Hi Everyone,
The water pump has gone bad on my 96 Maxima with 130,000 miles. So with that in mind what other parts should I replace "while im in there"? I don't care much about pinching pennies, so if there are other parts that should be done now , I will do them. I have read that the timing chain tensioner can be an issue on 96's? Is the tensioner that Nissan sells an updated part? How about chain guides? Let the ideas flow......


Thanks,
Zack

 

When you do the water you dont have to replace anything else.. timing tensoiner can be replace easy if you feel like its bad or getting there,but the guide and all that **** u talking about is a complete timing job dog that job is not an easy job believe it or not and u only have a small amount of clearance to do this just do the water and leave the thing along man unless they bad which i douth...

 

If u got the coin. I wd replace the chain tensioner. U have to remove it to get slack in the chain anyways. I say replace it. 96 tensioner is the older model prone to failure. Jus read the how-to, it will tell u what shd be replace.

DOnt worry about the chain guides.

 

Thanks.....Is the tensioner that I would get from Nissan an updated part, thereby being better than the one currently on my 96?

Zack

 

yup. from nissan.

 

Yea i just replaced my WP yesterday pain in my a** lol, but i put in the new tensioner and she runs like a beaut. so i agree with everyone else on this

 

if you're doing a water pump then also think about changing the coolant, belts, hoses and t-stat.

 

do tensioner...like everyone else said...your car will feel much better

 

i changed the pump but removed the engine from the car i changed motor mounts hard to reach sensores that lookt crusty the timing tensoiner ugly fuel lines vacum lines ...and this is just me but i regret not changing the oil pump because 2 wees later i had to change the oil pump 2

but for a normal water pump job change the tensoiner

 

How long did it take to remove the engine?

 

So the timing chain tensioner is different/updated in later year 4th gens? Would a 98 have an updated tensioner in it already?

 

i belive its only on 95-96

 

im replacing my waterpump now. i am using a haynes book. they tell me to remove the slack I push in the tensioner and back off the crank 20 degrees. i did all this and I cant get the pump out. not enough slack to get over teeth

 

Hold on a minute, did you just replace the tensioner without the updated guide? Is this an approved and safe method?

 

Found the waterpump maintenance thread wow did that help. You take the tensioner right off. I love this org!

 

How do you know if the tensioner is bad?

 

Well the problem for the 95's and 96's is that the tensioner that is available from Nissan is the updated part, that comes with one new chain guide as well. In order to replace the guide, the side cover of the engine must come off (according to the shop that did my car) and that adds major labor to the job. You can't use the new tensioner with an original guide, and you can't purchase an "old" style tensioner any longer. So on my car they cleaned up the original tensioner, and reused it. I returned the new tensioner and guide to Nissan.


Zack

 

Usually a rattle sound at start-up from the pass side of the engine.

Zack

 

That sucks. Timing chain guide work is wicked expensive. Prolly cheaper to replace engine.