I've heard conflicting information from several sources. Some say 60k miles, one says 90k, and another says 100k. When should a 4th gen Maxima timing belt *really* be replaced?

I've also heard several times that there is no way to tell how worn your timing belt actually is (you'd think that they'd have some sensor available after a century of automotive engineering!). What causes a timing belt to wear out faster in one car than in another of the same make/model? Who knows... could be how hard you drive the car and/or environment (extreme heat/cold).

Anyway, if you know of some good sources on exploring this, please post. I'm at 100k miles and worried...

 

you have a timing chain so dont worry, you should have it just looked at at about 120000 but thats about it.

 

you that your "timing belt" needs to be replaced should be smacked. Only VG engines (all 89 to 91 models, 92 to 94 GXEs) have a timing belt that requires 60k service.

VQ engines have a chain, not a belt. It is not wise to replace the chain....ever...

Theoretically, a chain should last the length of the motor life.

 

Well, blow me down. Yep, I took a look in my recently purchased manual and "no belt found here". Pardon my ignorance... But I can't pardon the ignorance of others I've talked to, who swore that "60,000 miles and you should change it". And this was a mechanic who had supposedly worked on Maximas. Go figure. Probably never touched a VQ, so instantly assumed there was a belt.

I'm happy--no costly timing belt replacement; I'll put that money towards some additional mods.

 

The mechanic should be 3/4 smacked. It's true that some cars, namely most hondas, have a timing belt and that needs to be chagned on a very regular basis. He should be half smacked because he got 60k miles right, but additional 1/4 for assuming.

 

You are CEO and chairman of a company called "Shing Lovers" and your name is "Shing". So, you've formed an LLC for people who love you?

 

story/history behind that one.....I am a member, though


Mechanics are quite unusual....they know a lot of stuff, but can't seem to organize the thoughts sometimes.....

Nissan was yelled at so much by their owners with needing to replace timing belts that they started going to chains instead.....

 

But they really slipped. Their guide now shows 85-97 Maxima being an interference motor requiring a timing belt every 60K. Then, 1998 shows same thing but 105,000. What the ****? You can see how a mechanic who works on lots of diff cars and rips off lots of diff people could just go to the Gates guide and think that a Maxima uses a belt. Their guide used to be good in determining if the motor were interference or not. Mitsubishi was notorious for that. You'd have people with cars only 40,000 miles and done for. Keep making payments while the car is carted off to Jerome Ave. How many Eclipses wound up like that because the owner never heard of the timing belt nobody will ever know. You can solve this problem by using an OHV motor like Bentley or Corvette.

http://www.gates.com/shared/brochure...ion=automotive

 

Well, good for us!

Another reason why Nissan makes a quality car for the price. I'm at 100k miles and when I give someone a ride who isn't familiar with Maximas, they can't believe I've owned the car over 6.5 years "Wow, it feels like it's only a year or two old!".