how do you know when you're timing belt is going? or does is just die? are there any signs

 

timming chain, is what we have. i have read that they last for 200,000

 

thanks....200,000 huh? hopefully that's true then, but everyone always tells me when they find out that i have a nissan to watch for the timing (belt) chain? didn't know though.

 

Older Nissans had belts that were prone to breaking (wife had a 300zx that was changed about every 30K after she hit 100K miles). That may be what people are talking about.

 

Well anyone drove 200,000 miles yet on their max? I'd still like to know what are the signs to watch out for that indicates your timing chain is about to go? I'm sure if the chain breaks on you while driving the car (just like other cars) your engine is destroyed.

 

I had almost that much on my 4th gen. No problems. My 1st gen Datsun Z had a timing chain. No problems with that even after many hard miles.
Actually, I've never heard of a timing chain breaking. Has anyone here ever seen one completely break?

 

Although people complain about nissan's tranny being weak and stuff, but you gotta love Nissan's engines.

 

I had 177,000 on my 94 and it had a belt. Same belt for evey mile. Never broke.

 

I seen a 95 Max GXE 5spd with 372K miles on it coming into Nissan for service, it had a original timing chain, the water pump started to leak at around 260K miles and was repleaced. Our engines have 3 chains, keep your engine in top shape and the chain will outlast your whole car. I don't know if this Maxima is still around or not, but I wouldn't fear a high mile VQ as long as it had oil changed, air filter, PCV valve and good plugs in it all the time. Its a pretty low maintenance engine, especially the 00-01s with the new style injectors that go out very seldom, vs the older saturated injectors in the 95-99 Maximas.

 

Timing chains do not break unless you are drag racing the car. Even then you are more prone to damaging the drive sprockets before the chain. A timing belt service interval is typically 60K miles. Confusing the two is where the problem lies.

 

Timing chains do not break from drag racing, road racing is WAY harder on a engine with its latteral Gs and constant braking and accelerating, why do you think all JGTC Nissan cars run chains ? They are more reliable than the belt. Timing belts on Hondas, Nissans and Toyotas is 90K miles, cheap cars like domestics and other cheap **** need belts at 60K miles, if its a GM I wouldn't even wanna risk driving 60K miles on the original timing belt- especially the 3.4L DOHC V6 found in Z34s, Pontiac GTPs, Olds KUTAS Suppreme.