1995 Maxima HELP

I have a 1995 Nissan Maxima. My daughter drove the car, parked it and when she tried to start it in the am, it would not start. It just keep turning over with no spark. I was told by one shop that the motor had to be replaced as the timing belt was gone and it was a zero tollerance motor, when another shop told me that it was NOT a zero tollerance motor and the engine was not damaged. I was quoted a price of $750. to replace the time belt. Now my question is; is it a zero tollerance motor or not. Is that a good price quoted to me for fixing the time belt or not? This is through a mechanic that quoted me the price to fix it not a car dealership. I am confussed. does that sound normal to shut off the car at night and not have it start in the am. The belt is still attached to the motor. Should it not be broke? Help.

Reply to
Franny
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it's junk, scrap it and go buy anouther piece of crap.

Reply to
oldcarfart

These Timing Belts made a fortune for the car companies. First thing to ask is if the car your buying has one? If the salesman says they last about 65,000 run

If they go while driving, everything inside the engine can fail. Look for a car with either a chain drive timming belt or direct gearing.

BG

Reply to
Bill Glass

this just jogged something in my head... was wondering, is an R1 an interference engine or does it become one after installing, say, a higher lift cam? I know they have aluminum timing gears so hopefully it will never be an issue.

just curious,

nate

Bill Glass wrote:

Reply to
N8N

If its an 'interference' engine, a broken timing belt can indeed destroy the engine. But if its not; where the piston at the topmost position does not make contact with a valve that's fully open, you should be all right.

Craig

Reply to
studebaker8

If it is an interferance engine you would hear clattering in the engine as you turn it over if the belt is really broken. How do you know the belt is broken. Did a shop actually inspect it or are they just diagnosing it over the phone? On some cars you can see the camshafts when you take the cap off the oil fill. If you can see this round shaft inside there, see if it turns while the engine is being cranked. The belts that drive the cams are not visible from the outside without removing some covers, If it just won't start it could be either ignition or a fuel problem.

Reply to
Alex Magdaleno

Bill, With all respect I disagree with "Look for a car with either a chain drive timming belt or direct gearing." as that will end the problem. I have had direct gearing and chain drive fail. In fact the last one I had fail was a 170 Champ engine. I have never had a timing belt fail. L.D.

Bill Glass wrote:

Reply to
L.D.

Ever see the "chain" in a 56J? Along with the cockeroach they will still be around after humans become extinct. One of our neighbors had her timing belt let go at 60 mph. Had to replace the engine, seems some parts keep going while others stop, things got bent, and things broke.

On our 47 Cmdr Starlight Coupe I decided to replace the timing gear, bought a new one, and when I compared the two, new to one that had 65K miles there was no difference.

BG

Reply to
Bill Glass

Reply to
L.D.

Well, I'm kind of puzzled why you posted a Nissan question to a Studebaker group; but... You can get the straight goods on whether or not it is an "interference engine" (not "zero-tolerance engine) by going to the Gates Rubber website You will have to know WHICH engine is in the car; there should be a service sticker under the hood that gives the engine I.D. number.

Timing belts CAN fail in that mode. If badly worn, the teeth on the inner side can get scrubbed off for a short distance. It can happen as the engine is shut down, and kicks back a bit as it rocks to stop. You find out when you go to start it. Usually the bad spot will be found where goes around the crankshaft pulley, because it will reach that point, and the crank pulley stops driving it.

If you can SEE the belt where it goes around the top pulley, have a helper try to start the car while you watch. Hands clear!! If the belt and upper pulley move smoothly, the belt is probably OK, and your problem lies elsewhere. If it moves jerkily, or not at all, you've found the problem. If it's NOT an interference engine, changing the belt should not cost much more than about $250, IMHO. If it is an interference engine, the higher estimate is close to the mark, I believe.

Do have a mechanic or trusted friend with some mechanical aptitude take a look at it. There are a multitude of possible causes for a no-start problem, and many of them are not as serious as a timing belt.

Gord Richmond

Reply to
Gordon Richmond

Thing wheighs about 10 to 12 lbs, is only about 20 inches, but made up of bike chain like links, but thousands of them. When I rebuilt the engine I asked Tony Caralla to get me a NOS one........... he laughed at me. He said in all his years selling partts he never heard of one failing and would not know where to get one. After the engine was rebuilt, the shop said that there was no slop in it and it wasn't easy getting it back on.

Everything should be built like that

Reply to
Bill Glass

the car;

the bad spot

should not

higher estimate

Thank you for the info. For some reason, I think that the mechanic is over- charging me. I am a women of no knowledge on any motor. I only know to put the key in the starter and turn the ignation to get it started. thanks so much for your help. I have printed your response and will be there when I request that he try and start the engine. Regards, Franny

Reply to
Franny via CarKB.com

That is interesting. I'm building an Isetta engine right now. The timing chain on it looks like like a bicycle chain right down to the master link.I don't know it a bike chain would but looks like it would. Nothing heavy duty about it, it looks like regular bike chain. It does have a tensioner to keep it from flopping. L.D.

Bill Glass wrote:

Reply to
L.D.

group; but...

the car;

the bad spot

that point,

not at all,

belt should not

higher estimate

them are not

First line of defense is to know when the last time the belt was changed. Most older cars are every 60,000 miles but newer models are around 90,000 miles. Timing belt is part of major maintenance which if followed per the manufacturer recommendations will be a vehicle that will last several hundred thousand miles...

JT

Reply to
Grumpy AuContraire

The '99 Daewoo I drive came to me post timing belt failure

Did a head job, new timing belt, it was fine for the next 60,000 (450.00 parts)

Changed the timing belt, have another 10K on it.

p.d.

snipped-for-privacy@shaw.ca wrote:

Reply to
Oujdeivß

The "usual" damage consists of a couple of bent valves. Key is to change the belt as the mfg recommends. This is a relatively easy job on my Civic FE but the more modern tin is more complex because the engine is "burried" in other components.

JT

Oujdeivß wrote:

Reply to
Grumpy AuContraire

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