VR6 ISSUES! timing chain?

[VR6child]

My VR6 developed a clack clack sorta sound between 2-3000rpm in the last few days. It sounds like the 'marbles in a coffee can' sorta description for timing chain sounds.

Suddenly today I start the car after work and it runs like a WRX with hardly any power.

Is this a timing chain issue? I thought when the timing chain goes it goes all out and fails catastrophically? Or can parts of the guides fail leading to the situation I have described?

The car has 260 grand on the clock and still on original chains as far as I'm aware.

[dylan8]

Be worth doing the chains and water pump regardless with those km.
They don't just let go, usually things wear down causing a bit of slack then possibly the chain to skip
The wrx sound/miss could be too do with something else like leads or coil pack or spark plugs.

[stevoooish]

I am by far no golf pro but my golf was running poor missing etc intermittedly and it tested the resistenace of the leads with a multi meter. that where my problem.

[VR6child]

Be worth doing the chains and water pump regardless with those km.
They don't just let go, usually things wear down causing a bit of slack then possibly the chain to skip
The wrx sound/miss could be too do with something else like leads or coil pack or spark plugs.

Cheers for your suggestions Dylan, I reckon something has broken off the guides or something causing timing to be wrong.

I guess it could be something in the ignition system like ignition coil, wires, or plugs, but the plugs are brand new and that wouldn't explain the timing chain noise.

I hardly had any repairs on this car for so many years and now I'm copping it all at once.

[dylan8]

If the guides and tensioner break or wear to much it'll allow the chain to skip, mine had worn to the point one cam had skipped a tooth and the other two teeth.
Maybe get that looked at first, then sort out the miss incase the timing sorts it