I called around for estimates and a local garage that claims they "specialize in Nissans" gave me an estimate for the timing belt. He said that generally, they replace the water pump, crankshaft oil seals, all the drivebelts (could have done that myself), and the timing belt, maybe a few other things but I can't remember, for around $450-500. I looked in the repair manual and replacing the timing belt is beyond my experience. Does this sound like a reasonable price? The car has 176,000+ miles and I doubt the belt was ever changed, none of the radiator hoses or drivebelts were ever changed... I'd like to get it out of the way before it goes and kills the engine.

 

I dunno about that of course it all depends on location. When I had my water pump replaced they did mine for 200 even .

 

I had mine done at 160000km. It cost $550 CDN for timing belt, water pump, drive belts, and crankshaft oil seals. I didn't get the camshaft oil seals done (mabye I should have??).

 

I was at flemington Nissan in NJ a few weeks ago piking up a part and asked what they would charge for T-belt repl on my 88 Maxima.

How does $915.00 sound. I bought a new tensioner and belt for about 50.00 and I 'll be doing this myself at 175K. It was done at 115K when I bought the car in 1997. I have an extra 88 engine and trans with 140K on it in the garage so if I screw it up I can always swap them out.

I did the one on my volvo850 recently and although I was really worried about having a cam sprocket off one tooth it worked out fine and saved me about 400 bucks.

Matt

 

Its not hard, just time consuming. Get a Haynes manual and do it. Z31.com has some tips on how to do it better than the manual, in its archive of information.

 

$900 is way too much. If you going to have someone do it for you, you should only pay at most $400-$500, with parts and a water pump replacement. I know I can get my done at about $230, but that is with out the water pump. I want to do it myself, but I don't have all the tools, nor the time to do it.

S

 

Here in town, we have a import repair shop, and the owner is very familiar with our cars - he drives an 85 SE. I called them for a quote once, and he quoted $175 labor, if I provide the parts...and that was all belts, water pump, & cam and crank seals...I could have bought the parts for about $75 for everything....

and since he's seen a lot of the VG30's break the tensioner stud, he always replaces them, no matter the milage...and provides the stud, as this way he ensures it's grade 8...

 

That is a very reasonable price. It is time consuming. I've done four, but two were on motors out of the cars, which speeds it up considerably. Of course there is still the reinstallation, which had to be done anyway. My first water pump r&r took me about 12 hours, but it got better.

 

I will definitely do the t-belt myself. I was just curious about what the dealer would charge-I like telling my wife how much $$ I save us by doing the auto repair work myself.
In hindsight I should have done this when I had the motor out at 140K.

matt

 

Okay, first of all, how much is just a timing belt?! Seems to me you guys are getting raped badly...... Then again, maybe I don't know, 'cause if I have to replace mines, I am doing it myself!

 

Buy a Nissan belt. The other parts can be aftermarket. I'm sure three or four folks will say aftermarket timing belts are ok. But I don't use them, and I don't recommend using them. I like the Nissan waterpumps, too. A package of OEM parts for doing a belt is about $200 from Courtesy Nissan, with a discount you ask for because you are a member of this board, or the Z31.com board, or the ultimate assn. of wardrobe lint removers, etc.

The Nissan belts are much easier to line up the cams with. $400 ought to cover doing this job, but it is a lot more for work at a Nissan dealer.