Say folks, one of my co-workers who also has a 5th gen Max has passed the 60k mark on his Max and is planning to spend the $1K or so with Nissan for the timing chain, etc. change scheduled at this point. Is this necessary after only 60k or is 90 or 100k more realistic value. What do you 3rd and 4th genners do on average? Is the VQ an interference engine should the timing chain go bye bye or is it non-interference? Thanks in advance!

 

Where does the maintenance schedule show the timing chain needing replacement? It is not in my 2001 manual (unless I missed it).

Remember, we have CHAINS, not belts. Belts often need replacing at 60K, chains last much longer.

If a dealer is pushing this service, I think they are trying to shaft your co-worker.

 

4th gen maintenance is very similiar to Early 5th gen cars, they both have timing chains that "should" last the life of the car. No scheduled maintenace is required unless something goes wrong, that is just how it is with a chain.

 

If your friend pays $1,000 for a 60k tune-up, he doesn't know a whole helluva lot about cars. IOW, they saw him coming.

Timing chain? C'mon.

 

If something goes wrong...does valvetrain go bye bye? My 95 Escort is a non-interference design that won't (theoretically) allow valves and pistons to kiss, not sure about VQs though.

 

You will usually have signe before something seriously goes wrong with it, do a search and y ou can find out what it does, I know it sort of starts making a rattling sound. Keep in mind this is a very rare!

 

Yeah, timing chain doesn't have to be replaced for a long, long time.

 

I don't know for sure, but a car with relatively high compression and decent output is almost certainly an interference type engine. But seriously, their is no scheduled maintenece for the chain, and considering this is one of the most reliable cars in the world, I wouldn't think Nissan's maintence schedule is wrong.

Try and find someone who has had a chain fail on a car other then a '95, I think you'll have a little bit of trouble. Also, the tensioners will probably fail, not the chain, in which case it seems to be a very gradual failure. You'll actually here the timing chain hitting the cover.

 

It does not matter --- Unless there is a diagnosis of a timing chain problem (i.e. the Max sound like a diesel engine at startup) there is no timing chain maintenance/replacement at 60K miles.

 

I thought thats what I said... he seemed concerned, so I explained.