How often should the timing belt of the Nissan Tiida be replaced?
3 Answers
The Tiida uses a timing chain, which needs to be inspected every 100,000 kilometers or so, and replaced if damaged. The timing chain is an important component of the engine's valve system, ensuring the accuracy of intake and exhaust timing by connecting with the crankshaft and maintaining a specific gear ratio. The installation method for the timing chain is as follows: 1. Align the mark on the camshaft timing gear with the mark on the valve cover. 2. Align the mark on the crankshaft timing gear with the mark on the front cover. 3. Install the timing chain in sequence onto the crankshaft timing gear, water pump pulley, idler pulley, camshaft timing gear, and tensioner pulley. 4. Loosen the tensioner pulley mounting bolt by 1/4 to 1/2 turn, compress the automatic tensioner pushrod to its lowest position, insert a steel pin into the hole, adjust the pulley with a snap ring pliers, rotate counterclockwise to align the two adjustment holes of the pulley parallel to the ground, tighten the fixing bolt, and remove the steel pin. 5. Rotate the crankshaft clockwise two full turns and check if the timing marks are correctly aligned. 6. Reinstall the lower outer cover of the timing chain and the upper outer cover of the timing belt on the right side of the engine. 7. Reinstall the generator and air conditioning compressor belt. 8. Start the engine and check for any abnormalities.
I just checked the manual for the Nissan Tiida. The timing belt for this car is generally recommended to be replaced at 80,000-100,000 kilometers or around 6 years. It depends on driving conditions—cars frequently stuck in traffic or used for long-distance trips should have it checked earlier, ideally at 70,000 kilometers. Once at a repair shop, I saw a Tiida with 130,000 kilometers that hadn’t had its belt replaced, and the belt snapped, bending all the engine valves. The repair cost nearly 10,000 yuan. I’d like to remind owners to check the belt edges for cracks—if you see longitudinal cracks, it’s time for a replacement. By the way, when replacing the belt, it’s best to change the water pump and tensioner pulley at the same time to save on labor costs.
As a veteran owner who has driven three Nissan Tiidas, I've replaced the belt twice over 150,000 kilometers. The first replacement was at 80,000 km at a 4S shop, where the mechanic said the OEM belt was good quality but shouldn't be used beyond its service life. At 140,000 km, I noticed a squeaking sound during rapid acceleration, and the repair shop found the belt edges were frayed when they opened it up. Note that turbocharged models require shorter replacement intervals, and those frequently driven on mountain roads should replace them even earlier. After replacement, the throttle response felt more agile, likely due to higher transmission efficiency with the new belt. Now during every maintenance session, I have the mechanic check the belt condition as routine.
