Has anyone replaced the timing chain guide and tensioner in their Maxs and would you recommend a shop in Maryland to do it at a decent price?
My car just turned 90k miles and it starting to sound like a diesel truck when i start uo in the mornings really loud noise. I took it at Nissan dealer they quote me 1900 to replace the guides.

 

Done a few. Not so many in Maximas but mostly the VQ35 quests for some reason.

Honestly if i was doing it on my own car id just drop the motor/tranny. It really isnt a whole lot of work to drop the entire engine/tranny and it makes the entire process so much easier. The worst part about the job is the 4" of room you have to work with between the frame rail and motor.

Its not an overly complicated job, your really just paying for labour.

 

how do you drop the engine in a max?

 

Questions:

1. Does the sound go away after about 10minutes?
2. Does it whine with the revs? faster rpm=whine increase.
3. Are you using regular or synthetic/semi-synthetic
4. Are you using a Nissan Oil filter?

 

Questions:

1. Does the sound go away after about 10minutes?
2. Does it whine with the revs? faster rpm=whine increase.
3. Are you using regular or synthetic/semi-synthetic
4. Are you using a Nissan Oil filter?

For my car:
1 - Yes, the rattle goes away after a few minutes
2 - yes
3 - synthetic
4 - no, usually K&N, Bosch or Pure One filter

 

i have this samE problem with my car its annoying once it gets a little warm it soundS good but sucks when im showing people my car and start it cold people are like wtf!!!! i work at a store connected to a shop and discounted im lookin at a grand!!

 

Dropping a motor in a 6th gen isn't as quick and painless as 4th and 5th gens.

But dropping everything in a 6th gen is simple, just requires A LOT of room.

The Honda subframe setup you guys have going on makes it very easy to drop Motor+Tranny+Suspension (Easier to install from the factory, they assemble motor, tranny, suspension outside of the car, something pioneered by Honda decades ago).

Only problem for joe-blow mechanic is that it takes up A LOT of room in their garage.

So.... Drop everything... Motor, Tranny, Control arms, axles, spindles.... Then work on the motor from there, you will have A LOT more room to play with there... Me personally being iffy w/ VQ timing I'd just take the motor to a shop to have the work done and then re-install the motor myself.... A shop would probably only charge you for about 4-5hrs of labor instead of 12-16.

 

I'm having the same problem with my car. The whine is quite noticable, and I've got 65k miles on mine. I just got it used so I have no idea what oil has been through the engine prior. Are you guys sure it would be the chain and not a pump of some sort?

I don't understand how the chain and tensioners could go bad so early. Chains are supposed to last a long time!

 

ya but they are defective

 

I guess they're made out of plastic. Nissan fail!

 

Don't feel bad, Audi has the same problem with the 4.2L V8 in the 04-08 S4. I am on a Audi forum as well. I have read where some of those guides/tensioners have gone as early as 50k. And to replace those prices range from $5k-$10,000.

 

Ask yourself why Nissan did this??? Hmmmm

Mine where replaced at 69k miles at a cost of $1450 by the dealer and that's with given me break...Transmission lawsuit? There should a lawsuit for this part... What does synthetic/semi-synthetic oil have to do with this part? They are not oil fed tensioners at all.

 

There's real issues when these parts have to be replaced that early in life, I would assume Audi would fix them under warranty vs. how Nissan has handled this issue

 

From what I have read if the Audi's were under warranty, then they were covered.

 

My 07 with 78k miles is currently in the shop getting a new tensioner and guides to the tune of $1300! Luckily it's covered by warranty (certified pre- owned extended warranty).

 

This is so disappointing. A car ranging $30,000 (a lil above or under) with so many transmission or tensioner/timing chain issues. I have a 2008 and recently started the car and felt like a mini chain saw in the engine compartment. I IMMEDIATELY KNEW what that was. I've had the SES light for a couple weeks now but got a Camshaft pos sensor code and sort of slept on it. I cursed out loud for about a minute knowing this was going to hurt the pockets. Turned off the car hoping I was just "losing it". Started it again and behold, the same thing... sound went aware after driving down the block. Went to the dealer today and .....u know F'n story. $2,700 to fix. Gotta love the 6th Generation Max.

 

By the way, how much did you end up paying to resolve the issue? Did you end up goign to dealer or a different shop?

 

I am in the process of inheriting an 06 Maxima SL with 62K miles, and it has a whine under the hood that I suspect to be the tensioners after reviewing all the discussions here. What are the chances I can get a dealer to give it a goodwill repair, considering the mileage is so close to being out of warranty? Obviously, I am over on the 5 year, but I really don't want to be my first experience with this car to be a $2,000 repair bill.
Any suggestions? Will Nissan bend on this repair, knowing the long history of problems?

 

165,000 miles on '05 max. What is end result if no fixing chains a guides? I just had a valve body replaced, brakes, and one caliper done.

 

I have replaced a few of these tensioners, with the engine on the floor, it is easy to do this replacement, but I would not do this in the car.

 

You can do it with the engine in the car it just takes time .

 

Does anyone know any better shop/dealership to get timing chain replacement job in Memphis, TN area? In-laws got 6th gen maxima and needs timing chain repair work in Memphis area. I appreciate for your feedback.

 

I inherited a 2004 maxima with 120,000 miles that has been diagnosed as needing the timing chain tensioner. I considered replacing it myself, but am leaning towards wrecking the car for parts or scrap metal. You tube has nice video of the repair with the motor in place, and that was what I was basing my job on, but dropping the engine/transmission is interesting.

 

I can vouch that it is possible to replace the tensioner without removing the engine. I did mine when my 2003 had 169,000 miles. You just need lots of patience. I took a chance to fix it myself because none of my local mechanics wanted to touch it. I have since put another 15,000 miles on it. It still drives great!