Lots of questions lately... So, I just had new brake pads put on with the help of my patient buddies and we happened to let some air in the brake lines when one of the rear brake pistons came off. So after the brake job was done I took my car to a shop by work and had them bleed the brake lines, and now my pedal is solid as a rock and I'm definitely digging the silent-as-can-be Raybestos

Afterwards the mechanic told me that my fanbelts and radiator are original and that it'd be a good idea to change them real soon. Then on the receipt it says "Note: Radiator and fanbelts are original. Should be changed every 50k miles or every 3 years, whichever comes first."

I've had this 1995 Maxima for three months now and it's at 85k miles. I'm getting the belts changed tomorrow since I'm going on a road trip up to Boston this weekend, but I'm not sure about the radiator. Is that right, cause I've never heard of changing the radiator every 50k miles, but I'm surely no car expert. Maybe he meant the coolant and I misunderstood him, but I swore that's what he meant.

I'm gonna flush the radiator when I get back, should I worry about changing it too???

 

I'm sure he meant radiator HOSES.

 

Radiator? no
Belts? yes

 

Only time you need to change the radiator is if it cracks, breaks, leaks, stops working, etc. Otherwise, you should just replace the belts and hoses as need be. I have had my car for almost 3 years and all I have done so far is top off the radiator once. I will probably do a flush and fill in the next 3 months.

 

Ah radiator hoses, that makes more sense haha. Thanks again!

 

Even the belts last a long time. Mine have 95k on them. Think I'll change them before 100k.

 

How many belts are there to replace, just the serpentine or more?

 

Yeah, he is jerking your chain if he means to change the actual radiator every 50k miles.
Hoses would be the more likely thing that he meant.
This is still pretty soon to be changing...I would base it more on wear.
Of course, that could be recommended.....just so you never run into an overly worn hose or belt and potentially cause more damage.

 

I've got a 1995 maxima with ~120k miles. Still on original fan belt and radiator hoses (no signs of cracking or wear on any of them).

All of these parts are the kind you change AS NEEDED. Meaning if the belts are starting to look brittle or cracked, you change them. Same with the hoses.

If they appear to be in good shape, you should probably leave them alone.

Hope that is helpful. Of course, there's no downside to changing these things early, but I wouldn't pay this guy big bucks to do it if it's not needed!

 

2 belts, one is a serpentine and the other is a v-belt

 

120k miles? lol you'll probly be under the timing chain cover in a year or so changing the water pump and guides/tensioners like I am now, pulling your hair out like me I just hope I don't run out of hair *gasp of horror*

 

Maybe! So far the timing chain is nicely tensioned and the car drives better than brand new with my recent upgrades (VB mod & suspension).

Was it easy to tell that your timing chain was getting loose? Or was it a really gradual thing? (how many miles on your 95 GLE by the way? Possibly more than my 120k?)