LoLOMGWTFBBQS!

OK my first 3 cars were a 1976 280z a 1983 280zx and a 1993 Fairlady, I loved all 3 then sold them all before heading to the NAVY. In the last few years I have owned a couple of 1989 Formula 350 TPI WS6 both running low 13s with just bolt on parts. So I decided I needed something more economical and yet still fun to help build my credit. I found a 2003 Maxima GLE auto. I drove it for 13 days and 635 miles before the engine blew at 84,028 miles! Being I drove over the 500 mile Lemon Law limit the dealer I got it from legally does not have to pay for any damages incurred. Thank god they're paying for half of the new engine and installation. The chain drive came apart inside the engine and screwed up everything. I have heard of these engines doing that quite frquently, especially if you go over the oil change interval like me, by 28 miles!! argh... The previous owner was an older woman and took very good care of it. I drove the car like an old grandpa knowing it's NOT a sports car like I'm used to. So here I am stuck paying for a used engine in a used car and now everyone is telling me that the VQ series engines are not worth 2 cents due to so many problems with them! Thanks Nissan, just what I needed, I should have kept the old bird after all! :banghead:

the biggest problem with these engines is the chain guide on the tension side. they usually wont bend valves unless you are at higher rpm's when it lets go. but most of the time you have a little notice before this happens.
i.e. lack of power or some noise. if this is what happened to your car it should have been repairable(new intake valves and chain setup). did they tell you what happened to the engine? what were the symptoms before it cut off?

Absolutely nothing wrong with the car before this happened. No noises, no lack of power, no dimming of lights. I turned the engine over to go to work and immediately heard loud banging/crashing noises, when I backed the car up to put it on the tow truck it went hardly anywhere and struggled to move and I heard even more noises and they got louder so I turned off the engine. The mechanics say they think I spun a rod bearing and the chain sounds broke which meant possible valve train damage as well. So basically the engine self detonated and I drove that car so easy, I got on the gas a couple times only on the offramps and passing someone but nothing that should cause engine damage. I never went passed 6K RPM ever. The oil life sticker in the window said to change at 84,000, I have 84,028 so are you telling me 28 friggin miles makes the engine go bad?! Argh... that's B.S. I just don't understand..... :runaround: :crying:

28 miles over had nothing to do with it. had to have been prior maintenance . never seen one spin a bearing. sorry you had problems.