Timing belt - DYI or get a pro ?

[SkyKing]

First, I gotta tell you how great it is to find J30 enthusiasts like yourselves. I thought I was the only nutcase out there that liked the car and its style.

My question is, should I attempt to replace the timing belt myself or have a pro do it? The Firestone dealer said he could do the job for $350. I have a very basic level of knowledge of engines and can certainly replace a fan belt but a timing belt worries me. My concern is the level of complexity and how much of the car I'd have to take apart to get to the belt.

BTW - the my pride and joy is a '97 with 103k.

Thx ahead of time for any advice you can offer.

[yodawill2000]

If your getting the TBelt changed Its strongly advised to replace the water pump, Thermostat, and all the tensioner pulleys while you in there.

If you have the tools it can be done .Heres a how too. Takes awhile for the pics to load so be patient.

zerothread?id=198122

Oh yeah ..Welcome to NICO !!!

[Ebbtide]

First, I gotta tell you how great it is to find J30 enthusiasts like yourselves. I thought I was the only nutcase out there that liked the car and its style.

My question is, should I attempt to replace the timing belt myself or have a pro do it? The Firestone dealer said he could do the job for $350. I have a very basic level of knowledge of engines and can certainly replace a fan belt but a timing belt worries me. My concern is the level of complexity and how much of the car I'd have to take apart to get to the belt.

BTW - the my pride and joy is a '97 with 103k.

Thx ahead of time for any advice you can offer.

I have a 97 w/ 140k and it's never been changed. I worry every day. I might just have a shop change the belt if hey charge 350.00, I love the J, but like a dog, sometimes you can't spend $1200.00 on it.

First, I gotta tell you how great it is to find J30 enthusiasts like yourselves. I thought I was the only nutcase out there that liked the car and its style.

My question is, should I attempt to replace the timing belt myself or have a pro do it? The Firestone dealer said he could do the job for $350. I have a very basic level of knowledge of engines and can certainly replace a fan belt but a timing belt worries me. My concern is the level of complexity and how much of the car I'd have to take apart to get to the belt.

BTW - the my pride and joy is a '97 with 103k.

Thx ahead of time for any advice you can offer.

It depends on how much you like to gamble with your car. My 97 has over 140k miles and I worry about the belt breaking every day. I suppose I would spend 350 to get it replaced if I could find that price.

If the water pump or other stuff go, I can handle that and still be cheaper than what the shop would normally charge. I love my J, but if another dreamy car comes along I'd sell it faster than I can say "yes, this it just had the timing belt, water pump, and tensioner replaced." (I guess that would mean nobody here should be coming to look at...hehe.)

IF you got money and don't have a back up plan for when it goes down, pay to get it fixed. Otherwise, I'd say safeguard the belt, screw the rest until it needs it. You could drive it for another 80k miles before that happens, and I've never put that kind miles on any car.

[SkyKing]

Thanks guys, I really apreciate it.

It was a great write up and just enough detail to make me turn chicken and let a pro do it.

Replacing the water pump and thermo while the timing belt work is being done is a great idea and I'll have them do that also.

Thanks again!!!

[misfit6794]

Only 350? Its not that hard but there's alot of stuff to get out of the way, that price seems way too low. Chances are it will start going up once he has gotten halfway through.

Its really not that hard to do yourself. THe worst thing is the stupid hex bolts that nissan decided to use on the timing belt cover. Its really really easy to strip them. I ended up drilling out like 4 of them. The other thing that gave me the most trouble was the thermostat housing. Its more just getting to the belt itself than anything else.

[mrjdaddy]

HEY GUYSCAN SOMEONE TELL ME IF I CAN ADVANCE THE TIMEING ON MY J 30IT SEEM TO HAVE LOST ACCELLORATION POWERAND IT JUMPED TIME BEFORE THIS STARTED

[Q45tech]

For ecu to work as designed the cam angle sensor should be 15 +-2 degrees follow proceedure in your copy of FSM. Be sure coolant is hot at operating temperature and idle speed is correct.

[mrjdaddy]

mr q45im new to fixing my car due to bad shopspleaseexplain to grasshopper what is the ecuis there any pictures to look at or diagrams

[gr8scott72]

HEY GUYSCAN SOMEONE TELL ME IF I CAN ADVANCE THE TIMEING ON MY J 30IT SEEM TO HAVE LOST ACCELLORATION POWERAND IT JUMPED TIME BEFORE THIS STARTED

Tell us more about it jumping time. This is an interference engine meaning the valves will collide with the pistons if it jumps time. If that's the case, your engine could be toast.

[mrjdaddy]

it has getup and go for about a mile or twowhen i first start her up then it seems like when she is warmed up i have to put the petal tothe metalit gets up to speed on the highway yethas slow take offs

[gr8scott72]

it has getup and go for about a mile or twowhen i first start her up then it seems like when she is warmed up i have to put the petal tothe metalit gets up to speed on the highway yethas slow take offs

Sounds like a knock sensor problem to me.

[Victor]

I have 192,000 miles on my J30T right now. The next timing belt change is due at 205,000 miles. With this many miles on a 14 year old car is it worth spending the money when the time comes or should I chance it and keep driving until it breaks. Someone mentioned having 140,000 miles on his original belt, which if the belt I now have went that long would probably put the car near the end of its useful life.

[yodawill2000]

How many miles on the TBelt you have now Victor ?The Kevlar belt is good for at least 105 K