can this be true. I thought that my VTCs were ticking but I took it to this shop and they said it sounded like it was 2 lifters that were going bad, he called up a nissan dealer and they said that it was going to be $29 per lifter so I went on and paid for 12 lifters to be replaced (all 12 on the front) they had to order them so it took about 5 days for them to get there.

between now and then I told the guy that I wanted all of the old lifters. I have to drop the car off so I cant be there and just to make sure they replaced all 12 and not just the bad ones I wanted the old ones, I didnt tell him thats why I wanted them.

well now he calls me the day before I bring my car in and says that they sent him the wrong stuff and the $29 was the price for whatever they sent (I know he ordered lifters because I was there when he called and ordered them so I do think it was nissans mistake) but now they say its going to be $58 per lifter! that would be almost $700 in parts thats crazy. I wanted to ask if $58 per lifter from nissan sounds like alot of money, do you think this guy is trying to screw me? I really wouldnt beleve what he said but I was there when he was on the phone ordering the parts and he repeated everything the persone on the other line was saying. he told the guy that he needed 12 lifters for my engine and the guy said it was going to be $29 per lifter.

what do you all think, does this sound a little shady?

 

sounds to me like this guy doesn't really know what's going on

a LOT of people incorrectly diagnose VTC noise as sticky lifters if they're not familiar with VE engines

 

great, lol. is there any way that I can tell if its my VTCs?

 

http://internetautomart.com/maxima/3rdgen/ve30de.html

 

WOW thats cheap! are these OEM parts?

 

All of brian's replacement parts are oem spec...

 

OK first go to Craigs site. See how to ground the VTCs. If the noise goes away you have VTC problems. If it doesnt you could have a lifter tick or really bad VTCs that dont quit.

not saying its not a lifter but 9 times out of 10 its going to be VTC.

and yes that price is correct. On nissanparts.cc they list the lifter for $44.68 but their "list price" before discount is $58.63.

 

Yes, list price is $58 each.
http://www.nissanparts.cc/cart/?pn=1...x=0&submit.y=0

Do what Mike said to check your engine.. If you do indeed need new HYDRAULIC LASH ADJUSTERS (our engines don't have lifters. they have lash adjusters and roller rockers that run off the cams and directly push on the valves. the 'lifters' are only there as pivot points to control valve lash and do not move. eventually they might mash down and make a bit of noise, but generally you can restore them by sticking them in a bucket of oil and bleed the air out of them and reinstall.

If you STILL need some, shoot me an email. I just rebuilt an engine and have a full set left out of my old engine.. matt_at_mattblehm.com

 

hey thanks for your help! I will try and ground my VTCs and see what that does. if I still hear the ticking then I will go on and let the guy replace the lifters. Matt93SE, If I end up having another shop doing the work then I will PM you about the ones that you have.

 

Just for the record, you DO experience some power loss when you ground out the VTC's, correct? I have a 94 se auto that has been clacking for about a year, and I'm thinking about grounding mine as well, but am concerned about power loss.

 

keeping in mind I haven't seen or heard the engine, I'd still bet on VTC's. Regardless, might as well rebuild them since you'd have to remove the cams to gain access to the "lifters" anyway.

 

Hahah so let me get this straight....
he said the price was going to be $29 dollars each.

Then, when you told him you wanted the old set back, he conveniently found out that the price is $58 dollars each.

I'm no genious, but if I'm not mistaken 2 x 29 = 58.
Hahaha. Thats just a little TOO convenient for me. He's probably not even going to put any lifters in there and just wanted to make some money off you.

 

Here's a title in the General Maintainance section above for: VTC TSBs and info. This section has the technical service bulletins that describe the checking procedure for VTC noise. It also may turn out to be a bad tiiming chain tensioner.