whoever told you that chains dont ever need to be replaced should be shot in the arse with rocksalt. just look at any number of 2nd gen trucks, mine included after only 32000 miles. i know thats a different situation but still. anyway, if it is indeed a belt i would go ahead and have it swapped out. but 750 bucks sounds like alot of cash. are you not mechanically inclined? it should be a fairly easy job. more time consuming than anything. if its a chain, wouldnt hurt to get it looked at i suppose.
When did Nissan switch from Belts to Chains?
So I think there has been some miscommunication between the guy who sold me my truck ('99 Frontier KC 4x4 with 127k), his dealer, me, and my mechanic. According to the original dealer and the guy who sold me the truck, it has a timing chain that "never" needs to be replaced. According to a lot of the forum posts, some of the 1st gens have timing belts and some have chains. According to my mechanic, my truck has a timing belt that has never been replaced that I should probably get done for $750.
My question is, when did Nissan switch the Frontiers to timing chains? I think the new ones have chains, but did all the first gens have belts? Or just certain years? I don't want my mechanic pulling apart the motor to find out that nothing needs to be done.
My question is, when did Nissan switch the Frontiers to timing chains? I think the new ones have chains, but did all the first gens have belts? Or just certain years? I don't want my mechanic pulling apart the motor to find out that nothing needs to be done.
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I would consider doing this myself as long as I knew for certain whether or not there was a belt or a chain in my truck.
Also I have never timed an engine before, and am not certain I want to risk my engine on trying this one out.
Also I have never timed an engine before, and am not certain I want to risk my engine on trying this one out.
well if you feel confident enough, download a factory nissan service and repair manual. very helpful. i hear ya on the not wanting to blow your motor up. its actually pretty easy if you follow the insructions
if your truck is a first gen with a v6 then you have a belt and you should definitely get it changed soon if youre a 4cyl. i believe you have a chain, but dont hold me to it
six cylinder is a belt, four cylinder is a chain
the chain will likely outlast the service life of the vehicle. belt needs changed asap
the chain will likely outlast the service life of the vehicle. belt needs changed asap
Yeah it's the XE-V6 model Frontier with the 3.3L. And I was looking at this thread
http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f46/timing-belt-3-3-v6-41630/
and it looks like to do the timing all that has to be done is to line up all of the gears to their appropriate marks. Doing the labor myself would save me around $500 I'm pretty sure, so it is very tempting.
http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f46/timing-belt-3-3-v6-41630/
and it looks like to do the timing all that has to be done is to line up all of the gears to their appropriate marks. Doing the labor myself would save me around $500 I'm pretty sure, so it is very tempting.
i'm not sure what a six cylinder looks like as far as access to the work area. but beyond that it really is quite simple for a backyard mechanicYeah it's the XE-V6 model Frontier with the 3.3L. And I was looking at this thread
http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f46/timing-belt-3-3-v6-41630/
and it looks like to do the timing all that has to be done is to line up all of the gears to their appropriate marks. Doing the labor myself would save me around $500 I'm pretty sure, so it is very tempting.
it's a good opportunity to replace the water pump & belts too
^yep yep if you dont feel comfortable find a friend that is more mechanicly inclined to help you out.
Whether you do it yourself or have someone do it, I wouldn't put it off, it needs done ASAP.
This would be a good place to learn a life lesson: Get the maintenance history when you buy a used car. 
Absolutely whenever you can, I buy and sell a lot of older BMW's and the first thing I do on them is belt, tensioner, water pump, even if I get any kind of service records. Cheap Insurance!This would be a good place to learn a life lesson: Get the maintenance history when you buy a used car.
how does your mechanic know the belt has never been changed?
I'd do the belt water pump tensioner pulley and serpentine belt just for cheep insurance
chains dont need changing. whoever told you they didnt need to be changed is correct.
guides, tensioners, need changing. but chains for the most part, is a better move.
you should only need to attend to it around every 100k. but nissan ****ed up a little on the 2nd gens.
this is why i like push rod.
guides, tensioners, need changing. but chains for the most part, is a better move.
you should only need to attend to it around every 100k. but nissan ****ed up a little on the 2nd gens.
this is why i like push rod.
My mechanic only guessed that the belt needed changing because there were no telltale signs that anything had been worked on. The bolts weren't scratched and the clips on the hoses in that area look like they have never been removed. He did tell me there's no way to tell, but from the looks of it it hadn't been.
Does the tensioner definitely need to be replaced? What is involved with this?
Does the tensioner definitely need to be replaced? What is involved with this?
it deff has a belt. i replaced mine at 100,000. time consuming but not really difficult. i think theirs a rite up on here. good luck
I have a Timing belt on mine (2000 with a 3.3 V6). just had it replaced on mine. but it wast fast enough. about 2 weeks ago i had the belt break while i was driving. i was lucky enough that nothing happen, and nothing broke or was bent. Getting charged $750 for just the belt is crazy. I had mine done for $650, but they also replaced the water pump and all the serpentine belts as well.
there is one difficult part. the bolt on the crank shaft can be a bear to break loose without an impact. the engine just rotates otherwise..it deff has a belt. i replaced mine at 100,000. time consuming but not really difficult. i think theirs a rite up on here. good luck
btw, I think 99 was the last year they offered a 4x4 with a 4 cyl.
Also be aware, that a special puller may be needed to get the crank pulley off according to the article on here. Call around to some Nissan dealers on pricing. They do it all the time and you know it will be done right.
I had the timing belt, tensioner, water pump, all drive belts, hoses, cam seals and crank seal all replaced. $725 from Nissan Dealer.
Here's a parts list if you do it yourself:
http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f46/parts-list-timing-belt-water-pump-replacment-52798/
http://www.courtesyparts.com/fronti...nance/timing-belt-kits/-c-2129_7649_7650.html
I had the timing belt, tensioner, water pump, all drive belts, hoses, cam seals and crank seal all replaced. $725 from Nissan Dealer.
Here's a parts list if you do it yourself:
http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f46/parts-list-timing-belt-water-pump-replacment-52798/
http://www.courtesyparts.com/fronti...nance/timing-belt-kits/-c-2129_7649_7650.html
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
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