Hey everybody just looking for a little help. The head gasket blew on my 2003 Nissan maxima and getting it replaced at the shop they are wanting Around 2500$ mainly for labor. I'm fairly mechanically inclined but I've never done head gaskets before. I tried to see if there were how to's anywhere but can't find any so I was wondering if anyone knew if there were any and where. Or if anything it'll probably be cheaper to buy a used engine if I'm stuck with just paying that much and if so does anyone have any suggestions where to look (no 2003s or up in the junk yards here ) thanks for all the help and info everyone.

 

How did they determine it was the HG?

 

If you can change replace a head gasket you can likely swap an engine. If you blew a head gasket there is likely other internal damage as well as you tear into it. I'd suggest swapping in an 04-08 (02-03 are known to burn oil), put in the updated timing chain tensioners and be done.

There are lots of threads on the org you can search for about engine swaps. If you search for head gasket replacement here you will likely find an engine swap thread simply because its less of a headache to do.

 

x2

 

you can get an engine and labor for less than that. Go to Autozone or Pepboys or a mechanic in you area and ask for places where they sell engines, you will be amazed with the answer....

 

After talking to a friend of mine that works on a few of these engines he said to replace the radiator first and check it out. The guy at the shop admitted he has no idea about nissans but he said with his "tests" that I owe him 60$ for running that there is a hole in the radiator and no fluid just oil and that the head gasket is blown. That's literally what he said to me lol. This is supposed to be a friend of my wife's family that she had it towed to yesterday (I was out of town for work). So I'm gonna replace the radiator and I'll post more info from there and all that I'm doing.

 

Yea this may be the route I'll go after I replace the radiator and make sure that's what happened. I'll definitely ask around for the newer engine as well. Thank you for the info guys

 

trust me it doesn't worth it , If you love working on cars go ahead and do it . and also if youre buying everything from Nissan it's gonna be very expensive , I blew mine in march , I fix it in august . new water pump , head gasket , timing chain gasket , rings , new thermostat, intake gasket .. and a lot of other parts, resurface both of the head. depend of the shop it will cost around $100-$200 .. I spent around $800-1200 because all the parts were OEM . and Nissan killed me .. well unlucky .. while doing timing chain , I messed up. I went to start timing slip .. BAMM Broken valve . I regret spending all this money for no reason ... I look on car-parts.com I engine with low mileage for $700-$1000 smdh.. oh I forgot to mention about broken bolts too. don't let that happen lol .so I would suggest you just buy another engine .

 

So where did you find an engine on that website? I looked and couldn't find one at all.

 

Car-part.com and look for a 04-06 engine not a 03

 

Car-parts.com don't buy 03 .
look for 04-06 just like someone have mentioned earlier . best luck my friend

 

Yea I messed up when I looked the first time I forgot the dash in the name so it took me to a different website lol.

 

Lol for ****s and giggles I called to find out how much a new engine was........7800$ plus tax lol. I expected maybe 5k but lol 8k. Well I'm still looking around for a used engine but since I'm still gonna have to save for that I think I'm gonna open her up and check it out anyways. Does anyone have any info on what I should look for or how to on taking it apart for the head gasket? At least what I should look for other things being screwed up besides the heads. I'll use it as a good learning experience and I guess if no one has anything on it I can take pictures and show what I do if I do and post it on here. Or should I just find me a Haynes manual (I think that's right correct me if I'm wrong I can't think right now lol). Anyways thanks for all the input so far and anymore is greatly appreciated.

 

Also if I do go through with replacing the gasket myself are than upgrades or performance parts I should do at this time or should I just get an engine rebuild kit?