A few mornings ago, I tried to start my car to go to work, and it wouldn't start. It sounded like the engine was trying to start, but it wouldn't turn over. When I turned the key, the engine would turn, what sounded like, 15000 RPM. After a few tries, it started to smell like gas, so I stopped. I got the car towed from my house, to the Auto Center on base, and had them take a look at it. One mechanic looked at the timing belt while another tried to start the car. The guy said that the timing belt was flopping all over the place, and that I needed a tensioner(possibly). So, when the mechanic tried pulling off the timing belt wheel, he noticed the crankshaft moving with it. He hooked up a dial indicator, and said it was moving about .035". He suggested that I either buy a new motor or get my current one completely rebuilt because my "crankshaft was broken." Any suggessions? I have a 93 maxima, VG30D, 155k miles. Thanks for any input

 

I have a suggestion. Follow the mechanic's suggestion. Rebuild = $1500 or so. Used engine = $500. Your choice.

 

anyone know of any us spec salvage yards in Germany?

 

Wow! Germany?! You in the US armed forces?! Might be cheaper to source one here and have it shipped via military transport?

 

wow...2nd VG crankshaft gone in the last 2 months...thats about 4-5 cases alone this year on here

and just so you don't get the wrong motor, the one you want is the VG30E...not "VG30DE" like you had in your post

 

When I was over there, there weren't alot of choices for american cars in terms of parts or repairs. Base had a parts and repair place, but a lot of stuff had to be ordered. They did have salvage yards, but you can imagine the selection wasn't too good for ameican cars. That was the only time in my life that I'll ever have a BMW and a Mercedes at the same time!

 

yea the vg30e motor is the one you want and ebay has a few motors on there for cheap...

 

I think there's a pretty big salvage yard in Kaiserslautern (K-town), but to be honest, that was back in 1990, when I was stationed over there. For all I know, it might be blown off the face of the earth by now. But you'd probably be better off doing what Jeff said and buy one here and have it shipped over there.

 

[Sarcasm] Yeah and shipping to Germany will be cheap [/Sarcasm]

 

Hah, Hah, kind of funny calling a Japanese made car American...

 

true...guess I was thinking "as opposed to german cars"...when you go into a true German junkyard, all you mainly see are a bunch of Opels and VWs, with a few Beemers and Mercs sprinkled in here and there....but yes, the Max is definitely Japanese.

 

I think you should tell them to replace the T-belt and tensioner. Your engine is worn, but I don't think you 'broke' your crank shaft, some play is normal.
See if you can get the water pump and thermostate done at the same time.

They may be trying to take you for a ride $$$$.

If you did 'break' the camshaft, then you should see pieces of metal in the oil drained form the engine, you can also cut open the oil filter.


Make sure they set the timming correctly b/c the belt may have jumped a tooth.

 

Crikey! Thought the VG could last forever... Well not forever but the crank breaking apart is pretty rough.

 

now that I'm actually bothering to read this closely.
You probably need bearings Maybe
.035" ain't much play but it's still more than normal.
Send out the crank have it cut, put in new bearings, TB. TB tensioner, etc.
and go back to driving.
A new motor does not sound necessary.
just my .02