Timing belt reliability

[Z31toZ32]

My DD is a 99Qx4, 145k on the clock. I’ve got a goal of 200k before I start looking for something new. I’ll drive it about 10k a year.

I know (hope) the belt was changed by a previous owner (I bought it with 95k) as there is a timing belt sticker that was popped that is not factory. Problem is the previous owner provided no records on the change and there is no mileage or date on it, so I’m in the dark.

Based on your experience with the Q timing belt, is this something I should really get done or at this point would it be better to just roll the dice and keep going driving?

[MisterH]

The factory specified timing belt service interval is 105k. It would be rather unusual if the previous owner changed it much earlier than that simply because most people tend to delay expensive services as long as they can. However, if yours has a sticker indicating it was done than you should be OK past 200K. One thing that tends to shorten the life timing belts is oil leaking onto them.

[PathyPop]

Ask a Nissan dealer to run your vin for the service history - might get lucky and turn up a record. Also, if you can remove a cover you might see the maker of the belt to see if it is not the oem mfg. If you are keeping it until 200k miles it still wouldn't be bad if you did it sooner rather than later anyway, especially if you can do that kind of work yourself, then it's not very expensive at all.

[macgiver]

mac, try all those previous tips and LASTLY covers sometimes are not that big a deal to remove for a look at it by an experienced mechanic - I know obviosly a "matching receipt" is good substantiating evidence to a kind of vague visual inspection. But visually cranking - w/ no start WILL show defects like hardening ,cracking, threading -out & oil leakage onto belt etc.
My VG30DE (J30) motor did 110k = first belt (@ Dealer) then 150k 2nd belt( @260kmi) replaced and both were surprisingly intact , first had virtually no symptoms - 2nd time the cams got "Noisy -slap happy"whearas one exp. mechanic thought motor BAD. ( my cam face is "mirror-like") After the new belt and 3 pulleys, motor was quiet- almost "Factory" , good - solid power,Hi-rev w/ confidence etc.

[Z31toZ32]

thanks for the follow up fellas.

[TopGun4570]

I bought my 1998 Pathfinder with 163 kilometers (about 100 miles) and had the timing belt replaced. The shop used an aftermarket belt that jumped a tooth immediately after install. They re-installed same belt, same result. Finally used Nissan belt and everything OK now.

[TopGun4570]

I bought my 1998 Pathfinder with 163,000 kilometers (about 100,000 miles) and had the timing belt replaced. The shop used an aftermarket belt that jumped a tooth immediately after install. They re-installed same belt, same result. Finally used Nissan belt and everything OK now.

[macgiver]

I've heard variations of belt teeth with smooth curve vs slightly "indented" curvature on teeth.Faulty part number marking,wrong part , distorted due to shipping/ "container crush" , minor/ major defects ,mishandling , installation damage, mechanic error , intentional error,bad prep= greasy pulleys - Get my points? I counted EVERY TOOTH & DEGREE MARK , fitted every inch of belt in the engines' pulley valleys,verified ALL TIMING MARKS , triple checked tensioner setting before and after SEVERAL spins of FULL belt revolutions - not just the crank! OCD gets it right the first time

Absolutely factory OEM = basically can't go wrong . I happened to use Gates , with as mentioned extremely thorough prep & install procedure. And possibly ANY of above mentioned factors may happen to the average auto shop.