been leaking for a while. The green radiator
fluid under engine of car. The tech said to replace
a certain pin while doing the water pump.
This seem to be a correct dealer price?
Thanks for you guys advice!
The water pump is a pain in the a.s to change on the Max. I just had mine
done by a mechanic who is a friend and he charged $300. I would say that
$480 is not highway robbery. The water pump is located in the same place as
the timing chain (i think). I bet the water pump costs like a bill 50 and
the rest is labor. Lots of labor. For stuff like that try to find someone
you trust to do it on the side. Also just ask one of the dealership mech's
if they will do it on the side. I know of a few that do that kind of stuff.
> been leaking for a while. The green radiator
> fluid under engine of car. The tech said to replace
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thanks for you guys advice!
Codifus - 19 Feb 2004 23:27 GMT
> The water pump is a pain in the a.s to change on the Max. I just had mine
> done by a mechanic who is a friend and he charged $300. I would say that
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>>
>>Thanks for you guys advice!
Yeah, the water pump is a major job. It is housed inside the timing
chain cover. There's an opening on the timing chain cover so you can get
at the water pump without having to take off the whole cover, but space
is sooo incredibly tight there. Also, since the water pumps sits there,
one side of it is bathed in coolant (of course) and the other side, the
gear side, is bathed in motor oil. Usually they recommend to change the
oil and anit-freeze as well when doing the water pump because the fluids
are bound to mix.
CD
CW - 26 Feb 2004 04:42 GMT
The water pump costs about a $100. More than likely, it is just the
o-ring seals (2) leaking which can be purchased for $15 total. You
can argue that if you are going through the trouble to just replace
the water pump though.
FSM describes the process quite nicely. Chilton online manual does a
nice job too. It should take about 2 hours. Definitely do an oil
change afterwards, due to coolant spillage.
CW
> been leaking for a while. The green radiator
> fluid under engine of car. The tech said to replace
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thanks for you guys advice!
This does sound like a dealer pricing. I think labor is $60/70 Hour I
would guess 3.5 hours and Nissan parts are not cheap.
dk
How many miles on the car?
If you are replacing the water pump, your are probably at 100,000 plus
miles. Replacing the water pump requires pulling the cover of the end of
the engine, exposing the timing chain (my 93 Max has a belt but I think the
newer ones use a chain). This also exposes the crankshaft and camshaft
seals that may need replacing. As long as the end of the engine is exposed,
fix everything that's in there -- it would be very expensive to replace the
water pump then have to go back in there in six months and replace leaking
camshaft or crankshaft seals.
The timing belt on my 93 is supposed to be replaced at 60,000 miles. When I
did the second replacement at 120,000 -- rather, when I took it in for the
dealer to do it -- I had him replace the water pump although it really did
not need replacing -- I was concerned that it would let go and we would need
to pull the engine cover again. As it turned out, the dealer found leaking
camshaft seals -- oil was slung around inside the engine cover -- so, we
replaced the timing belt, water pump, and the seals. It all came to just
over $1,000 but was worth it for the peace of mind.

Signature
----
Joe S.
> been leaking for a while. The green radiator
> fluid under engine of car. The tech said to replace
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thanks for you guys advice!
Warner Crump - 20 Feb 2004 15:42 GMT
I agree replace most of what you can while they are in there. Labor just to
get to that area is expensive. I replaced my water pump/radiator at 170k.
Just a testiment to how well these cars are built. I think I had my very
first problem at 110k and that was the AC Blower Motor. After that it was
the stupid Knock Sensor. I swear that thing must be made out of gold. Then
I think the CV axels had to be done some where around 130k. All in all its
been the most trouble free car I have owned.
> How many miles on the car?
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> >
> > Thanks for you guys advice!
Nick - 20 Feb 2004 16:17 GMT
> How many miles on the car?
>
> If you are replacing the water pump, your are probably at 100,000 plus
> miles. Replacing the water pump requires pulling the cover of the end of
> the engine, exposing the timing chain (my 93 Max has a belt but I think the
> newer ones use a chain).
You don't need to pull the cover on a 4th gen. The waterpump has an access
hole in the timing chain cover, so you can easily get in there without a big
project.
To the original poster - I believe the mechanic is talking about the chain
tensioner, which needs to be removed, and usually fails around the same time
the water pump does (for some reason!). Its not too involved to have to do
it down the road, but it needs to be removed to extract the waterpump, so
you might as well.
Nick
Dan - 21 Feb 2004 00:28 GMT
>>How many miles on the car?
>>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Nick
I agree, unlike the 3rd Gen models, you can get to the water pump
though the water pump cover. But I don't think you have to remove
the tensioner, just press it in, lock it in place, and turn the
crankshaft a little to loosen the chain.
Nick - 21 Feb 2004 03:28 GMT
> >>How many miles on the car?
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> the tensioner, just press it in, lock it in place, and turn the
> crankshaft a little to loosen the chain.
I found it impossible to remove the waterpump and slacken the chain enough
without removing the tensioner. The poster should probably just do it
anyway, as a lot of Maxima's have issues with it over 100k (chain rattle on
cold startup).
surfsalterpath - 21 Feb 2004 16:44 GMT
crankshaft seals.
Thanks for your suggestions! I have a 2001 SE AnnvEd
and like it but the 96se has held up well and rides
good. Our daughters car now but it is still in the
family and would like to keep it as long as she's in
school. So this is what we are going to do by dealer:
new water pump
replace chain tenshioner
replace camshaft seals
replace crankshaft seals
quote was $480 for waterpump and chain tenshioner
and $50 more for the 2 seals
any other suggestions while they have this section
on the engine uncovered? on a reliable
96se w/ 185,000 great miles?
bitsbucket - 01 Mar 2004 16:45 GMT
What else have you had changed on this car? I am curious because I have 2
Maximas,,,,,,a 97 and a 96 both have over 120K miles and I have done the
drive axles on both, but have not had any problems with anything else.....so
as I said I was curious as to what you have done to get the 185K miles out
of yours.....that is GREAT mileage!
I had a 280ZX that had 225K on it....but that was the old inline 6 not the
V-6 and it was NEVER cracked open for ANY type of major engine
repair,,Nissan RULES! (Infinity too......I really want a G-35 2 door coupe!!
still a Nissan!)
Thanks
2maximas
> crankshaft seals.
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> on the engine uncovered? on a reliable
> 96se w/ 185,000 great miles?
I also own a '96 SE and am being quoted $600 (in novi, MI) for water
pump replacement. I had coolant leaking from near the oil pan cover.
I was told it would take many hours (>6) of labour to do the water pump
which has 95% likelihood of being the problem. Am having work started
on it today...
> been leaking for a while. The green radiator
> fluid under engine of car. The tech said to replace
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thanks for you guys advice!
jmattis@attglobal.net - 11 Jan 2005 21:04 GMT
> I also own a '96 SE and am being quoted $600 (in novi, MI) for water
> pump replacement. I had coolant leaking from near the oil pan cover.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> >
> > Thanks for you guys advice!
Mine was $625 at the Infiniti dealer on my I30t, and I supplied the
coolant.
All they did was a pump r & r by the way.
khankins@ameritech.net - 14 Jan 2005 00:07 GMT
Try finding a local garage with a good reputation. I know a water pump
should not cost over 50 bucks. I just replaced one on my cadillac(v8) and I
bought it for 45 dollars and replaced it myself...time(2 hrs.) What I am
trying to say is the DEALERSHIP= BIG BUCKS.
I understand that not all people can/or want to do their own repairs. It
all comes down to What is your Time worth.
Keith (Frugal)
>I also own a '96 SE and am being quoted $600 (in novi, MI) for water
> pump replacement. I had coolant leaking from near the oil pan cover.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>>
>> Thanks for you guys advice!
TWW - 14 Jan 2005 01:55 GMT
> Try finding a local garage with a good reputation. I know a water pump
> should not cost over 50 bucks. I just replaced one on my cadillac(v8) and I
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Keith (Frugal)
Big difference changing a water pump on the typical rear drive American V8
and a front drive Maxima.
> >I also own a '96 SE and am being quoted $600 (in novi, MI) for water
> > pump replacement. I had coolant leaking from near the oil pan cover.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> >>
> >> Thanks for you guys advice!
Codifus - 14 Jan 2005 19:23 GMT
>>Try finding a local garage with a good reputation. I know a water pump
>>should not cost over 50 bucks. I just replaced one on my cadillac(v8) and
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>>>>
>>>>Thanks for you guys advice!
Exactly. The water pump on the maxima is definitely a $400-$600 job.
Maxima has a timing chain and the water pump sits inside the timing
chain cover and is chain driven. Also, because one side of the pump is
bathed in motor oil and the other side is pushing the anit-freeze
around, it's best to change the oil as well as the anti-freeze when you
change the water pump.
CD
DO NOT REPLY to this ADDRESS - 15 Jan 2005 06:15 GMT
...and while it's open replace the timing chain??? Unless it's been done
recently.
> >>Try finding a local garage with a good reputation. I know a water pump
> >>should not cost over 50 bucks. I just replaced one on my cadillac(v8) and
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
>
> CD
--
Address is NOT monitored due to SPAM volume from newsgroups. DO NOT REPLY to
post directly.
E. Meyer - 16 Jan 2005 00:21 GMT
Uh ..... No. The water pump is accessed through an access port. The chain
requires more work to change and there should be no need to change it.
On 1/15/05 12:15 AM, in article 41E8B4E5.824D77D8@comcast.net, "DO NOT REPLY
to this ADDRESS" <s_p_a_m@comcast.net> wrote:
> ...and while it's open replace the timing chain??? Unless it's been done
> recently.
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
> Address is NOT monitored due to SPAM volume from newsgroups. DO NOT REPLY to
> post directly.
David Geesaman - 17 Jan 2005 14:36 GMT
The timing chain tensioner is wise to replace with this job since it must be
removed anyway and can sometimes go soft. The chain itself rarely fails.
Dave
> ...and while it's open replace the timing chain??? Unless it's been done
> recently.