Ok so My wife went out to warn up our Xterra this morning, and it stared just fine. She said as she walked to the house she heard a clunking and it sounded like something was hitting something in the engine bay. She came to get me and the car was not running when i went outside. Sorry i couldnt be more specific in noises as i didnt hear it.

Here is what i can tell you right now. It turns over, but does not fire. So i think that the timing belt broke, which means that i may have to replace the entire engine if it bent the valves. i wont know until i get home later.

I bought a new timing belt on my lunch break, so i am hoping this is all i need in order to get her back on the road.

Any thoughts at all? i will post more details later, sorry i dont have more info.

Ok so My wife went out to warn up our Xterra this morning, and it stared just fine. She said as she walked to the house she heard a clunking and it sounded like something was hitting something in the engine bay. She came to get me and the car was not running when i went outside. Sorry i couldnt be more specific in noises as i didnt hear it.

Here is what i can tell you right now. It turns over, but does not fire. So i think that the timing belt broke, which means that i may have to replace the entire engine if it bent the valves. i wont know until i get home later.

I bought a new timing belt on my lunch break, so i am hoping this is all i need in order to get her back on the road.

Any thoughts at all? i will post more details later, sorry i dont have more info.

How many miles on it?

:D

If it turns over, the interference parts may have missed each other so far...stop while you're ahead until you can see what happened.

i think it has 130,000 or so, maybe 140,000. I only tried a couple times this morning, and hopefully i can figure it out tonight and post some more info.

i think it has 130,000 or so, maybe 140,000. I only tried a couple times this morning, and hopefully i can figure it out tonight and post some more info.

ow

You're a bit over due on that belt change.

:D

i bought it over a year ago with 120k on it, and the dealer said everything had been serviced and belts had been changed, but they lost their credibility when they told me they replaced my air filter, and i changed it a couple months down the rode and it looked like the original air filter in the car!!! so i dont doubt that it hasnt been replaced.

i bought it over a year ago with 120k on it, and the dealer said everything had been serviced and belts had been changed, but they lost their credibility when they told me they replaced my air filter, and i changed it a couple months down the rode and it looked like the original air filter in the car!!! so i dont doubt that it hasnt been replaced.

Do you have any documentation from the stealership?

:D

BTW - When done with the timing belt...I'd change the coolant, and the lubes throughout the entire rig, prop shaft, diffs, t-case, tranny, and so forth, as its now likely that its all old crap.

:D

ya definitely, i dont know if i have the paper work stating that everything was changed. But i dont take it there anymore, luckily we have another more reputable nissan dealer uo here too. But i still try and do all the work i can myself. saves on costs, and i get to learn more about my rig.

Timing belt is what i would say it sounds like but the slapping in the engine bay can't be good. Hopefully it went without causing damage like mine did. Good luck man and keep us posted.

FWIW, if someone says they've changed all the belts, hoses, etc., I usually assume they mean fan belts and the like. The timing belt is a big job -- up to $1000. Would be unusual for someone to switch that before selling and to not be real specific that they've done something so major.

Timing belt is what i would say it sounds like but the slapping in the engine bay can't be good. Hopefully it went without causing damage like mine did. Good luck man and keep us posted.

Mike, How many miles did you have when your's went?

123000 or so. Yea i got real lucky. It went as i turned the X off the night before. Broke 2 teeth on the belt.

there should be a silver tag indicating if it has been changed somewhere under the hood. Usually on the radiator support. Sorry I don't have a pic of mine.

well i didnt get it finished last night. i was really hoping to. But i didnt know i would need a pulley puller. From what i can tell now is that the belt is still intact, just loose. So maybe the balancer pulley is loose or broken, so i cant really tell until i get the big pulley off the motor.

By the way, in order to remover that big pulley, how can i get it to stop moving when i try and loosen the nut?any ideas would be great. thanks

yeah she is alive again!! and running alot better now too. the belt was still intact, but it was missing about a 5 inch section of teeth. I dodged a huge bullet. lol