[CNY_Dave]

I think valve noise and chain noise would be quite different.

Take a long screwdriver, touch the pointy end to the heads/valve covers/timing chain cover and place your thumb over the other end and jamb your thumb in your ear.

Chains tend to make a scrapy/rattly/slapping/chka-chka=chka sound, valves make a nice clean ticking/clicking noise.

If it is the chain it could be just the guides need replacing.

Dave

 

[CNY_Dave]

Depending on the mileage... could be low or high, was not specified.

Dave

 

[CNY_Dave]

I don't think a loose chain could cause the valves to be, or to act, sloppy.

Dave

 

[CNY_Dave]

Some parts prices from another thread

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums....org/forums/110-gen-2-2000-2004/31558-3-0-h6-timing-chain-guide-discussion.html

 

[CNY_Dave]

That's the first case of premature guide failure on an '03 H6 I've heard of... early in the model year? Manufactured late '02?

Dave

 

[CNY_Dave]

There's a plate somewhere, I think- door or door frame?

I'm sure it can be decoded from the VIN, too (somehow).

Dave

 

[CNY_Dave]

heck, they could have charged you $1000 just for the tensioners!

I just paid 900 for a forester timing belt job with water pump and tensioner pulleys...