My Xterra is just under 200k and ate a tensioner guide. I ordered a cheap new timing set (which was a mistake I'll get to) but I'm debating whether or should just replace the guide and the tensioner as the VVT actuators have considerable wear.
Do I put it back together with a new guide and pretend I never saw it, or do I put the new chains on it?
I'm leaning towards just replacing the guide as I'm afraid of the worn gears chewing up a new chain vs running on the chain its worn in with.
I'd replace the actuators, but they're like $400/each, and I'm just trying to patch this together long enough for me to find something I'm less indifferent to.
Of course, the new guide in my kit is defective, and I'm hoping I can get a new guide (and seals not included in the aftermarket timing cover kits) from Nissan in the morning.
I think I'm not a good source of reliability as I bought a used $28 timing set for my VQ35 cause Challenge. Could you junkyard good actuators? Do you think that damage was done chewing up the guide?
I think it's mostly expected wear for as good as I care for it. LOL
Tensioner failed in a way the chain wasn't properly tensioned and was rubbing the cover. Right bank cam gear jumped 2 teeth, and I've been pretending it's not an issue for a while, so maybe.
Getting to the chains is a nightmare. Errything has to come off the front. If my only option is to pull one myself (to likely only find a similar situation), the old chain is definitely going back on.
200k's on a 14 y/o car is considered "low mileage" locally.
In reply to Crackers :
The guides were the one thing I outsourced on my wife's Xterra. It was expensive but I didn't want to spend a couple days doing it since I was in a time crunch. This was at 90k miles.
I'd replace the guides and send it for the reasons you stated. VQ40s are ~$1200 bucks used and common as dirt. I personally wouldn't spend $800 in actuators at that price.
It wore that much in two hundred thousand miles. It will not reach an actual failure point before the car itself goes to the big car show in the sky.
Is that worn into the teeth or just polished where the chain touched? I can't tell from the picture, but I'd run them.
Thanks guys. I figured that was the way to go.
They're worn enough to feel with your fingernail. Enough I wouldn't hesitate to replace them if this was a sb Chevy.
This would have been cheaper if I had pulled it apart first and just ordered the necessary parts from the dealer. (Which is basically what I'm doing anyway.)
I hate when my ignored first instinct turns out to be right...
