Just bought an 01 xterra with 77,ooo . Manual says change the timing belt at 105k BUT should I be concerned over the age of the belt ?????
Thanks in advance for your help.

Yea, it could be a problem. I wanna say it's 105k or 5 years but I need to check that.

BTW, welcome to CX! Go post up an intro in the new member section! :)

yea...i gotta 03 and im starting to worry bout the timing belt as well but i plan on changing regardless soon. i say just do it bro at least u know its been done. welcome to CX by the way.

I'd do it before I break 100k.
Right now, mine is 2001 and just over 75k miles and no problems as of right now.
Planning on replacing timing belt within the year.

You don't want this!!(you young guys may want to look away)ps.this is not my truck.

Ouch! That is bad, bad, bad...........................


And, a belt missing the cogs like that on an interference fit engine like the Xterra will get you valves like this:

http://members.cox.net/mike_hall/Rodeo/valves_bent.JPG

My Xterra has 72k miles on it, and it was put into service in March 2004 (when the original owner bought it). So I plan to get my timing belt and water pump job done this coming Spring or Summer; just to be on the safe side. I'm not too positive about the "5 year" thing, but I know it's 105,000 miles or before that it should be changed along with the water pump. So I'm just going to do it this Spring/Summer regardless of the mileage. Might as well right? It can't hurt anything, and it helps me avoid an unexpected valve workover like the one pictured above.

Here is a write-up in case you hadn't seen it:

HOW TO-02 VG33E Timing Belt Replacement (http://www.clubxterra.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2751)

Good stuff! That's a great link to bookmark. Thanks!

man those valves look horrible your whole engine musta been stumbling like crazy

Thats where i'm at right now. Luckly i had only 2 teeth missing and it missed at shut off with no damage.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk158/mene62374/Xterra/PICT1565.jpg

A good time to replace the KS, visible in the valley with the grey connector.

A good time to replace the KS, visible in the valley with the grey connector.


Yup, great call!

hi everyone,

i am thinking about changing my timing belt on the 03 Xterra. Do I have to take the spark plugs out when I do this?

Reason why I ask is because I have already changed my spark plugs about 6 months ago and would rather not mess with them again.

Thanks.

no you dont have to remove the plugs......

no you dont have to remove the plugs......

tyvm

anytime bro..... stick around and ask if you need anything else...

Timing belt is 105K (spec from nissan) and Gates says anything over 7 yrs and they should be replaced not matter what the milage.

Timing belt is 105K (spec from nissan) and Gates says anything over 7 yrs and they should be replaced not matter what the milage.

Thanks Ian...that's the answer I was looking for. I still think I'm going to do it maybe by next winter (Dec-Jan '09)...just to get it out of the way...hell, I've already changed out so much crap on this truck last week...but it was all preventative maintenance stuff (with the exception of the leaking power steering hoses...those had to be done). Might as well make this my project for next winter's maintenance items, and do it during the vacation time I get for Xmas.

I have heard from a few people (including a Nissan mechanic) that the belt on my '03 XE is good for 160,000KM.:icon_question:

Oh crap...please disregard the last post by me, I forgot that you guys were talking MILES, and not kilometers. (dumb ass Canuck that I am...)

lol...I was gonna say...which unit of measure are you referring to?!?! ;)

Hey, I wouldn't be so quick to bash yourself...after all, the U.S. is pretty much the only country that never fell in line with the metric system...and I think we're LONG overdue.

A good time to replace the KS, visible in the valley with the grey connector.
Okay I give up. What does KS stand for?

KS = Knock Sensor

Knock Sensor - A lot of first gen Xs have that code active - mine included. It will not turn the check engine light and from what I've read doesn't have any ill effect unless you're supercharged. Not exactly a cheap part but it looks like a huge pain to change out.

Knock Sensor - A lot of first gen Xs have that code active - mine included. It will not turn the check engine light and from what I've read doesn't have any ill effect unless you're supercharged. Not exactly a cheap part but it looks like a huge pain to change out.


HUGE PITA. Gotta pull the upper and lower intakes. Bad spot for a part that fails allot.

ok, my timing belt broke this morning. I coast it into a hardware store by my house (as I was on my way home when it happened). I did try to turn it over in the parking lot. What is the risk that I'll have bent valves? Or is that just something that I won't know until I tear into it?

Where do you live? I would not try to start it, the valves will hit the pistons if they haven't already.

ok so what kind of cost is there to get tht timing belt changed, just tryin gto get an idea what im shelling out for that. I know its cheaper than a new motor.

700 for a timingbelt and water pump change

If you have the inclination to do it you self, about $350 including buying the tools. For an independent mechanic to do it, $450 - $800. For a dealer, much more.

350 For parts?
$206 for timing belt kit
$10 for Coolant.

Where is the extra $140 coming in?

350 For parts?
$206 for timing belt kit
$10 for Coolant.

Where is the extra $140 coming in?

http://www.courtesyparts.com/nissan-timing-belt-kit-2000-2001-xterra-p-449.html?cPath=532&

310 + 15 shipping. Pretty close

buying tools / renting compressor (as stated in OP); I actually spent $150 on parts and new hoses. It's always cheaper once you have the tools.