Timing Chain Change...

11964 Views 20 Replies 13 Participants Last post by ksbowhunter, Jun 10, 2010

mouse

Discussion Starter · Mar 1, 2010

So I've been reading about the problems with the plastic timing guides and how they wear out and need replacement on the V6 engines. About a week or so ago I noticed the same timing chain whine and took my truck into the dealer.

I have an 4x4 SE with about 42,000 miles and the dealership so far has claimed they will replace the guides and do an upgraded timing chain as well to prevent this from happening again. They have also agreed to fix everything under warranty.

So with the reading I did on this forum I don't recall their being an upgraded or different chain for this problem. Is this something new? Or did I just look over this?? Also for those of you that have had this done, has your truck stayed trouble free?? Or did you have to replace these guides again a few thousand miles down the road.

I have to admit doing a timing chain at 42,000 miles is tempting me towards finding another truck down the road....

Thanks for your imput..Mouse29

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

Glacier08

· #2 · Mar 1, 2010

Had mine done. Been trouble free for 17k miles or so.

I'm not sure on the upgraded part. I've heard the guides they put in have a different part number than the OEM part. I'm not sure which I have in mine, it was done about a year ago.

Wonder how long the chains are supposed to last to begin with? Timing belts last about 90k on some of the vehicles I've had.

Jeff024

· #3 · Mar 1, 2010

had mine done and 2 times and a new motor put in and now im ready again on the new motor with about 50k on it

rorybellows

· #4 · Mar 1, 2010

i wasnt aware of a different chain. i was just told by my dealer that there were redesigned, so to speak, guides and the same chain, but made with better quality steels. its only been about 1000 miles, so... so far so good

savagehenry

· #5 · Mar 2, 2010

I had mine replaced at 49K and will need to look over the parts list on the ticket, but talking to the service manager I was told that they have an upgraded chain guide. I didn't hear anything about an upgraded chain. Service manager did tell me quietly that the upgraded part is still plastic... so read between the lines. The service manager at the dealership that i use is very helpful to me and doesn't BS me (that much). Amazing what they will do for you if you consistently give them the highest marks on the Nissan survey and let them know you did.

I might be looking for a new truck after another 25K or so just to be safe being that this type of service costs ~$1800.

colin123

· #6 · Mar 2, 2010

the problem was that some of the chains made here in the USA were poorly finished in that the chain links had rough sharp edges on them which ate through the guides very fast and premature. the guides are plastic because tensioners made of anything harder than plastics will cause excessive wear to the chains. so what they are doing is replacing your warn down guides and getting rid of your secondary chains that have rough edges and putting in new ones with smooth nicely finished edges on them so that the guides don't prematurely wear again. there was a post not long ago of an xterra with over 200k miles no check engine lights or timing chain noise. some people will try and say that this stuff should never wear out but don't let them fool you by saying that a timing chain/components should never be replaced cause they are full of crap, they need replacing with time just like belts do only the interval is much longer time for chains. after the work is done you shouldn't even have to think about timing chains for a long time.

See less See more

mouse

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 2, 2010

colin123 said:
the problem was that some of the chains made here in the USA were poorly finished in that the chain links had rough sharp edges on them which ate through the guides very fast and premature. the guides are plastic because tensioners made of anything harder than plastics will cause excessive wear to the chains. so what they are doing is replacing your warn down guides and getting rid of your secondary chains that have rough edges and putting in new ones with smooth nicely finished edges on them so that the guides don't prematurely wear again. there was a post not long ago of an xterra with over 200k miles no check engine lights or timing chain noise. some people will try and say that this stuff should never wear out but don't let them fool you by saying that a timing chain/components should never be replaced cause they are full of crap, they need replacing with time just like belts do only the interval is much longer time for chains. after the work is done you shouldn't even have to think about timing chains for a long time.

I hope this is true, do you work for Nissan you sound as if you might... I realize that timing chains will need replacement at somepart as with any moving part on a vehicle. I guess my worry is going to be having to do this again in another 30-40 thousand miles which is premature.

It would make sense to me that the chain maybe part of the problem and I can understand why the guides might need to be plastic.

Thanks for the replys it always helps to know your not the only one with this problem..

colin123

· #8 · Mar 2, 2010

nope don't work for nissan, would love to though lol. i have over 40k miles on my 07 and did alot of research into the problem, and am pretty familiar with vq motors and motors in general. i had to change the guides and my chains in my z at about 95k miles (when i got the noise) but that thing had alot of hard road course miles and spent alot of time in the mid to high rpm range so i don't really see it as premature considering the driving style and everything. i started researching it when i saw how many people on here were having it really premature and found a statement from nissan tell their techs that the chains need to be replaced when doing the guides since it would seem the quality control in the chain manufacture here in the USA was putting out some chains that were poor in finish (rough sharp edges) and confirmed this with a tech at my local dealer who said on the one job he has had to do for it the chains he removed were noticeably not as smooth to the touch as the new ones going it. if i remember right i think he said the compound of plastic for the guides may have been changed slightly but just by looking at them he said the guide seem to be the same as before. the nissans that are made in japan have not reported this problem of very premature failing of the guides as far as i could find. no one i knew on the z forums has had the problem and i'm thinking its because Zs are made in japan and shipped here so all parts are made in japan to exact specs and i think the outsourced american company making chains for the motors assembled here just didnt' hold up to the specs exactly.

See less See more

mouse

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 4, 2010

Once again thanks for the help guys and I'll let you know how things work out, after the work is done next week.

mouse

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 10, 2010

Hello,

Just got the truck back from having the timing chain and guides replaced at 42,000 miles. It took about 6 1/2 hours of labor and was covered under the 5 yr 60 warranty.

I don't have the part numbers they used on hand, but was told the chain was an upgraded version. The truck appears to drive the same without the whine of the older chain and guides. Economy Nissan in Durango, Colorado preformed the service and so far I'm satisfied with their service. With a labor rate of 85 dollars and hour and just guessing parts would be around 200.00 dollars it would have put me back 800.00 dollars or so......... Yikes!!!

If anyone is interested in the part numbers I can post them later. Just wanted to report my experience.

Clint

· #11 · Mar 10, 2010

Good to hear it's repaired. I think the parts are a bit more than that. Doesn't your receipt have all the parts with numbers on it? Mine did.
It's a year later and the Pathfinder is still purring and think Nissan does take care of things that go bad. At least they always have for me.

Clint

demerito

· #12 · Mar 10, 2010

I hear a rumor that the upgraded chain comes from Borg Warner now - any truth to that?

Interesting side note, I have had a whine since I purchased my truck (Used 2008 LE 15K miles, had it 4 weeks now). The whine was between 2-3k RPM. Now, its been 50 to 60 degrees here in CT (instead of 20 - 30) and the whine has gone away? Think the warmer weather has anything to do with it? Was the whining even a timing chain issue?

I also have a weird noise coming from the passenger side of the vehicle at idle that is driving me nuts.. Ughhhh

Thanks

BluJay

· #13 · May 29, 2010

demerito said:
I also have a weird noise coming from the passenger side of the vehicle at idle that is driving me nuts.. Ughhhh
Thanks

Have you checked your tentioner or the exhaust at all?

My exhaust seems to have "torn itself a new one" all over the place... at low rpm i get a rattle from the muffler on the pass side .. not to mention the holes where the headers join and the slices in the pipe...

So much for the Nismo exhaust lasting more then 50k....:damn:

mm7759

· #14 · May 31, 2010

Mine has recently just started the whine. Do you just take it in and explain the whine? Or will I get the run around and get a "thats normal" a few times first?

5trap

· #15 · Jun 2, 2010

Glacier08 said:
Had mine done. Been trouble free for 17k miles or so.

I'm not sure on the upgraded part. I've heard the guides they put in have a different part number than the OEM part. I'm not sure which I have in mine, it was done about a year ago.

Wonder how long the chains are supposed to last to begin with? Timing belts last about 90k on some of the vehicles I've had.

I had mine changed at 65K. The guide is made of plastic and was mangled. The Nissan replacement part is a different Part No. I should be picking up my truck today or tomorrow.

Just to clarify: the guide is still made of plastic. But has a different OEM Part No. so its not the same as the defective one.

5trap

· #16 · Jun 2, 2010 (Edited)

mm7759 said:
Mine has recently just started the whine. Do you just take it in and explain the whine? Or will I get the run around and get a "thats normal" a few times first?

Tell the dealership that its your tensioner based on the bulletin. If you go in there with some knowledge about the situation they will think twice to try and pull a fast one over you.

Don't get me wrong not all dealerships are shaddy. but I personally took mine in at 30K told them about the whine noise, but I was not aware there was a bulletin on this, and they said everything was fine. I later found out at 65K after the warranty and a more honest dealership that this all was part of a bulletin and covered in warranty but since I'm over the mileage I was S.O.L.

mm7759 said:
Mine has recently just started the whine. Do you just take it in and explain the whine? Or will I get the run around and get a "thats normal" a few times first?

oh Yea forgot to mentioned.... the repair costs $1265.00 at the dealership to change both tensioners/boot, both guides(which is the cause of the whine), and both secondary chains (cam chains)....

mm7759

· #17 · Jun 2, 2010

5trap said:
Tell the dealership that its your tensioner based on the bulletin. If you go in there with some knowledge about the situation they will think twice to try and pull a fast one over you.

Don't get me wrong not all dealerships are shaddy. but I personally took mine in at 30K told them about the whine noise, but I was not aware there was a bulletin on this, and they said everything was fine. I later found out at 65K after the warranty and a more honest dealership that this all was part of a bulletin and covered in warranty but since I'm over the mileage I was S.O.L.

oh Yea forgot to mentioned.... the repair costs $1265.00 at the dealership to change both tensioners/boot, both guides(which is the cause of the whine), and both secondary chains (cam chains)....

5trap....thanks for the info! I will try to get this taken care of in the next few weeks. I'll let you all know how it works out.

dnvrnismo

· #18 · Jun 8, 2010

08 Owner

Glacier08 said:
Had mine done. Been trouble free for 17k miles or so.

I'm not sure on the upgraded part. I've heard the guides they put in have a different part number than the OEM part. I'm not sure which I have in mine, it was done about a year ago.

Wonder how long the chains are supposed to last to begin with? Timing belts last about 90k on some of the vehicles I've had.

Glacier you are the first person that I have read about with an 08-10 that had Timing Chain problems. At what mileage did the problem develop? I also have an 08 and I was hoping that after three years of manufacture the problem would have been taken care of. Also I live in Aurora CO and I was wondering what dealer you took your vehicle to and did they seem like they knew what was going on.

ksbowhunter

· #19 · Jun 8, 2010

I had mine done last week. I asked specificly if they upgraded the parts and the confermed that the chains and the tensoners have been upgraded.

dnvrnismo

· #20 · Jun 9, 2010

ksbowhunter said:
I had mine done last week. I asked specificly if they upgraded the parts and the confermed that the chains and the tensoners have been upgraded.

What I'm wondering is when were the chain and tensioners upgraded on the new vehicles coming from the factory? If they in fact have been. Also were you able to view the new parts versus the old?

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.