Well now im just getting really irritated..Im not really sure if this car is worth fixxing but heres where i am. First off there is no way i can get the key to stay in the hole because there is like a indent on the left side of the hole that prevents it from staying tight in there..

Not the best pic but you can also see in my previous pics that i posted. I am guessing maybe my only option besides changing the crankshaft would be to weld it on there? The downside of course being not being able to remove it later if needed..If it is less than 1000 to have a crankshaft replaced then i might consider it but anything more than that wouldnt even be worth it.


And on top of that i broke the pulley, im guessing while i clamped it down to loosen the bolt. dunno if its useable like that. Im not to worried about that though, im more worried about the key thing.


P.S. i really appreciate all the help you guys have given me over the past weeks, i wouldn't have known how to do quite a few things if not for this site. I really wouldn't be to worried about this if this wasn't my only car i own. I been using one of my dads cars in the meantime but im really starting to miss my max! I really hope this is not the end for my max but if so better believe i will stay with maximas, newer and better if worse comes to worst.

 

use superglue to hold the key in proper place. it won't be permannent enough to hold the key on forever, but will be good enough to hold it on while putting the pulley back.

As far as the pulley is concerned, you want a replacement. the missing material will cauise the balance to be off. You can run it like that for a short while, and it shouldn't hurt it, while waiting for a new-to-you pulley. I would recommend doing a quick debur on the edges of the crack to prevent the belt from getting chewed up (not likely, but possible).

 

OK thank you. I will just wait for a new pulley to put everything back on.

 

Is there any way i can use like a little dremel tool to sand the key hole on the crankshaft down just a little so the key goes deeper down into there? It seems as if the key doesn't go down far enough.

 

Nevermind im pretty much fed up with this. Im just gonna have that crankshaft replaced. I doubt it is gonna work with the shape that keyhole is in, i think it would just come out again. Im hoping i can find a place to do it for less than $1000, if not it wouldn't be worth it and i would probably just go ahead and look for another car. I seen a couple maximas i been looking at, a 2001 se with 120000miles for 4900.

 

Where is a good place i can get a crankshaft? I think on courtesy they were like over 600..And at autozone i think they have like rebuild kits for like 300.

 

I found a couple on ebay for around 200. But which one is the one for my car? The ends of these look different.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NISSAN-MAXIM...a75367&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NISSAN-MAXIM...a748d3&vxp=mtr

 

Did you get the OEM key? If you did and the pulley can go through the shaft with the key in place, I wouldn't worry about it.

If it's too loose, then try putting JB Weld on the indentation and where ever is needed to make the key fit snug. Make sure you remove any excess weld on it so you don't have issues inserting the pulley back.

And labor wise, it would be cheaper to replace the entire engine than to replace the crankshaft.

 

Ok thank you, well i got tired of working on it and put everything away. Maybe if i feel like it i will try the jb weld this weekend. I tried like superglue but it just wasnt strong enough to hold while i put the pulley over it, they pulley just kept pushing the key out.

 

+1 for JB weld.
the other alternative is having someone TIG weld the key on.

 

Well finally put that key back on there and put everything back together but now the knocking noise is really loud coming from around that crank pulley area so im not sure what is going on now. I dont know if that key is not staying in there or if something more serious got damaged. It really sucks i been without my car for a month now. I dont know if i should just swap out the motor or weld that key or what?..

Also wanted to ask but what does this little disc thing do? Is it supposed to be loose? Just wondering.

 

That is a timing belt guide. It is loose until clamped down by the harmonic balancer. If it were not there the belt would walk off of the crank gear. Destroyed key-way. Bummer. Find a MIG or TIG. Weld the key in using the hole there to get good penetration. Use Dremels, files to work weld back down so balancer will slide back over. Is the key-way in the balancer destroyed also? You will need a new one. There can be no play here as it will just wipe it out again. Use red locktite for sleeves and bushings and apply liberally to the crank nose. Torque the crank bolt properly. Allow to set for 24 hours. Sell the car. Just kidding. I hope it has a good timing belt and water pump as it will be a bear to get the balancer back off. I have done this to a 350 Chevy. It lasted about 18 months. Plenty of time to save up for a new crank and related parts.

 

Ok so now i am pretty happy. Turns out the knocking noise was the balancer hitting on the lower timing belt cover, i guess one of the 8mm bolts that holds the cover on was really loose, after tightening the car is quiet as a mouse now! So i will be back on the road tomorrow morning after i put a couple things back on. Hopefully i wont have to be back anytime soon. Thanks guys for the help.