Thanks a lot Oldblue for the link! I have some rattle issue (mine is different from the one people with bad tensioner have) and I think I will have to tackle this one. I was hesitant but this video is great! I feel confident that I can do it.

 

Yours might be the upper guide or the black nylon front guide has broken.

 

I replaced the tensioner and the issue is still there. I ended up pulling the valve cover to make sure the tensioner was engaged and from what I could see the guides were intact. I did see some wear marks on the chain so I will check the folder of service records that came with the car if there is any trace of a timing chain related repair. The guides didn't seem to have any wear marks on them which is kind of weird considering the chain did have some shiny spots. If there is no paperwork of repairs I will do a full guide, chain, sprocket, water pump replacement as it is past 145K miles.
The reason why I thought it was the tensioner is the fact that the noise is not always there. It sounds like a diesel when the engine is completely up to temp but not always. For example this morning on my way to work with relatively cool temperatures the sound was there but when I left for lunch and drove for about 20 minutes on surface streets in 90F with the A/C on everything was normal. This behavior made me think that the tensioner was sticking but apparently it is something else.

 

Check your serpentine belt and tensioner, the pulley can wear out , so can the tensioner spring.
As you described it could be A/C compressor

 

Will do! Thanks Oldblue!

BTW it hasn't done that sound since except for that one morning.

 

Alright!
Sound has not come back yet but due to mileage I will replace the timing chain, guides and water pump.
My questions are:
The video shows the 9-4201SA kit for VVT engines but Cloyes' website does not mention that kit when I check what they have for my car. Amazon has precisely 1 available as of right now. Would that fit my 2.4?
Should I replace any of the sprockets with 145k on the engine?
Thanks for all the help!

 

Load the numbers into the RockAuto website, and don’t forget the discount code

 

Done! Ended up ordering parts for $380.
Thanks for the help!