Originally Posted by duxthe1

There is a spring in the tensioner that pushes the plunger out. Given that once the plunger moves out there is a stepped ratchet that prevents it from retracting, you can not simply screw it in. You have to disassemble it, install the housing, then the plunger and spring and finally the cap. If you just screwed in the new tensioner you put WAY too much pressure on the chain and other timing components, that's why you heard a noise. Depending on how long it ran in this condition, damage may already be done.