2000 QX4 Engine Failure HELP !

[chorse]

I own 2 2000 QX4's which were both purchased used. One of which had about 125K when I had the dealer go over it to see if it had a steering issue or anything else wrong with it in July. They checked it and told me that I needed front struts and a power steering pump because mine wasn't quite right - it was working but not perfectly and should be replaced. Fine. "What about the timing belt"? I asked at the service desk (knowing that 120K meant it should have a change). My guy went and checked with some other guy and came back and said that 2000 infiniti's do not have timing belts but chains and I did not have to worry about it. I went home and did the happy dance with my husband because we were not going to have to pay for timing belts on our 2 QX4s. Yeah! Fast forward to last Friday when I am driving 55 on a rural highway and it suddenly de-celerates funny then goes thump thump thump and starts failing fast. I had 2 little kids in the back so I pulled into a farm yard where it died and wouldn't restart although it had power. Great.

So, have it towed to a mechanic who says that the timing is certainly off by one but didn't get the harmonic balancer off to do a full visual. Dealer tows it and tells me that the timing belt is fine because there is tension but they haven't removed the harmonic balancer either yet. The first guy says that because it is an intereference engine, belt slip or a missing tooth or a skip could cause engine damage. I say the dealer should have changed the belt back in July. Does anyone know what this could be? Any experience with this anyone? Yes, I searched already. Thanks

[Buzzman]

I own 2 2000 QX4's which were both purchased used.
"What about the timing belt"? I asked at the service desk (knowing that 120K meant it should have a change).
My guy went and checked with some other guy and came back and said that 2000 infiniti's do not have timing belts but chains and I did not have to worry about it.
I say the dealer should have changed the belt back in July.

I'd be fighting this one as hard as I could if I were you.
If the dealer told you that the 2000 models don't have timing belts, then they are idiots, and should be forced to pay for a new engine.
It was the 2001 and up models, with the new VQ35 engine, that have a chain (that doesn't need replacing.)
You were obviously concerned at the time of purchase, and were willing to pay to have the belts replaced, but they talked you out of it, so they should bear 100% of the responsibility.
Keep us informed, and good luck.

[chorse]

To be clear, this QX4 was not purchased at this dealer but from a private party. I was having this dealer take over the servicing of it however and I did buy the other QX4 from this dealer which now has 150K on it and hasn't had a belt change that I know of which means I could have lost 2 engines based on their service desk statement. I will but I don't have anything in writing but I know that I did my due dilligence and asked them about it and was given bad information that resulted in the complete loss of a car!

[Buzzman]

Either way, you got bad advice from the dealer....they should have known better.
I don't blame you for being p.o.'d. I know I would be.
As for the second truck, get it done ASAP.
Maybe you can swing a deal and have them do it for free as compensation for screwing you up.
In a way, it's too bad the engine didn't blow on the one you bought at the dealer.