V6 Max Water Pump

I recently did an alternator on my wife's 01 Max SE (105K miles) I realized while doing this job that a water pump change out in this car must be a nightmere. Does anyone have experience with this or when the time comes just suck it up and bring to $tealer$hip with a wheelbarrow full of money? There are very few threads in this forum covering that job. Do they rarely go bad on a Max?

I recently did an alternator on my wife's 01 Max SE (105K miles) I realized while doing this job that a water pump change out in this car must be a nightmere. Does anyone have experience with this or when the time comes just suck it up and bring to $tealer$hip with a wheelbarrow full of money? There are very few threads in this forum covering that job. Do they rarely go bad on a Max?

My understanding is that they die by the mile: low rpm engine parts last longer that small hi rpm engines. Alt needs/may 'tuneup' typically after 100k miles or more, water pump after 150 k...

Seems engine front end has to be totally dismantled, chain off ... pump is located 'under' one chain sprocket. Ask local stealer$hip service dpt ... theyll gladly inform.


REMOVAL 2k2 Nissan FSM LC-14:
1. Drain coolant from drain plugs on radiator and right side of
cylinder block. Refer to MA-14, “Changing Engine Coolant”.
2. Remove right side engine mounting, mounting bracket and
nuts.
3. Remove drive belts and idler pulley bracket.
4. Remove water pump drain plug.
5. Remove chain tensioner cover and water pump cover.

6. Pull lever down, and release plunger stopper tab.
I Plunger stopper tab can be pushed up to release (coaxial
structure with lever).
7. Insert stopper pin into tensioner body hole to fix lever, and
keep the tab released.
8. Insert plunger into tensioner body by pressing slack guide.
9. Keep slack guide pressed, and fix it by pushing stopper pin
through lever hole and body hole.
10. Turn crankshaft pulley approx. 20° clockwise so that the timing
chain on the chain tensioner side is loose.
11. Remove chain tensioner.
CAUTION:
Be careful not to drop mounting bolts inside chain case.
12. Remove the 3 water pump fixing bolts. Secure a gap between
water pump gear and timing chain, by turning crankshaft pulley
20° backwards.
13. Put M8 bolts to two
M8-threaded holes out of 3 water pump
fixing bolt holes.


14. Tighten M8 bolts by turning half turn alternately until they reach
timing chain rear case.
I In order to prevent damages to water pump or timing chain rear
case, do not tighten one bolt continuously. Always turn each
bolt half turn each time.
15. Lift up water pump and remove it.