Timing chain Nissan Almera

Wexico · 10-07-2007 04:55PM #1

Hi there. I have a 01 Almera and it needs the timing chain replaced again. First time it went there was roughly 45k miles on the clock and now its gone again with 80k on the clock. First time around the car was 3 months out of warranty and the repair cost me €600 and I got €400 back from Nissan as goodwill. Just wondering has anyone had a similar problem and would it be worth my while trying for goodwill again? Thanks.

Stephen · 10-07-2007 05:01PM

I thought those were supposed to last 120k or so? :eek:

Wexico · 10-07-2007 05:06PM

I was told by the Nissan dealer that whatever material they're using to make the chains, they're not lasting as long as the old ones, but I did'nt expect to have to get it replaced twice and not even 100k on the clock.

alias no.9 · 10-07-2007 05:17PM

Have you changed the oil regularly? Most cars with timing chains never need anything done to them, let alone changed twice. Were there guides that should have been changed the last time that weren't done or something.

Wexico · 10-07-2007 05:22PM

Got the car serviced regularly at the Nissan garage. Nothing was spotted in previous services. Again the garage said the chains were giving trouble but twice seems something wrong with the chain itself?

Stephen · 10-07-2007 05:27PM

You should try to get Nissan to pay for the chain again - those things are supposed to last a hell of a lot longer than 35k miles.

Wexico · 10-07-2007 05:30PM

Yep. Something wrong somewhere. Its just the fact that the car is 6 years old. But as you said they should last longer than 35K.

cgc5483 · 10-07-2007 07:28PM

Think there is another thread in this forum on this. Apparently common enough from that thread. Although I had a 00 (new model) with 75k which never had to be changed and was told when bought it that it didn't ever need to be changed. Just changed to a 04 so hopefully not going to be a problem (or is it a problem with more recently manufactured models) because as OP said it's expensive much more than changing a timing belt.

Conor20 · 10-07-2007 10:43PM

I have an 00 Almera and had to have the timing chain replaced in the last few days (after 59K miles). I got it done in the Windsor Nissan dealer in Rialto - 750 Euro!

If that wasn't bad enough, the car is still cutting out (when slowing down and also when idleing) and now they are saying the Mass Airflow Meter needs replacing for 866 Euro.

Does anyone know if this is a reasonable price for this? I've never heard of the part before.

Conor.

crosstownk · 10-07-2007 11:04PM

OP - you need to talk to Nissan customer service - not the dealer.

A timing chain should last in excess of 200,000kms. Chain tensioners may need replacing sooner. It sounds to me like something is causing the chain to wear prematurely. Replacing the chain will only cure the symptom - not the fault.

Mr.Diagnostic · 10-07-2007 11:14PM

Conor20 wrote:

I have an 00 Almera and had to have the timing chain replaced in the last few days (after 59K miles). I got it done in the Windsor Nissan dealer in Rialto - 750 Euro!

If that wasn't bad enough, the car is still cutting out (when slowing down and also when idleing) and now they are saying the Mass Airflow Meter needs replacing for 866 Euro.

Does anyone know if this is a reasonable price for this? I've never heard of the part before.

Conor.

Are you saying the symptoms are exactly the same before and after the €750 job??

unkel · 10-07-2007 11:17PM

crosstownk wrote:

OP - you need to talk to Nissan customer service - not the dealer.

A timing chain should last in excess of 200,000kms

Agreed. The dealer owes you nothing, any refund is goodwill from Nissan Ireland as happened to you before. I'd say you have a good chance again to receive some goodwill. It's ridiculous the chain went again. My car (220,000km) is still on its original timing chain

I suppose the good thing is that you can hear a chain replacement coming before any damage will be done as with a belt. So fair play to Nissan to fit (more expensive) chains (even to the Micra). Please make them to last a bit longer though!

Conor20 · 10-07-2007 11:30PM

Mr.Diagnostic wrote:

Are you saying the symptoms are exactly the same before and after the €750 job??

No. Before the timing chain was replaced, the car would shudder when accellerating and the rev needle would drop a bit every second or so. The car would also cut out when slowing down.

Now the car only cuts out, the shuddering is gone which must have been a problem with the old timing chain.

I was just wondering is 866 euro reasonable for replacing a Mass Airflow Meter (and is this actually the problem -does a faulty one cause the car to cut out when slowing down and also sometimes when just idleing).

Mr.Diagnostic · 10-07-2007 11:39PM

No, that is not a reasonable price for a MAF. I have seen this before and after a bit of research I found a genuine MAF for a lot less. In this case the car was a later 1.5 I think. They changed in 2000, earlier one was 1.4.

Conor20 · 11-07-2007 12:07AM

Mr.Diagnostic wrote:

No, that is not a reasonable price for a MAF. I have seen this before and after a bit of research I found a genuine MAF for a lot less. In this case the car was a later 1.5 I think. They changed in 2000, earlier one was 1.4.

Thanks. I'll ring a few other garages tomorrow morning to see if I can get some better quotes. I got the the number for SDP motors already. Are there any others that spring to mind that might do it well for cheaper?

Thanks.

construct06 · 24-09-2007 06:49PM

is this problem very common with almeras? What is the result if the timing chain goes, can it lead to lots of damage to other parts of the engine. I was seriously considering getting an 02 almera for reliability but im sort of wavering now. Its for the gf.

Would people in the know reccommend these or would they steer well clear?

Is this problem widespread with Almeras (new type), cos i know the older model was a great car.

Also if not an almera, what similar type japaneese car would people reccomend?

Thx in advance..

construct06 · 24-09-2007 07:17PM

so do u have any idea if its widespread among almeras for the timing chain to go?

Kimbot · 24-09-2007 07:57PM

Chain is suppose to last minimum of 150,000 Miles. I was at a motor factors earlier and there was some information leaflet in the window about "faulty" chains on almeras etc and saying that its not the chain but another part. I will try get it for you tomorrow.

construct06 · 24-09-2007 08:14PM

cheers, thanks for that.

i might ring main dealer myself and see if they will tell me anything,

A-Trak · 24-09-2007 09:42PM

unkel wrote:

I suppose the good thing is that you can hear a chain replacement coming before any damage will be done as with a belt.

Uh oh.

What would a timing belt problem sound like? And when would it make noise?

Had the Almera serviced a while ago (4k - non dealer.)

There's sometimes a ticking sound whilst accelerating in 1st/2nd. Mechanic said it was the airfilter which was aftermarket & not factory fitted.

Should I be worried?

construct06 · 26-09-2007 10:52PM

any luck with that info johnny24e?

C.D. · 27-09-2007 12:42AM

I actually drive one myself, I have never brought it to a garage (I can do most basic work myself and that is all that has been needed).

it has reached 68k miles- what sort of symptoms did you guys get? Shuddering during acceleration? Anything else?

Captain Slow IRL · 28-09-2007 08:43PM

construct06 wrote:

so do u have any idea if its widespread among almeras for the timing chain to go?

I've replaced 2 or 3 of them; when talking to lads in the local Nissan garage, they blamed cheap/incorrect oil for premature failure.

noeldublin6 · 05-10-2007 11:49PM

can anyone tell me when the timing belt should be done before it goes and costs $$$$$$ , my almera is @ 42k miles

colm_mcm · 06-10-2007 12:04AM

noeldublin6 wrote:

can anyone tell me when the timing belt should be done before it goes and costs $$$$$$ , my almera is @ 42k miles

It's a chain anyway

Just get someone to have a look.
I've seen them strech very early. Usually an ECU light comes on and it loses power. camshaft position sensor is known to give hassle on them too.

noeldublin6 · 06-10-2007 12:30AM

oh ok its a chain now not timing belt are they cheaper,? should i just get it done instead of waitin for it to go

kayteals · 13-10-2007 11:00AM

I have a 1l nissan micra 53reg, its done 31000 miles and back in june it started playing up the maulfunction light came on,it was not starting the revs were dropping all that kind of thing. I took it in and they said it was my camshaft sensor (which they reset) it started doing it again so i took it in to have the sensor replaced. which they did (£70) it didnt fix the problem so i went back.....then...only then did they find that it was infact the timing chain. That was a BIG shock! but now i see a lot of people are having similar trouble. If i wanted **** French parts in my car id have bought a Reanult not a Nissan. I have always had nissans and only now (since they have started using Reanult parts so im told) have i had a big issue! Not acceptable! :mad:

landcruiserfj62 · 13-10-2007 04:38PM

Micras are made in the uk! what did u expect.
Timing chains are a known concern on both micras and almeras.

jon1981 · 13-10-2007 05:40PM

Conor20 wrote: »

No. Before the timing chain was replaced, the car would shudder when accellerating and the rev needle would drop a bit every second or so. The car would also cut out when slowing down.

Now the car only cuts out, the shuddering is gone which must have been a problem with the old timing chain.

I was just wondering is 866 euro reasonable for replacing a Mass Airflow Meter (and is this actually the problem -does a faulty one cause the car to cut out when slowing down and also sometimes when just idleing).

on my corsa a brand new mass airflow meter cost me 125 euro and i fitted it myself in less than two minutes... i cant see how a similar sensor in an Almera could be so expensive? sounds like they haven't a clue whats wrong are are trying different things at your expense

Kimbot · 07-04-2008 08:22PM

construct06 wrote: »

any luck with that info johnny24e?

The info was about a new range of timing chains from a third party vendor that are better than the standard Nissan ones. It was guaranteed for 150,000 Miles.

ianobrien · 07-04-2008 09:01PM

From what I've heard from keeping my ear to the ground, it's low mileage ones that have timing chain trouble. Ones with high mileage have no trouble.

I'd say it's down to oil changes being more than 12 months apart in the low mileage ones. I'd also say that poor oil was used, not suitable for extended intervals.

We always change the oil after 6 months if the mileage is not done. It has worked for us, and we put 160,000 MILES on a Nissan engine.

Timing chain Nissan Almera

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