# Time for Timing belt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** nissan, altima\ **Created:** [February 25, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842 "2011-02-25T16:07:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![buddypoore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@buddypoore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/buddypoore)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842/1 "2011-02-25T16:07:19Z")
My 2002 Nissan Altima has 64K miles on the odometer. Is there a timing belt/chain on this car and does it need to be replaced? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842/2 "2011-02-25T16:22:10Z")
Did you look at your owners manual?? If you have a belt then it will be in the owners manual along with the mileage/time interval in which it should be changed. But check your owners manual first. ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842/3 "2011-02-25T16:43:41Z")
look at your engine…if theres a plastic cover on the front of the engine near the front pulleys…you have a BELT…your metal valve cover will end short of the front of the engine and in its place will be a black plastic cover…if you have the cover you have a belt I just looked it up and it looks like you have a CHAIN…so ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842/4 "2011-02-25T18:17:04Z")
If there’s a timing belt, it’ll be mentioned in the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842/5 "2011-02-25T21:42:55Z")
Yes, if it has a belt it is time to change it based on 8+ years of driving. If the manual does not mention a Timinhg Belt, it probaly has a chain. Our 1994 Nissan has a chain. ---
**Author:** ![realbinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@realbinky](https://community.cartalk.com/u/realbinky)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842/6 "2011-02-25T23:51:27Z")
Did you even look at your manual before posting? I ask because I wonder what people think that book is for if not this. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842/7 "2011-02-26T01:57:07Z")
Many cars this old are with their 2nd owner. Usually the owners and maintenance manual are in the bottom of a landfill… ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842/8 "2011-02-26T04:11:06Z")
Your car has a timing chain, not a belt. Generally good for the life of the car, aside from that occasional oddball that breaks a chain guide. Anyway, no maintenance needed unless there’s excessive noise. ---
**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842/9 "2011-02-26T14:36:19Z")
All cars have either a timing belt, a timing chain, or timing gears. Yours has a chain. No regular maintenance necessary to maintain it, outside of regular oil changes. ---
**Author:** ![buddypoore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@buddypoore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/buddypoore)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/time-for-timing-belt/61842/10 "2011-03-02T15:35:31Z")
Thanks for that advice. Silly of me not to have done that, but I’m not car saavy and have a lot of difficulty interpreting this kind of stuff, but will take your suggestion to heart before I post. I would like to thank all those who did give me a reasonable answer, and it seems that the timing " chain " doesn’t have to be replaced on this vehicle. I’ve been trying to check it with a Nissan dealer, but strangely enough, I get differing answers/opinions.