I took my max to a mechanic and my car is leaking from either the timing chain cover or engine block, not the water pump as i originally thought. he said to get rid of it. Now i own about 4800 on it and it only has 120K Florida Highways miles on it. What do you guys think and what is a reasonable amount to fix it?

 

What is it that leaking? Like what kind of fluid? Color?

 

oh, sorry, its anti freeze

 

well i had a dealership tell me to get rid of my max because it was old and maximas have like 30 sensors on them which he said would all be going bad soon on my car, and it would cost an arm and leg to keep fixing. anyways 2 years later and 60k miles i still have it. i would get a second opinion.

 

Get a used engine for about $300-$400 bucks + install. I would go with a DE-K (00-01) instead of the DE (95-99) if I were to putting in a new motor. I know people will say put in a 3.5 but if someone were not doing it themselve it will cost a lot of money. And the DE-K is ALMOST a direct drop in.

 

Definetely get a second opinion. You want to pinpoint the location of that leak.

 

Mecanics are like that. "You need a ball joint. Get rid of this POS before the wheels fall off" Can't tell you how many times we heard that kind of BS on our various cars. It's got 120k, it's 10 years old, blah, blah, blah. New cars have just as many problems. My mom's 04 spends half its time at the dealer.

 

Id put money on it being the engin block, thats gonna be an engin pull ($$$$$)

 

It isn't that simple. Yes everything bolts right on but now you have to think about the VI and how it is going to be controlled. You can get a 5th gen ECU but then how are you going to make that work with the vehicle's main harness?? Or you can get something like a Harlan switch. Swapping to a 3.5 is a whole different thing all together. You gotta know what you are doing.

Changing the water pump is difficult but it shouldn't be the end of the road for borybaby's maxima. 120k is nothing for the VQ, its just the other little parts that are wearing down and needs replacement. Oh and newer cars have a lot more sensors which comes with a new set of problems on their own.

 

how do they know its not the water pump? If they didnt check they how can they rule it out.

water pump
bad head gasket.


if its a bad head gasket - get a new engine
If its the water pump that can be repaired/swapped out.

 

Yea I got antifreeze leaking down my block right at the timing cover and I got 212K on mine. It a minor leak but I believe it my waterpump. You can't trust mechanics they just want your money. Figure it out yourself as I always see it.

Or take it to the dealership where they specialize in nissan motors. They should be able to tell the problem

 

Same area as the water pump. I'd call around and find out what different shops charge. Water pump (in my book) isnt a good enough reason to ditch the car.

I'm guessing shops will try to charge about $250-$300 to do the work.

 

I would have to say KEEP YOUR MAXIMA!! Ofcourse the shop would say get a different car, but at the same time look how far our maximas have gone. I got 131K miles on it and it still pumping awsome. I just have to say keep it.

 

I say keep it if its just the water pump. You could change the water pump and chain tensioner for $400. Then drive it for another 120k miles. 400 is your monthly car note on a new car

 

Keep it Maximas are sweet!!!!!!!!!

 

anti freeze leakage is nothing, just keep it, no point getting another car if the one u have is working fine

 

If you re-read my post I say the DE-K is ALMOST a direct drop in. As for the VI $50 for a summit switch to control it, why on earth would you think about switching the 4th gen ECU for the 5th gen ECU? And I never suggest swapping in a 3.5 (because of the difficulty), I said other people will suggest putting that in instead of 3.0.

 

keep it if its only a water pump just pay $400 and get it fixed also get a second opinion poss.nissan dealer

 

Relax Tarzan!!! You didn't include the summit switch control for the VI in your original post did you? Why would one opt for a 5th gen ecu (not 5.5) for the DE-K swap??? Because of the VI! Some have done that instead of getting just a switch. Doesn't mean its a must for everyone else.

 

who has swapped a 5th gen ecu into the 4th gen?

I'd like to see this.

 

I think I saw it mentioned in the all-motor forum....search in there.

 

why get a new engine if it is a bad head gasket??? why not change the head gasket?

 

lol I am relaxed, just bored at work. I thought that most people would already know how to activate the 00VI, my fault for not going into more detail. All the people I know that have swaped the 00VI in their car have used rpm switches.

 

Same here....I would think that is the simplest way. The only reason why I brought up the other option is, #1 I heard about it, #2 There might be some benefits to doing it. I'm searching for it right now but I can't seem to find it. Maybe the person that mentioned it before changed his mind and deleted the thread.

 

I can see where there might be benefits since the 5th gen cam with the VI. Like the switch over dip many of us 4th gens see, might be eliminated because the ecu will be controlling it.

 

Okay, i literally went into the back of the shop (my GF uncle owns the shop) and seen where the leak was coming from. It was coming from the lower heater hose , no big deal, but also from either the engine block itself or timing chain cover. Its not the Water pump. I'm not sure what i'm going to do. If anyone is wanting to buy it, i mean a fair offer i'll sale. I'm just really trying to get out of debt and for a novice mechanic (i've done a few intermediate jobs i.e., Stater, O2 Sensor, Brakes, etc.) i'd rather get a 4Cyclinder older car and pay no monthly payments. I'm not really all into the modding hype. Anyone interested gen4max@yahoo.com

 

If you're selling your car, post a new thread in the Maximas For Sale/Wanted forum.