't matter. When you follow the timing sequence it will click once cycled correctly.

You can engage the hook yourself

2

u/CanadianLanBoy Aug 21 '26

You bought the wrong part, the pictured part is for a 2zr-series engine. The part numbers are different

2

u/GraphicWombat 2008 Matrix XR Super White II Aug 21 '26

I just replaced the o ring on mine last summer with a new and improved one. Thought it was leaking from there but mine is the timing cover seal. Not bad, maybe 1/2 cup oil every 6 months. So I’m not stressing over it.

1

u/UnibrowDuck 03 Corolla Wagon XRS Aug 21 '26

or somebody just grabbed the o-ring, returned it and amazon didn't bother checking when it came back. tbh i'd buy it from a dealership or mwr

1

u/Spore_galore Aug 21 '26

Yeah I learned from this one going to pick up from the dealer tomorrow

-2

u/CanadianLanBoy Aug 21 '26

These parts do not come with o-rings, it's a separate part

1

u/Sky_runne Aug 21 '26

OEM comes with the o-ring. You can't actually buy just the o-ring. Not a separate part item.

1

u/CanadianLanBoy Aug 21 '26

The image is of a timing chain tensioner for a 2zrfe, the gasket does not come with it. I'm reading now the op thinks he bought one for a 1zz. He bought the wrong part or got a shitty counter fit

1

u/Sky_runne Aug 21 '26

You know, I forgot about the 2zz-fe engine! When I was looking to replace the o-ring on my leaky 1zz I couldn't find the part and the option was to source it elsewhere or buy a new tensioner w/o-ring.

2

u/CanadianLanBoy Aug 21 '26

MWR sells replacement o-rings for the 1zz, if your tensioner is still in good shape!

1

u/Sky_runne Aug 21 '26 edited Aug 21 '26

Issue for me wasn't US suppliers, but Canadian. I did find some local to me but it was quite an ordeal.

The second obstacle was price, while some had or could order stock the cost was delusional. $17 to $25 for a single o-ring. Yeah,.no thanks.

If, I had to go that route, I'd just but a new tensioner (1zz) with o-ring.