drive belts and water pump? How often? I had replaced them around 71k miles and now it's almost 120k. Also I can visually see some cracks on the power steering pump belt (don't know if it's right term).
Thanks!

 

if you have that many miles and you have to change the water pump you might as well change the t belt since you will be right there anyway.

if you have cracks in your accessory belts then change them too.

 

you got the belt off...might as well change it. also you'll be right next to the water pump...if there's more than 50K on it change it out...also check out the hoses too and change them if needed.

 

water pump
http://www.cybrrpartspro.com/Chilton...61CH03_10.HTML

T-belt:
http://www.cybrrpartspro.com/Chilton...61CH03_15.HTML

You can see you might as well change both. If you water pump goes out later, you have to re-change the T-belt again. Because if you spill coolant on it(when removing the pump) it supposively weakens the belt.

 

thanks for the recommendation and the link...
it sounds too complicated for me and I have to have the mechanic to do the jobs. Do you know how much will that be?

 

It's not cheap...but you'll save a lot of money in labor if you get the pump and belts done at once.

 

It's not really that hard to do. Replace the water pump, thermostat, tensioner pully, along with the belt. I would also suggest you check the cam and crank seals and change them if you see oil around them. Wire brush the gears to get all the rubbish out.
Might as well do it right the first time.

 

I had it done like 3-4 months ago. I had timing belt // water pump // Drive Belts // Minor tune up. i figured while he has it there in the shop, might as well get it all done. I think it cost right around $600.

I dont think any one mentioned, but its good to change the timing belt every 70 thousand miles, just to be on the safe side. had my first one down around 70, and just did the second after i cracked 140. you can most likely wait longer, but not worth the risk to me, that belt goes and kiss your car goodbye

 

I do everything every five years (or about 65-70k miles): pump, tensioner, belts, thermostat, 3 hoses (inlet, outlet, crossover).

My 90 SE is due again next year. It's not that bad a job. Takes me about 1/2 day now.

Tim

 

Every 5 years. That's a good time table. It is like me when I change my oil. It may seem a little exessive, but I change my oil and filter every payday (twice a month) regardless of miles.

Being that I just changed my timing belt, tensioner, acessory belts, water pump, etc a couple of weeks ago, I will schedule the next change for 2008 (if I still have my GXE).

 

Without looking in the FSM, I believe that is the recommended time period that Nissan says the belt should be changed (or 65K miles).

Oil I'll do every three months or 3500 miles. Twice a month, wow.

Tim

 

Okay, don't flame me, but I was thinking that changing the t-belt and everything else every 3-4 years (depending on your avg miles per year) is a nuisance. Would it be possible to make a chain for the engine instead? I always wondered about this.

I plan on changing the front exhaust studs/manifold and t-belt, etc. at 120K, which should be close to the end of the year.

 

To answer the question, yes you could make a chain. However, there is quite a bit more to it than that. The timing chain needs a constant supply of oil just as any of the other internal engine componets. On engines with timing belts, there are no canals, orficies, or pathways for oil to enter the "timing chamber" (please excuse the neologism). If a timing chain was fashioned for the VG motor, it would quickly fail due to the stresses of friction.

 

thanks for the reply! guess i'll just have to stick with the belt.