How can I tell if the timing chain tensioners have been replace on my mom's 98 vdp? Without taking the covers off?

Carfax doesn't show a repair, but the water pump looks shiny new.

Car has just over 100K on it.

thanks

 

Someone posted on the forums here that you could put a small mirror in the oil filler hole in the cam cover to view the tensioner and if you could see "red" at the front end of the engine inside that meant that the tensioners had not been replaced.

I tried it, but could not see anything. I also know that the plastic sliders on even the new tensioners turn red with age, so this may not be a valid way of evaluating the replacement.

So, I think you are going to have to pull at least one cover to find out.

I have also heard about factory mechanics replacing only one tensioner and not both, so you should check both sides.

It's not a difficult or time consuming job, just make sure you replace the cam cover gaskets when you are done.
Vector

 

Changing the gaskets isn't a bad idea anyway. Just take them off and have a look.