Hi guys I am new to this forum I have a 95 Se with 115,000 miles which I have had since new. Iam getting ready to do the 120,000 mile service and since we have a chain not a belt the dealer says do not replace it till it fails. It is about 200 buck in labor alone to repalce it. Does the maxima have an intering valve train Inother words if the chain lets loose do we face major engine damge? How long does the chain last for? Any opinion gratefully accepted.

 

There is no maintenance interval for the timing chain. It is basically built to last the life of the engine. Most timing chains last at least 200k miles. If anything, I would check the timing chain tensioners to make sure they are within spec. But that's entirely option. In all the time I've been on this BBS (which is a VERY long time), I have never heard of a case where the timing chain broke.

 

thanks for the reply, do you know if we have an "interfering type valve" that is if the chain fails some cars just stop other stick a piston into the valve. TIA
DZ

 

I think that it is an interference engine.

Typically, timing chains will stretch to the point of causing timing problems long before they break.

Just enjoy the ride.

 

Timing chains tend to fail slowly. A worn chain will emit an ugly rattling
sound, most pronounced immediately after engine start-up. It can go on
like this for thousands of miles, slowly getting worse, before it breaks.
The VQ30DE engine, used on all 4th Generation Maximas, is an interference
engine. That means a broken timing chain will result in catastrophic
damage.

 

Yeah it's an interference engine. If the chain snaps there will be piston to valve contact which would be VERY costly to fix. However, like he mentioned earlier, I've never heard of a Maxima breaking a timing chain.