I have a 1985 Maxima and it has this timing belt. This thing makes me nervous in that if for any reason it breaks you loose you engine. So I'm wondering if there is a chain belt replacement for it! That would be a better solution I would think or maybe not. Wondering if I'm stuck with the rubber belt is there a brand name I should look for!

I'm also hearing that getting a timing KIT might be a better way to go. I'm told that while you have that belt off you should change the water pump and maybe some other things. Someone told me that you have to take the valve covers off too and loosen rockers shafts up in order to make sure you get the belt tension right. I understand that these kits come with a belt tensioners and that's very important. Do I really need a new one and do you folks actually loosen the rocker shafts in order to get the tension right? Just wondering? Anything else I should know!


Thanks.

 

Yes there is a timing chain conversion. This is how you do it:

1. sell the car
2. buy a car with a timing chain.

j/k.

There isn't anything that you can do to convert the car. Anyway, just change the belt when you need to.

S

 

Hi. You shouldn't be nervous about it if it's changed at 60,000 miles or less (better to go with 50,000), and it's done right. Reason for the rubber belt, Nissan followed the other Japanese imports lead in converting from chain to the rubber belt. It was much cheaper for them with regard to building the engine etc, and also a money maker for the dealer, but I digress. Yes, it is best to change the pump, since a failing water pump can leak onto the belt thereby weakening it, and the belt snaps, besides, you have to remove the pump anyway, I do believe. I'm not sure about removing the rocker panels, etc, maybe someone else here knows more. Hope this helps you. Good luck

 

According to the FSM, loosening the rockers is the correct procedure. I recently changed my belt and it went on fine without loosening them, so I would say it's safe to skip that step.

 

What would be nice is if they had a way to tell you how tight the belt should be! I have a belt toughness measuring device that measures belt deflection vs pounds pull on the belt. So you can put like 5 lbs pull and the belt will deflect 1\8 inch. Its a good way to insure you have the tension just right. I think what they are worrying about is the fact that the cams will not move easily when then tensioner is applied. They do say to force the tensioner just a few times so that tension is evenly applied to the entire belt. The cams have to move easily to do this and also the cams can not be applying a counter force to the force applied by the tensioner. I guess only you can tighten down the tensioner then check the tension of the belt on all three sides to see if you have equal tension. I'll bet for the most part most mechanics don't pull the valve covers. I guess we will just have to play with it! I've always hated rubber belts of this type, due to the critical nature of their jobs. I'm going with a GATES belt they seem to be the best from what I've been told. I looking for any information about strange things to watch out for when changing these belts. I've done other belts like this and one problem has been how they ride on the cam gears. I've had belts that would not track in the middle of the gear for example. On that one I had to change the cam gears, I guess they wore out. Or maybe you have a proceedure to make sure you belt is at the correct toughtness? Just looking for those little things you can't find in the books!

Any other info I can get I'd be grateful for!

 

You have to keep in mind also, that not only are t-belts cheaper, but that they are much simpler devices too. Timing chains need to be completely closed off in order to be kept clean and for proper lubrication. Chains are also traditionally very noisy. Timing belts are silent. They are also very strong. Motorcycles with belt drive often use automotive timing belts because of their strength. When you think about the loads on them, 60,000 miles is rather commendable. The bottom line is that replacing the belt is regular maintaince and should be done. My only real complaint is that I think that engines equiped with t-belts should not be intereference motors.

 

Those are good points. There are a few engines that are like that, but can't recall which ones. I don't mind the noise of the chain. I've been in a car where the belt did break stranding us, it was not fun. Did you know that how long the belt lasts is dependant on how the car is driven. The car where the belt did break (A Ford) didn't have 60,000 miles in fact it had around 49,000.

 

I don't mind replacing the belt if I could get to it! I was just outside today looking at THIS MESS. How in the heck do you get to that belt? There is so much junk around that thing I have no idea how I'm going to get it out of there! If the engine were pointing the right way I could just take the radiator out. But this belt is right up against the fender well. Not only that there are hoses and who knows what runing all over the place. You would think that they would build the car in such away as to enable one to get to the belt with a little bit of ease. I may just sell this thing! I had no idea it had a belt of this type. As I said I've replaced them before in other cars but I can't even see the housing through all the STUFF that is around it. Maybe there is a procedure, I need to speak to someone who has actually done this before. It may just look worse then it is really.

You are right though, engines with T-belts as you call them should not be interfearance engines. If that belt goes, so goes your engine and that's crazy!. I know that at 75K miles its got to come out of there! If I replace it I want to find a belt that is really well made. I'm also hearing that belt tension is critical so I guess those valve covers are going to have to come off so that I can loosen those cams and get the tension right on. Oh man, I don't want to do this! But the car probably isn't worth what they want to replace that belt. Whine, whine whine and so forth!

 

[QUOTE=Gfreed]I don't mind replacing the belt if I could get to it! I was just outside today looking at THIS MESS. How in the heck do you get to that belt? There is so much junk around that thing I have no idea how I'm going to get it out of there! If the engine were pointing the right way I could just take the radiator out. But this belt is right up against the fender well. Not only that there are hoses and who knows what runing all over the place. You would think that they would build the car in such away as to enable one to get to the belt with a little bit of ease. I may just sell this thing! I had no idea it had a belt of this type. As I said I've replaced them before in other cars but I can't even see the housing through all the STUFF that is around it. Maybe there is a procedure, I need to speak to someone who has actually done this before. It may just look worse then it is really.

It may be easier to remove the tire and wheel and reach through there to ge to the timing belt cover and the timing belt. You're right, there is a lot of stuff there, but that's the progress of Front Wheel Drive. How much is the technician quoting you to repalce the belt?

 

They want about $600 to fix me up. This includes water pump and new tensioner! I actually want to do this myself, but its so stuffed in there I don't know if I can! Being that I've not done one of these before I'm not exactly sure how its done. For example most of the mechanics I've talked to don't bother to loosen the cams up. They say the tensioner does what it needs to do and thats it. They give the tensioner a little help by tightening it down a little before using the set screw. I guess you can test the belt deflection. I'm not sure what it should be but I guess when you do enough of them you know when its right. I see the place in the wheel well that can be removed, that might help a little. I guess you have to remove the main shaft harmonic ballencer too. The timing belt is under that thing. Also looks like there is an upper and a lower timing cover. I have little air wrenches that are good for getting into little places. I might try them on this! I might try this just for the heck of it. It just looks daunting to start with! The mechanic says, yes its a bit of a mess but its a really good car.

 

He's right. It is a really good car. Good luck in replacing it. Hope it doesn't cause you too much trouble:}