When completing any timing chain and/or timing chain component replacement, Cloyes always recommends that all components of the timing system be replaced at the same time. Reusing worn components can cause instability in the timing system resulting in poor performance or premature system failure.

This certainly applies to the Nissan 3.5L V6 engine, found in popular Nissan Altima, Maxima, and Quest vehicles from 2002 – 2014. Cloyes offers four kits for the Nissan 3.5L engines, including 9-0720S, 9-0720SA, 9-0730A, and 9-0730SA. Please note the kits do include different components, so it is important to check the Cloyes catalog. In this instance, we are sharing information related to the Cloyes kit 9-0720S.

For this timely replacement, it is required to remove the front camshaft bearing caps to access the secondary tensioners.

Another step in the installation that Nissan instructs technicians and do-it-yourself customers to do is to remove the intermediate cover first, then remove the front camshaft caps to access the tensioners. The engineering and technical support team has discovered a trick that will save time and money. Do not remove the intermediate cover first! Our technical video on YouTube, found at https://youtu.be/ApLFUgESFTw, shows you how to save more than two hours of costly labor time.

In the video, the Cloyes technical support team shows you how to remove the front camshaft caps to replace the secondary tensioners without the hassle of removing, cleaning, and resealing the intermediate cover. Again, this results in a saving of more than two hours of work.

Chains can experience wear and stretch, guide contact surfaces can become damaged and guide bracketry can break, damage to the tensioners can occur, and sprocket tooth wear will develop when operating with an unstable chain. For these reasons, and the fact that timing component cost is a fraction of the labor costs required to replace the components, it is recommended to replace all components when making the repair. In doing so, the consumer and technician can save time as return visit may be prevented; the vehicle owner will save money in the long run as opposed to having multiple components replaced at different intervals; and the technician and shop can reduce comebacks thanks to all components being replaced at the same time.

Most recently, Cloyes enhanced its coverage on the Nissan 3.5L engine with the addition of timing chain water pump kits. With intense focus on increased coverage and continued service to its customers, Cloyes today announced the expansion of its timing chain water pump kit product line. The three new kits from Cloyes are for Nissan, Infiniti, and Suzuki 3.5-liter and 4.0-liter V6 engine applications, including 2002 – 2019 350Z, Altima, Equator, G35, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Quest, Xterra, and more. These kits provide coverage for 3 million vehicles-in-operation (VIO) in North America.