how can i check if i cambelt is about to go?im no mechanic too. the garage said it was ok but i still need to check it myself

I think its just check for it being tight and check for wear.

 

If in doubt get it changed as you really dont want it to snap ;)

could be wrong, but i don't think you can.

 

If in doubt, change it out ;)

how can i check if i cambelt is about to go?im no mechanic too. the garage said it was ok but i still need to check it myself

 

TBH..I'd be suprised if the garage actually checked. Almost all the cost in changing a cambelt is getting to it in the first place. Its several hours work just to get to the cambelt, and by the time you've done all that work, you may as well just change it then anyway.

What Legrath said. Yeah its a mission cause all the other bits stop the covers from coming off. Once you get it you just check for wear, see if you can see the teeth through the belt,etc. They should be changed every 60k at least, so if you are in any doubt then it should be done as its certain engine death if it goes! I don't reckon the garage would have looked at it,extremely unlikely in fact.

TBH..I'd be suprised if the garage actually checked. Almost all the cost in changing a cambelt is getting to it in the first place. Its several hours work just to get to the cambelt, and by the time you've done all that work, you may as well just change it then anyway.

 

 

several hours to get to it,why is it in egypt LOL full 60k service in 4hours start to finish

 

on a serious note its not always the cambelt that will go but iv seen rarely but hapens the tensioner arm snap,but luckily the way it snaps it goes the other way,also water pump and thermostat! hoses are important to change whilst your at it.

several hours to get to it,why is it in egypt LOL full 60k service in 4hours start to finish

 

for a Zed mechanic like yourself that does it every day, yeh ;) shall i remind you how long it took us both to change my waterpump the first time :rofl:

for a Zed mechanic like yourself that does it every day, yeh ;) shall i remind you how long it took us both to change my waterpump the first time :rofl:

 

no LOL

 

we could of visited egypt in the time taken PMSL

in most cases it's not the belt that fails or needs to be checked but the tensioner, idler pulleys and/or pulley studs are the weak spots.

 

unfortunately there's no easy way to check these other then listening for scraping sounds and squeeks coming from the timingbelt-area

 

-Eric

I've heard the VG30DETT is a non-interference engine, so unlike most engines- if your cambelt goes your pistons aren't going to go crashing into your valves. Dunno whether there any clearance issues with NA pistons though, and don't quote me on this, its only what I've heard, I've never actually opened one up and had a look.

the crazy thing is as stated above...lots of motor manufact's say check your belts at certain intervals in the service book...but it costs just as much labour to check it as it does to replace it...so the checking is utterly pointless...just stick to the guidelines which IIRC is 60,000 miles then replace on a 300 zx...and yep do the other stuff at the same time like water pump..etc

so who c an do it for me and how much will it cost? cheers.

if the cambelt goes what else does it the tt

>> I've heard the VG30DETT is a non-interference engine

 

WRONG ! most toyota engines are non-interference, but all Nissan VG/VQ engines are interference engines

 

Although, if the belt breaks the valves will revert to a safe position automatically , which is fine at low revs.

At high revs usually the valves won't have time to revert back to their safe position and you'll end up with a lot of damage.

so who c an do it for me and how much will it cost? cheers.

 

Ztec, near Swindon.

 

http://www.ztech.co.uk/page3.htm for Prices

 

Also check Zen Garage, in Traders section who I believe are closer to you.

500 pounds? wow.

I had Ryan @ ZTech do mine... In and out within the day - he had about 6 other cars to do at the same time... That reminds me.. have done nearly 3k since then... about time for an oil change.

Just for info but replace the tensioner! Mine went on my old Zed luckily at idle, the belt was intact but obviously slipped round abit. No damage was done to the engine but had it gone a revs it might have a different story.

Got mine done at Jeff's and yer get pics of before, during and after so your getting proof pertty much of what's been done and the condition before. All old parts are left there for you to look at as well if you like

http://www.zedworld.co.uk/wizzf.html

 

cheers

smithy

ive been told all places are booked till mid sept. how am i gonna get my cambelt sorted. i know i shudnt but im having to resort to DAN perkins

ive been told all places are booked till mid sept. how am i gonna get my cambelt sorted. i know i shudnt but im having to resort to DAN perkins

 

I hope u dont mean Dan Perkins Ruislip! the guys there are cocks, when I was about to buy a 350z the guy treated me like shit. if u dnt mind travelling a little bit, go to Glyn Hopkin Watford. I dont know what their prices are lilke but they are more helpful definately. On the other hand try ZTech as everyone seems to recommend them and i'm trying to take my car there on tuesday for a service...

 

oh and i'm back from srilanka btw so maybe we can meet some time (remember u saw me on bath rd once)...

 

darren

hey diddy saw u again i saw u this time in ealing. email me o djstorm1231aol.com. gd to have u back mate

Personally, I would never put my car into a Nissan dealers to work on. You'd be pushed to find a mechanic at a dealership who knows exactly what he's doing on a 300zx.

 

Vijay

Take a look at the pictures below and the report complied as a result of what was found, make your own mind up on whether to use a main dealer who works on a 300zx maybe one or two times a year ( if they are lucky) or a specialist ( check out the jap mags) who works on them every day.

 

 

 

 

Vehicle : Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo Registration No: K??? ???

Date: 5th August 2005 Nissan dealer: ???? ???? Nissan

 

 

The vehicle above came to us for a general check over and engine test to diagnose thecause of the general poor running and performance.

 

Following a series of normal engine test procedures it was found that although the engine ecu was in +15deg BTDC run mode ( via our ConZult system ) that a timing gun check showed the true value to be +25deg.

 

A timing error was clearly evident as attempts to get close to the correct +15deg BTDC by adjusting the crank angle sensor was not completely possible as the cas unit was at the extreme of it's adjustment.

 

Having seen this before we advised the customer and he rebooked for a cam belt check, we were informed that the belt had been replaced in the past 4 months or so by yourselves

???? ???? Nissan.

 

Subsequently the car was returned and when stripped down the cam belt was indeed one tooth out between the cas unit (crank angle sensor) and the main crank pulley and one tooth out between the right hand intake camshaft pulley and right hand exhaust camshaft pulley, this would account for the timing errors and poor performance.

 

Before the belt was removed it was noticed that the cam belt adjuster was at nearly at it's full adjustment, this had clearly not had the base setting adjusted when the belt was fitted.

 

Also when the engine was been disassembled the inlet hose ( by pass) on the left hand bank was noticed to be mishaped, after removal it was found that the retaining clip had been wrongly fitted and the distorted pipe had been under some strain, a small slit in the inner section of the pipe was evident where the clip had pinched it, this most likely would of failed eventually.

 

After a new belt was fitted, the belt adjuster correctly set and the engine retimed the performance is now correct, the timing is correctly set to +15 BTDC and the cas unit is in the middle adjustment position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summery

 

The cam belt on this particular car had been changed some 6 months previously, the errors in the fitting of the cam belt, the incorrectly set belt adjuster and the water hose that had been damaged by the incorrectly fitted clamp all point to a very poor quality service.

 

The results of these mistakes could have had bigger consequences if left.

 

1) If for instance the water hose had split loosing coolant water which potentially could have caused a major engine failure.

 

2) The ignition timing was very advanced and sever detonation could have caused a major engine failure.

 

3) The incorrectly set belt adjuster could have caused premature belt wear and failure which would result in a major engine damage.

 

As a minimum the timing error should have been noticed as after changing a cam belt on a Nissan 300zx a timing check should always be undertaken, this it would appear could not have been done.

 

 

The faults found were documented with a photo journal, four of the main photos are included with this report.

 

Picture 1 Shows the incorrectly timed right hand inlet cam shaft

 

Picture 2 Shows the incorrectly set belt adjuster

 

Picture 3 Shows the damaged water inlet pipe

 

Picture 4 Shows the belt adjuster correctly set

 

 

The correct belt change was also documented with a photo journal which is part of our normal dedicated belt service, as copy of these are included.

 

Finally steps to ensure these mistakes do not reoccur will most likely be a training and work standard issue with the garage concerned, it is at least a failure to supply good service, at worse charging for work incorrectly done which could lead to an engine failure.

 

Further information and high resolution photographs are available by request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The owner of the vehicle has decided to not pursue this which is a shame as any dealer Nissan or otherwise needs to know if they make mistakes, with the owners concent I have forwarded a copy of th report and pictures to the dealer, will be interesting to see what they have to say, will let any interested parties know.

 

Oh and this is not a one off either, have been here before with another main dealer!

 

Jeff TT

Bloody hell Jeff! makes me sick thinking that a dealer could do that to someones pride and joy. Says it all really,and to think that joe bloggs takes his car there because main dealers 'can be trusted and know what they are on about'!Dave

Yes scarey! also forgot to mention, the dealer fitted a QH belt not a genuine Nissan one :(

 

 

Jeff TT