MidTex01GT Posted May 23, 2005 Share Posted May 23, 2005 I just purchased an 88 Pathy today and was going to change the timing belt for preventative measures. Any writeups or source of info to help this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madhatter_xe Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 (edited) There are a bunch of threads on the topic on this site that have some good info and tips, you need to use the search function to find them. There was a "how-to" but it got kiboshed and nobody has made another one since. You can check this site out too, there's a thread somewhere that explains how to find the correct belt tension that I found useful. http://wd21forums.damagedreality.com/phpbb...wtopic.php?t=13 Edited May 24, 2005 by madhatter_xe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj big shoe Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 (edited) Here's a couple... How-to page Nissan site with How-to section. Edited May 24, 2005 by jj big shoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edta1 Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 It looks pretty hard to change the the timing belt out. Is it necessary to lift the engine out? Or can you get to it while it's in the engine bay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madhatter_xe Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 You don't need to pull the engine, you do need to remove the majority of the parts off the front of the engine and in the front engine bay, after that you can get to everything pretty easily. Since it is such a time-consuming job, most people change the water pump, thermostat, cam seals, t-belt and t-belt tensioner all at once. The job takes a while, but isn't too difficult, everything is usually well marked and it is easy to line everything up for TDC. A Chilton's or factory repair manual would make it alot easier too. On the other hand, it's not a job you want to chance messing up too badly either since it could result in permanent engine damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edta1 Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 Awesome! About every how many miles should one do this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj big shoe Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 The timing belt change intervals for a VG30 3.0L SOHC are: 1984-93: 60,000 mi 1994-98+: 105,000 mi edta1, Your profile says you have a 2001. Your 3.5L uses a chain not a belt so no worries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nycxice13 Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 darn im 7k miles over due for a timing belt on my 98 oh crud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vERSATILE Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 These Pathfinders are tough! I bought an 88 from a guy i have known from a distance for years. The truck has 194,000 miles on it and he only owned it for two years. He said he always kept the oil changed etc as the conversation went (out in front of Quik Trip). and i bought it from him at night and picked it up at night this last winter. We towed it home because the water pump was out and parked it out back for the winter until recently. After starting to work on it i determine that changing the oil was the only thing that was EVER done to it! This thing even had the original fuel filter. I think the water pump had been changed but uncertain about the timing belt. I later asked the dufe about it and he said "well everything is so all together that we couldn't figure where to start to do a tune-up". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidTex01GT Posted June 1, 2005 Author Share Posted June 1, 2005 Okay guys, New and very frustrating problem. I just bought a 88 Pathy, and it was acting up like noted in the FAQ, by not starting one minute and then starting the next, or needing a jump to start. I took it back to the used lot where I purchased, and they just replaced the battery a week ago, but now the problem persists. I turn the key over and NOTHING. Not a click, or anything, but the battery shows no sign of wear, heck it is NEW! In this case, could my starter indeed be out and not just the "hard starting defect" as noted in the FAQs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pathoffroad Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 It's more likely that the battery cables are corroded and need cleaning or replacing. With the problem appearing shortly after changing the battery, I'd start looking at the battery connections first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Dank Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 These Pathfinders are tough! I bought an 88 from a guy i have known from a distance for years. The truck has 194,000 miles on it and he only owned it for two years. He said he always kept the oil changed etc as the conversation went (out in front of Quik Trip). and i bought it from him at night and picked it up at night this last winter. We towed it home because the water pump was out and parked it out back for the winter until recently. After starting to work on it i determine that changing the oil was the only thing that was EVER done to it! This thing even had the original fuel filter. I think the water pump had been changed but uncertain about the timing belt. I later asked the dufe about it and he said "well everything is so all together that we couldn't figure where to start to do a tune-up". Holy smokes. Well now...where would you start? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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