Buying a car is a big budget for the majority of us, however, to this one you will have to add the maintenance of your car, and for some maintenance acts the bill can be quite high. It is therefore logical to ask yourself when is the best time to execute these repairs and not do them “for nothing”. In this article we are going to explain to you when to change the timing belt on your Nissan Altima? For that, first of all, we are going to find out why it is important to achieve this work of maintenance, then, when to do the timing belt of your Nissan Altima , then, we are going to fairly quickly demonstrate to you how this replace is done, and, at last, how much it costs to do the timing belt of a Nissan Altima.

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Why do we need to change the timing belt of an Nissan Altima?

As we explained to you in introduction, changing a timing belt on a Nissan Altima represents a very important budget, so we discover that you are cautious to do it and to allow you to discover the value of this fix, so we will fairly quickly explain why it is so important to do it on time.

Your Nissan Altima’s timing belt function

The timing of a Nissan Altima has an important function in the smooth running of your engine. Obviously, it will have the mission to synchronize the valves and pistons, and to make the link between the camshaft, the water pump, the crankshaft and the injection pump . It will allow the engine unit to work effectively, and avoid any risk of engine breakage. The shorter the distance your vehicle travels, the more your belt will be solicited when starting the engine unit.

What are the risks if the timing belt is not changed in time?

The issue with the timing of a Nissan Altima is that it is internal to the engine unit. And so, contrary to an accessory belt, it is impossible to visually verify its state. So you might think that this belt is just an insignificant part, but the risks you take if you don’t change it in time are enormous. If the timing of your Nissan Altima breaks, you will undoubtedly have to change the engine of this one. Obviously, the pistons will hit the valves and damage them, and the camshaft will also break. The faster the engine is running at the moment of the breakage, the more serious the results are. It is consequently crucial to make your timing belt on time .

When to do the timing belt of its Nissan Altima?

We will now answer the question that you all have to ask yourselves, when to produce the timing belt of a Nissan Altima? It is required to know that each engine unit is different and as we revealed above, we must not miss on the replacement of this part. The more we advance in time the more the manufacturers improve the timing belt and normally the more recent your Nissan Altima will be the less you will have to get worried about your belt. Nevertheless, look at your Nissan Altima’s service book to get the exact life and maximum mileage you can achieve before you do the timing . On average, timing belts have a life of 5 to 10 years and a maximum mileage between 80, 000 and 200, 000km .

How to change the timing belt of an Nissan Altima?

As the timing belt of a Nissan Altima represents a high budget, one can logically question if it is not possible to change it yourself. Unfortunately it is very tricky to access and only the most knowledgeable amateur mechanics and the most equipped with tools will be able to reflect on this process, we will however fairly quickly summarize the different steps to be executed to replace this timing belt:

  • Place the Nissan Altima on stands, and depending on your engine unit you may have to remove a wheel. Take out the timing gearboxes
  • .

  • To get this done, you must buy the timing kit so that all the engine unit components remain in the right position, otherwise your engine unit will break. Take out the other elements that bother you (damper pulley for example).
  • Take out the old distribution after loosening the tension rollers. Before positioning the new one, you must remove all the tensioning rollers and the water pump.
  • Mount the new water pump.
  • Install the new tension rollers, pay attention to the location of each one.
  • Install the new distribution of your Nissan Altima by respecting the markers.
  • Tension the belt as indicated by the manufacturer’s data.
  • Put the rest of it back together.
  • Check that the engine unit is running effectively.

Replacing the timing belt how much does it cost?

And finally, we’ll try to give you an idea of the price if you want to replace the timing belt of your Nissan Altima . Be aware that if you do it at the mechanic of the brand or at a car center like Feu Vert the price can vary quite a lot, but in general we estimate that the price of the distribution varies between 400 and 900 euros , depending on the place where you do it and your engine unit. Please note that the kits include the belt, idlers and water pump.

In the event that you have any further questions about the Nissan Altima, do not hesitate to consult our Nissan Altima category.