OK maxowners.
Here is a poll to report timing belt activities. Should reveal some interesting info.

1) What year is your Max?
2) Mileage now?
3) Timing belt ever break? If so at what mileage? Cost to fix engine?
4) Ever changed the belt before it broke? If so at what mileage?
5) Had a lot of miles when you got it and you don't know if the belt was ever changed? Still running scared?
6) Had a lot of miles when you got it and you don't know if the belt was ever changed but you changed it anyways just for the piece of mind?

The problem of buying a car with 93,000 miles on it and not being able to determine if the belt was ever changed. Big bucks to change and maybe I don't even need a change if it was done. What a pickle.
How you dudes deal with this dilema? Dealer says they can't determine by looking at it if it is the original belt or it only has 20,000 miles on it. I think its B.S. I used to change rubber belts on office equipment and with experience you can tell if its been changed or is original. What ya'll say bout this?

 

1. 90 GXE
2. 160k (give or take afew miles)
3. Broke about a week ago. Replacing engine for one grand. (93 VE)
4. Never changed it. The first part of number 5 applies here.
5. See number 4.
6. Going to change it every weekend now!

Dealer must be on crack. Worn belts are simple to spot, as I'm sure you know. The only problem is getting to them....

 

1) What year is your Max?
91 SE 5 speed
2) Mileage now?
178,000
3) Timing belt ever break? NO
4) Ever changed the belt before it broke? YES – 115,000
5) Had a lot of miles when you got it and you don't know if the belt was ever changed? Still running scared? It had 90,000 when I bought it. I ran scared to 115,00, then changed it myself.

 

1) What year is your Max?
1991 SE Automatic
2) Mileage now?
144,000
3) Timing belt ever break? NO If so at what mileage? Cost to fix engine? Engine is going to be anywhere from 1 to 3 grand
4) Ever changed the belt before it broke? If so at what mileage?
5) Had a lot of miles when you got it and you don't know if the belt was ever changed? No Still running scared?
6) Had a lot of miles when you got it and you don't know if the belt was ever changed but you changed it anyways just for the piece of mind? No

IMHO I would get it changed or do it yourself. If you have some mechanical skills then just do it, set aside a weekend and take your time and do the water pump and thermostat. Even if you pay to have it done, it's pennies compared to the price of a new engine. I bet that it hasn't been changed, there's so many people that don't even know our cars have a timing belt or what it is. I just did mine, so if you need some help let me know.

 

i don't think our cars should have any effect on your decision. your belt could have 90000mi on it, if you were going to change it worrying that that was the case, you shouldn't not change it cause someone here said they drove around worried for 30,000 mi before they changed it, yours could go out on you any time. anyway, my opinion - change it soon unless you can find out for sure how old it is? could you ask previous owner?...

 

ditto that...and if you do purchase and replace use ALL OEM parts

 

Im just trying to see if any body broke a belt that had around 93,000 miles on it.
Nissan says 60,000 miles - then change it. The poll might reveal that no one ever broke a belt with less than 120,000 miles on it!
If this is the case , thats good , cause I got 93 and no money to change it! Just looking for reason to sleep well - hehe.
I think no belt ever broke with less than 120,000 miles on it.
Polling to see if true.

 

ahha, sorry then, good idea i guess. every situation is still unique though. i still suggest a change asap if you can't find out if it was changed. then you'll get at least 60,000 miles of sleeping well...

 

1) 93 SE
2) ~96K
3) Nope
4) 95K, I went in for regular service and they said the spotted cracks in the belt. THey were already doning some other engine work and had taken off the belt so I just replaced it. I live in AZ for about the first 7 years I had the car so I'm no surprised the belt died early in that heat. Plastic and rubber doesn't hold up at 115 degree plus heat.
5) N/A
6) Timing belt should be easy to see. I think edmunds.com has a tutorial if you need to know how to inspect it. replacing it is definetly better then letting it break and having to fix the engine.

 

93SE's don't have a timing belt. They have a chain.

 

Odd. If you have a 93se, you have a chain not a belt.

Sharky. I would have asked for proof if the belt was changed or not. If no proof, I would have negotiated the belt/water pump change cost into the purchase price of the car and then had it done right after.

 

every 60000 m i change all the belts.
by doing it myself i only pay for the parts and this is
about $ 100.

 

hey sharky,

check under the hood and and see if you can find a little metallic sticker. i bought a 94 gxe with 117k on it and i was freaking out severely about the timing belt (as i always have the worst luck when it comes to **** breaking) until while cleaning the engine bay, i noticed a sticker from the previous owners nissan dealer, etched with the mileage that the timing belt had been chnage at...78k for me =)

took me about 2 weeks to notice it up there =) d'oh!

*jared

 

Thanks for the help guys. I looked for the sticker. None to be found.
One dealer told me they put the sticker on the timing belt cover where you can see it near the top. Nothing there either.
Guess I gotta sell my golf clubs before disaster strikes!

 

that's the way you gotta do it...more proud in the end also...

 

but then you can look at your new belt and think, cool, i mighta just saves myself a couple grand. hmm...i think i should take some of that couple grand and buy a nice new shiny set o' clubs!

 

The sticker is supposed to be on the hood next to the emission control label. I just did mine and that is where the stickers says that it wants to be put, so look there. If you still can't find it I would change it anyway.

 

1) 91' GXE
2) 119,000
3) Belt hasn't broken
4) No
5) Had 86,000 miles on it when I bought it in the summer of 2000 and don't know if it was changed before then
6) Again, had 86,000 miles after 9 years on the road and I haven't changed the belt yet. Probably should now.

 

This is a question for pretty much everyone who has changed their own timing belt!! I know it can be a DYI job, but how hard is it exactly? I'm not a TRUE mechanic, but I know a lil sumthin sumthin. Just askin cause I went to a dealership here in Atlanta and they were sayin $800 freak dollars just to get it changed. If their is a website also, can someone shoot me tha link to it. Greatly appreciate it. DAMN I LUV THIS WEBISTE!!!!!

 

$800 sounds too high to me. I think I paid about half that, and had the waterpump, thermostat, and all of the drive belts changed at the same time.
BTW - bought my '93gxe with 109K and had the timing belt done immediately, as far as I could tell it had never been changed.

 

Check out this thread:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=24760

That's from when I did mine a year ago. It's really not THAT bad. If you have any questions just shoot me an email @ bmurray2@mindspring.com I live in Marietta so I'm sure I'm a local phone call if you need help.

Good luck,

 

I just had my timing belt replaced yesterday. Background: I bought this '91 GXE in the summer of 2000 with 86,000 miles on it and no knowlege of the maintenance history. I turned 120,000 miles on Tuesday and took it in yesterday to get it replaced......I still had the original belt on! The mechanic showed it to me and pointed out the lines across the back of the belt to show that it didn't have much longer. I also went ahead and had the water pump, thermostat, and drive belts replaced after seeing what other people here reported they did. It all goes to show how tough these cars are.

 

1) '91 SE
2) 100,5XX
3) Not Yet
4) Nope
5) Yes... I'm getting it changed ASAP

Is it really that hard to tell the difference between a 20,000 mile belt and a 93,000 mile belt? Go ahead and change it. Peace of mind at least. I'm worried about mine right now.

 

1) 1994 GXE
2) 98,000
3) Nope
4) Changed this summer at about 92,000 k
5) Bought it with 76k and was worried that it hadn't been changed. Waited a year and then replaced it. Turns out the belt had been changed, you could tell my looking at it. But thats the only way I could tell, was by having the belt in my hand.

 

1 - 1989
2 - approx. 144K
3 - Not to my knowledge with this car
4 - changed mine @ ~130K (just recently)
6 - Yes, along with the water pump, belt tensioner, drive belts, etc.

I bought my car used with about 120K miles on it, so there were a lot of questions about the timing belt(I did a lot of studying about the Maxima before I bought one, so I knew when I bought my car that the old '89 had a belt). I'm glad that I've had the major stuff changed recently, even though it made the wallet sink, it was worth it. I love this car!

peace2u

 

1-1990 GXE
2- 150K
3- No
4- around 60K, and waterpump, etc at 120
5+6- car had 55K when I got it, changed at 60 to be safe and then again around 120. Just had the head gasket replaced and didn't change it, I can wait for the other 30K.

 

1 89 Gxe Bose
2 196,775
3 It had 176,900 when I bought it and no way the belt was that old.
4 About three days after I bought it.
5 Absofreakinglutley I do this for a living after all.

Sharky as nike says just do it.A timing belt is a lot chaper than
a new or used motor.Plus your cam seals are probaly leaking ( I
changed those too) and your water pump too also good idea to do
thermostat and the u shaped bypass hose (don't forget the clamps)
and look at the tensioner while you are there.Also use nothing but
Nissan Genuine Parts aftermarket timing belts do not have marks on
the belt to assist you (or the technichian) in lining up the
engine and worm gear clamps plain suck.hope this helps

 

1) 91 GXE
2) 287,568
3) one time at 135,000
4) at 90,000
5) bought it brand new
6) just change it. nissan replacement only costs approx. $25 with about 3 hours work of your own time. buy a book and follow directions. if you're half way mech inclined, you can do it. beats paying $300.

 

just wondering... does changing the timing belt require you to work from under your car, or can it be done from the engine compartment above?

 

remove the front passenger side wheels and you should have all the access you need.

 

1-1991 GXE
2-164,505
3-NO
4-Yes, Today @164,506
5-Yes, got the maxima @ 158,914
6-Yes, I was scared it would break. Finally forced to change it when alternator belt broke. Reality set in. went to get an over haul.. Timing and tune up

 

When my 91 Max SE was a couple of years old the belt broke at 17,000 miles. Thats right SEVENTEEN thousand. Valves crashed with the pistons and a bad mess. And the dealer fought me on replacing the long block. They eventully did it free but it took a month.

The strange thing was, I wasnt driving it hard . Just some very gentle acceleration off of a red light one cool morning. The car now has 75000 miles on it

 

'94 GXE
Bought with 72,440 miles
Never changed the timing belt
Traded at 123,851 for '02 SE

 

replaced timing belt for first time at 172,000 with cost $382 plus extra work. Yea. Now have 174,000 on the dot this mornig and going like new.

 

1. 91 SE
2. 130,283
3. No.
4. Still haven't changed it since buying it at 124,448miles.
5. Yes... I just took it to the mechanic and he said I should because it looks like the timing cover seals are kind of bad. The wear might be a sign of not being taken off or taken care of for a long time.
6. Haven't changed it but I really want to.

Is it hard to change the timing belt, the cam and crank seals, and water pump? If anyoe knows of the top of their head. I want to do it myself because the mechanic seems to want to charge me about $1200 for timing belt, cam and crank seals, water pump and the 4 drive belts.

 

I realise that the VE's have a chain instead of a belt, but is there any maintenance required with these? or just wait until it starts rattling...

 

IF you are mechanically inclined, it really isn't a tough job, just time consuming. With the right tools and plenty of time, you can easily do it yourself. The hardest part is making sure the belt is spot-on..not off by a tooth. Also, CHANGE THE TENSIONER while you are it there..extra insurance, even if it looks ok..worthe the extra 65 bucks. The crank seal is easy once you get the pulley off. The drive belts are easy too, as are the cam seals, as long as the bolts are not stripped (that is why mine were leaking, not that the seals were necessarily bad). If you don't have the confidence to do it yourself, at least have the mech. do the t-belt, water pump, and crank seal, and do the accessory drive belts and cam seals yourself..most people should be able to handle that. Then again, the mech. will have the belts off, so it's up to you.

 

Usually no maintenance, the chains last a loooong time. I never heard of one failing, just getting noisy. I wouldn't worry about it unless it is whining or rattling

 

where is a good place to get all the belts i need to change mine i got 60,468 miles

 

If you need to change the drive belts, you should try to do that yourself. I hear it's pretty straight forward. But just in case, you should go out and get a Chilton's or service manual. I would do mine on my own... but I'm out of town right now and I don't have all the "special" tools to do the work.

If you want to do the timing belt... oh wait, you are a 92... you have a timing chain.... LUCKY YOU!!!

Also, anything else that is there while changing your drive belts, you should also change while your down there.