I am about to buy a 2002 xterra 93k miles. I've discovered from this forum that the timing belt needs to be replaced @ 105k miles. How much does this job cost? (parts and labor)
From a shop or local mechanic anywhere from $500-$1000 Dealers tend to be closer to $1000. Just depends on what all you have them do. Some will quote you less for just the timing belt replacement but other things like the water pump, thermostat, crank and cam seals should be done too. Plus theres 2 short hoses that should be replaced while they are "in there".
I had mine changed at 98,000 miles and the mechanic said it was ready to go. No sense pushing your luck. It's plastic and degrades over time, even with no use.
I had the belt, water pump, and cam seals (crank's were fine) done for under $400. But I really should have had them replace the tensioner and thermostat too, which I may pay for.
I have a 2003 Xterra with 128,000 miles and still have not replaced the timing belt. The dealership offered to replace the timing belt and the water pump, hoses and tensioners for $795 and said it was about 4 hours of labor. It's not terribly difficult so I will probably try it myself next week...but at 128K I know I'm really rolling the dice since it's a belt. If it were a timing chain or timing gears then I'd say you could probably string the replacement out some..
@ Dasnake, IIRC Nissan "officially" recommends 7 years or 105K miles. It's your truck and your call of course but personally I wouldn't take it much past 105K.
I've had my '02 SE for 8 years now and it has 104,500 miles. I have the timing belt kit on the way from xterraparts.com as we speak. A local shop (I'm in metro Atlanta) who allows customers to supply their own parts is doing the work. Here's the full list and final cost for parts and labor. I'm replacing the:
spark plugs
distributor cap & rotor
all belts & hoses
timing belt & associated items in kit (water pump, thermostat, etc.)
Parts and labor are both running right at $425 so it'll be around $850 total with about $150 of that being the ignition parts/labor.
I had an issue on a past vehicle where I was advised to change the timing belt since it was at the recommended miles for doing so. The shop told me I could probably get away with a few added miles on it. Probably a little under 1000 miles later, it broke. The cost went from around 1k to 4500.00. That was a painful lesson to learn, but I did learn. When I bought my X, it had close to 104k miles on it. I bought the truck on a Saturday and it was in the shop that week for the timing belt. Take it from me, don't press your luck and get that taken care of. I am not mechanically inclined so I had to drop the 1000.00, but way better than 4500.00.
I did some calling around today. Seems that the cost varies quiet a bit for the same exact service. Timing belt, water pump, seals. I got prices quoted ranging from 650 to 950. LOL, of course the shop charging 950 didn't believe I got a quote for 650. The shop that quoted $650 had good reviews online and is top rated with BBB so going with those guys.
Sy
Update. Had the work done. The Belt looked great after 128k. Goes to show,.. You never know!
$650 for the job and added in new theromstat, drive belts, battery terminals total of $718
Mine broke at 186k, but I got "really" lucky...no engine damage. It cost me $465 to have it and the water pump replaced. I won't press my luck again! 4-5K for a new engine would have hurt.
They generally are no warning signs... it just pops...
BTW I'm at 195K and I'm not sure if the belt has ever been changed... I would have to look into what the millage was at when my brother bought it from the Honda dealer... maybe go by there and ask them if it was replaced before they sold the X.... maybe they would have records of it... At any rate the kit is sitting in my guest room at home waiting for me to get home from Kuwait...
I have a 2002 Xterra and bringing it in on Monday to get the timing belt and water pump replaced. My Xterra is at 100k miles and I was told to get them replaced at that mileage. Also, I'm having the serpentine belt replaced. The dealer quoted me $600.00 and would take 5 hours to do it. $600 bucks sounds like a lot but, I'd rather have the dealer do it than some local shop. The warranty is 3 years and 60k miles I believe.
I have a 2000 Xterra, I just bought it with 164,000 Miles.. from a 1 owner. ( I've heard they go well to about 250,000 -- is this true?) Owner says they think the timing belt was done awhile ago, but cant really remember. No records to show- my question is, is it possible for the X to have gone 164,000 miles without being changed?
In theory, yes. I _think_ mine went about that before I had it done. I say _think_ because I've owned it since 30K and have never told anyone to change that belt. There was also no sticker next to the radiator saying it was done.
I have a 2000 Xterra, I just bought it with 164,000 Miles.. from a 1 owner. ( I've heard they go well to about 250,000 -- is this true?) Owner says they think the timing belt was done awhile ago, but cant really remember. No records to show- my question is, is it possible for the X to have gone 164,000 miles without being changed?
I have a 2000 Xterra, I just bought it with 164,000 Miles.. from a 1 owner. ( I've heard they go well to about 250,000 -- is this true?) Owner says they think the timing belt was done awhile ago, but cant really remember. No records to show- my question is, is it possible for the X to have gone 164,000 miles without being changed?
This raised a huge red flag when I read it. We're not talking a tire rotation here. Who "doesn't remember" a $700+ service, or doing it themselves? Assume it hasn't been done and do it ASAP because if it breaks, the result may be something that YOU will NEVER forget. :-O
It might be worth your time to look around under the hood. The factory timing belt kit comes with an adhesive metallic label for marking the date and mileage the belt was changed. Most people probably don't use it but it wouldn't hurt to look. Sometimes people put them on the underside of the hood itself so look there too.
FYI, Nissan recommends the change at 7 years or 105,000 miles. Did mine at 9 years & 105K and mechanic said the belt looked good, though he also said rubber belts that "look good" may have cracks too small to see that could cause failure.
On here and XOC I've read of a few brave (?) souls who let their belts go for quite a while but your mileage is at least 10-15K past the highest I can remember anyone mentioning. Well, except the guy who posted right before me. ;-)
In the process of doing my belt, pump, thermostat, and seals. Got the kit from courtesy parts and it ran about 365 shipped.
This is the second time I've done this in about 3 or 4 years. I bought the cheaper kit from E-bay (the one with the bando belts) and the water pump failed and started leaking from the weep hole. Got coolant all over the timing belt so I'm gonna replace it. This time I'm going with the nissan parts in hopes that everything will last longer.
It's a lot of work that's for sure!
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