01 QX4 Maint. Question

[am350z]

Need some help from you guys. I have a 01 QX4 with 130k on it. We purchased it with 30k. Since then the only things I have done is regular oil, brakes, fluids and the drive belt at 60k and routine service at dealer. Now that is getting up there in miles I want to make sure everything is tiptop shape. I am pretty handy with tools but have not gotten into auto stuff yet.

What should I replace? I know timing belt. Anything else? Plugs? What would easy-moderate difficulty for me to do to try and save some dough. It is running great currently. Every once in awhile get a belt squel.

Thanks

Also proud owner of 06 Pathfinder LE!
Modified by am350z at 5:22 PM 12/11/2007

[SnowSurfLax]

I believe you have a timing chain which never needs replacing. I would have a 120K tune up done. Other than that, I can't think of anything that needs to be done.

[am350z]

Do you know whats all in the 120k tune up? MORE COW BELL!! Would you do plugs?

[03Chillinkoot]

i believe replacing the plugs is part of the tune up, and i think a throttle body cleaning is part of it as well. Have you had the belts and fluids replaced anytime after 60K? If not it may be time to do that again.

[am350z]

So I should:Replace PlugsChange FluidsChange Timing chainClean throttle body

Any of that easy enough to do on your own? I think I have the sevice manual somewhere.

[03Chillinkoot]

Everything except the timing chain, that never needs replacing. The rest is pretty simple to do. I've never replaced my plugs so i don't really no whats involved, i think some people have had to remove the intake manifold collector. if you feel like crawling underneath ur qx4 to replace the diff,tranfer and trans fluid you can also do that. the throttle body is simple, but if yours has the drive-by-wire system i recomened NOT touching it, if it has two cables hooked up to it then jsut get some throttle body cleaner a toothbrush and clean away. Have fun.

[Andrew224]

Don't forget filters! Engine air filter is really easy and is about $9 and also the in-cabin air filter will need to be replaced which is very doable and will run you about $20 (which is about $80 less than the dealer will charge).

I posted the instructions on how to replace the in-cabin air filter in another post about replacing the fan control amp. (just leave the electrical parts alone, i.e. steps 4-6).

zerothread/289709

I don't know your experience / skill level so if you need help with the engine air filter location, let me know... About two months ago I helped a buddy with his '02 QX4 with about 70K miles which was having a climate control issue (blower motor would not turn on). After asking him a few questions, I learned that besides oil changes, he had never done ANY other maintenance. YIKES! I immediately gave his entire truck a once over. He had never even had the engine air filter changed and had no idea where it was or how to do it himself. Even worse... he had owned the truck since new! He thought it was just b.s. servicing that the dealer would push that was unnecessary. Same went for the in-cabin air filter. I've never seen such filthy filters! The in-cabin air filter was so dirty that it might have been a contributing factor to why the fan control amp. went out (hot electrical part with no air flow over it due to the clogged filter). Mind-blowing! Sometimes car people forget that most people (even guys) have no idea how their car works or what is under the hood. (I got my truck with 29k miles on it and I'm almost 100% sure that the filters in the truck were the factory originals and I thought that was bad!)

BTW, sometimes my belt squeals too when I start the car and it's cold out (but that's only for about 1/2 a second).

Andrew

[mda185]

You should include flushing and changing the anti-freeze when changing fluids. Most people don't do this and anti-freeze/water mix in an engine should probably be changed every two years. The anti-corrosion additives break down over time and the radiator and engine coolant passages get all kinds of deposits that reduce cooling efficiency.