'90 Maxima timing belt = catastrophic failure?

[Distorted]

1st off it's my first post, so hello everyone!

My little brother has a '90 Maxima GXE. I think the vehicle has around 70K miles (most likely less...but the speedo is broken).

Just recently, as he was pulling into the driveway of the house, the timing belt broke (or slipped off - not sure which yet). My dad, being the stickler that he is....decided to take it to a mechanic and have them look at it. I don't even know if they took the valve cover off (assuming you have to to check the belt). Anyways....everyone is telling my dad that because the belt broke, he most likely has bent valves and/or damaged valve guides and pistons. Is this common on these models?

I would like to think, that if he was moving very slow, and shut the car off immediately...that there would be minimal (if any) piston to valve contact. In theory all the valves should close if there is no belt (thus, no way to move the cam shaft and open the valves).....right??

My dad talked to local mechanics and they all tell him a little over a grand just do to the motor swap (he can actually get a used motor in good shape for free). They also tell him it's not worth it to dump that much into the car (he only paid $3500 for the car - bought from a friend). So...he's likely going to just scrap the car and sell it for parts at a junkyard or something - I don't reallly know for sure.

Anyways, I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, and have done many small enging rebuilds (atv's). So, I figured I could very easily take a peak into the motor and double-check it (since not ONE person had even pulled a head off yet). Worse case scenario is the motor (top-end anyways) is trashed. Best-case is all the skeptics were wrong and there is no damage.

Basically, I'm just looking to see if it's a common thing on the Gen3 cars or not, and what everyone else's experience has been with these cars.

Also, are the Haynes manuals good for these? I'll need the manual when I start assembly so I know the torque-specs, etc. I never tear into a motor without one.

Sorry for the long 1st post, but I wanted to try being as detailed as possible in order to recieve some good help.

Thanks for looking, and any information you guys/gals can provide will be greatly appreciated. FYI, I registerd on Maxima.org, but it won't let me search or create a new post for some reason (even got the validation e-mail, etc.)...that's why I posted here.

[Nahkapohjola]

Originally Posted by Distorted

... the timing belt broke ...

Good belt! Lasted more than 3x promised...

VG30E as other maxima engines are interference engines which will 'implode' when belt breaks. Miracles do happen... like piston holes heal themselves, valve stems straighten out in the night. Take them as they happen, dont count survival on them.

If the chassis, tranny etc are in good condition, getting low mileage (500$?) swap engine might be worthwhile. No harm opening an destroyed engine... Repairing a destroyed ol engine (with $tealership prices) makes u neighbor wonder why not spend the money on a new max?

Check out "Favorite links" on the link below, no need for maxima org instant experts

[Distorted]

Thanks for the reply. I'll check out the links also. I'm not hoping for things to "Fix" themselves.....just hoping we got lucky and they didn't break.

As for the belt, I could have written more, but didn't feel it was necessary to get the answer (basically only story telling). That belt didn't last but maybe 10K miles. It was replaced (along with an engine rebuild - pistons and valves) before my dad bought it for my brother. The mechanic was changing the belt, and dropped something (I'm gussing a tool or bolt) into the motor. So the mechanic called up the owner, and told him he'd have to tear the motor apart to find what he dropped. He offered to do a complete top-end rebuild and only charged for parts - the owner accepted.

That's why I was hoping to see a sign of light...it's basically a fresh rebuild on the motor and the car ran GREAT.

While he can get a free motor to replace it with, the cost is going to be around $1000-$1200 to do (the mechanic would have to pull 2 motors and put one back in...since the donor motor is still mounted to the car).

I'm just trying to save my parents money if at all possible. I don't want to see them give up on it without atleast taking a peek.

In the event that it is indeed trashed, is there a market for the good parts? Or should he just haul it to the highest paying junkyard?

Thanks again for the advice.

[Nahkapohjola]

Maybe belt roller got loose...?

The value sits in the 70k chassis: may be in mint condition? If thats the case, youll get a nice ride just swapping a good engine. (This is not bu$iness, however.) Future is something we cannot steer: next corner and whatever vehicle u have, can possibly be flattened, belt broken. From this point of view, the price paid from the vehicle cannot be counted into 'operation cost evaluation'.

Market: Try to first sell it whole, direct. My guess is that over half million of these 3gen 89-94 maxes used to be on the road, maybe 300.000 still running? All are J30 -chassis 3.0 V6, most with (?) VG30E Automatic RE4F02 (manuals come with different, more pricey VG30DE engine).

[crazylost]

hey, guess what, unless that bad boy is 2:30 into the fifth round, VG30e is not an interference engine......put the 20.00 dollar belt on the car and see what happens

[Nahkapohjola]

Originally Posted by crazylost

hey, guess what, unless that bad boy is 2:30 into the fifth round, VG30e is ......

Maxima VG30E is valves hit happily the piston, as/if/when belt broken. There is a nonmaxima engine version which Nissan modified, sold to Mercury, noninterference.

Either seek FSM from link below -or- ...read chihiltons comic servicebook:
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d801f4272.jsp

.