rkonfire

Hi, I'm relatively new to the board and have come across a '96 Maxima with a 5 speed and 90k miles.

I currently own a Lude and with those cars you have to do the timing belt and water pump at 90k miles. It's a very expensive ordeal. So, I'm curious what major maintenance has to be done to Maximas and how much $$$ is involved, like this one? I have been working all day and I need a quick decision on this car so I don't have much time to do a search, sorry. So, anyone with ANY info on MAJOR maintenance issues for this car would be very much appreciated! Thanks.

Also, what is the 1/4 for a manual Maxima?

VelfarreClubber

i have a 99 se, at 90k went to the dealer they just told be to change my fluids and change my fan belt. he also said something like i don't need to change the timing belt possilby cuz its made of steel aluminum? not sure

rkonfire

Hmmm... more info please! And thanks for yours, btw. I just don't want to get a Max and have to dump money into it. I guess I'm kinda expanding on my first question, but here goes: how reliable are Maximas and their manual trannys? I have a friend who has a 5th gen and he always talks about how reliable they are, so I'm curious. I've also done some research on carreview.com.

maxima_1995

more info please i don't know undertstand what u mean,

i have 95 maxima,96 models should be identical to 95, problem with timing chain(makes rattling sound when engine cold) and water pump leaks, u need a new camshaft tensioners(45$ + 45$) and a water pump(85$) and the job takes about 9 hrs(if u know what u r doing, and try to give it to the best mechanic in town, never hand in this job to an ameture) it's about 285$ max labour-wise, it comes to 460$ maximum, parts prices all from dealership

i hope this is the information u r looking for

good luck

maximadoc

hey dude,
i have a 96 max gxe with 91k on her.
i went to the dealership and had new spark plugs put in (iridium) and my tranny fliud flushed and replaced (amsoil). all and all the price was like $90. thats pretty good for the stealerships rates. they told me my belts were good. and when i got home i changed my oil and oil filter.
hope this helps.

sryth

Welcome to the .org

Nothing major...we have timing chains, not belts; no replacement neccessary.

I'd just do a regular tune-up: plugs; fuel filter; coolant flush; oil/filter; dump out that tranny fluid and put in some MT-90; new air filter; serpentine belt...the standard stuff.

As for the 1/4, a well driven stock Maxima will get into the mid-high 14s.

slag

Its my opinion that a well driven 4th gen maxima will do high 15's MAYBE, but definitely not mid 14's. Its just not possible with a stock 95-96 maxima with only 190 hp.

GTP's with 240 hp and even those with smaller supercharger pullies pulling more boost are only mid 14 second vehicles.

rkonfire

Great info guys, thanks a lot! So the Max's having timing chains, sounds good. At what mileage do they recommend to get that water pump fixed? That seems to be about the biggest problem I'm seeing so far. Once again, thanks.

batldroid32

I just changed mine at 140 thousand. Developed a leak and changed it the next day to avoid major probs. It ia a chore in itself to change. Got the pump at Advance auto for $50.

maximus_96

iTrader: (5)

please excuse my ignorance, but what is the serpentine belt? i know of the two drive belts but i dont know what a serpentine belt is.

Terran

iTrader: (6)

No rule of thumb time for the water pump to be changed. Just when it goes bad. Check for torn CV boots. See if tranny fluid is coming out where the axles meet the tranny as this indicates an expensive and fairly common problem with bearing preload (or something like that) on 95-96. Probably best to take it to a mechanic to check it out just to make sure. How much are they asking?

maximus_96

iTrader: (5)

what is the symptoms of a bad water pump?

Vlasic

iTrader: (13)

a stock 4th gen on stick will do low 15's, i think there are a few ppl on here that broke into the 14's on a stock 4th gen but that was with perfect launches, and everything.

sryth

Ok, slag...maybe mid-high 14s was a bit optimistic; you can definitely achieve high 14s w/a stock 5spd, though. If you don't want to believe this, that's fine by me.

As for the serpentine belts, that's just what I (and others?) call a drive belt. I'm sure there is some technical difference between a serpentine belt and an ordinary drive belt, but I use the term universally.

As for the water pump, you shouldn't need to replace this unless it breaks. If it breaks, your car will overheat.

The transmissions in these cars are infamous. The bearings are prone to being improperly shimmed at the factory, causing premature breakdown. Just check for leaks (as Terran says) and hope for the best...while crossing your fingers.

rkonfire

I work at an auction place so I would have got it cheap. I believe a dealer bought it for $5300. Quite a nice car if I had the $$$ and needed a car badly.