Timing belt question

[Z31toZ32]

hey guys i have a 99 qx4 i picked up a few years ago with 95k miles. when i pop the hood, i notice that there is a yellow "gates timing belt" sticker slapped onto a flat surface close to the piece that will hold the hood up. the sticker has a few lines to record the date/mileage of the last change, but they are blank.

my question is, is this an original sticker from the factory? i cant find any records for a timing belt change, and i am hoping that the sticker was NOT from the factory, indicating that yes it has been replaced, but with unknown mileage on it. if that's the case, i could make the assumption that it was done around 75-90k.

thanks.

[NismoPick]

My 97 QX4 has a metal plate sticker under the hood with "timing belt changed at 110xxx miles" engraved on it. Common practice for shops to do so. If yours is blank, they probably wrote on it with marker that has since been rubbed / washed off. You can check the condition of the belt yourself by taking off the accessory belts (good to check as well), and open one of the timing covers.

[Leo1998]

If I go that route and take the timing cover off will I be able to tell the difference between an old belt and a new one?

[madison]

I just replaced a timing belt on my 99' Pathfinder. First, gates belts are not OEM. they are marked clearly that they are gates belts and w/ (probably) few miles the marking should be clearly visible, therefor you're probably good to go for 70K ore 80K more! The belt I took off mine was an OEM Nissan belt and marked as such (dimly) It will take a few hours to remove everything necessary to determine things , but you'll know. If you do it you can take the opportunity to replace some hard to get to parts. ie thermostat, bi-pass hoses, and maybe some belts that are getting ready to go. Hate to think that someone would s*** you by putting a false tag, but I'm sure it happens

[Leo1998]

curious, at what mileage did you replace yours?

[Z31toZ32]

thanks for all the responses. im going to assume that it was done at an unknown mileage at some point in time since the gates sticker isnt stock. ill try and take off some covers to have a look at the condition of the belt as soon as the weather turns. anyway kind of a follow up question... on my z, it is also an interference engine. ive never heard of the belt itself snapping on the 300zx, but actually the idler pulleys that tighten the belt will snap, and then the entire thing will fall off the track. is that the same as the qx4, or will the belt itself snap? ramey z has developed a reinforced idler pulley stud that is pretty popular and is pretty much standard for any enthusiast. is there a similar product for the qx4?

[Leo1998]

I would be interested in knowing this too, thanks Z31toZ32.

[atraudes]

I don't have any specific discussions to cite, but everything I remember reading here regarding timing belt catastrophe is that the belt breaks, not the idler pulley(s).