Personally, I don't believe the timing chain needs to be replaced at regular intervals. I would be willing to bet that the vast majority of G35's would go their entire lives without needing to replace the timing chain. (Of course, if it goes, you have big problems) The 60K miles service interval I mentioned is simply what Garcia Infiniti will tell you needs to be done. I have one of their "flip charts" with their "Recommended Maintenance Schedule". As part of their 60K mile service, they recommend changing the "timing belt".

I am not sure what the timing chain is made of. From the drawings, I would assume steel. After reading the manual on how the replace it, I will never personally see one.

 

I think that flip chart is still going by old things, like when you did have to change the timing belt, I'd have to look again, but does it use the word chain? I have one of those too, doesn't seem to follow Infiniti's scheduled maintenance 60000 Service Nowhere in Infiniti's 60k service recomendations does it say change timing chain, it does say "inspect engine drive belts", and that is what I am going to go by. I'm going to ask next time I'm in there, which may be next week.

 

Not sure how old the flip chart is, but I got it from Garcia Infiniti two weeks ago. They said they just got it in. I agree, the official Infiniti schedule does not include the timing chain. The flip chart says "timing belt". But Garcia is not talking about the drive belts. The manual calls it a timing chain. The pictures show a chain. Actually 3 chains, one primary and two secondary. Take a look here http://www.g35frenzy.com/downloads/2...anual/B/em.pdf
if you want to see it.

 

I got that "flip chart" back in February when I had the 15k service done on my '04, so unless it's changed, if they just got it in must mean they had reprints done.

 

Sorry, I should have been more clear. They did just do a reprint. I had one from a long time ago, but lost it. I have no idea if they have made changes. There are several items listed throughout the flip chart that are recommended before Infiniti's scheduled maintenance indicates the service is needed.

 

If you notice, one thing not in that chart at 15k, is the in-cabin filter change, the guy who worked there at the time told me "we inspect it" yeah right, they take the dash apart just to look at it, maybe that's why he's no longer there. He also talked me into an alignment, but that won't happen again unless I see some tire problems. I changed that filter myself, and it was dirty!

 

Sorry, I thought engine and timing belts are the same. The dealer replaced my engine belt. No wonder it only took 1/2 hour. Now I'm thinking my local garage could have done it for half the price.

So the G35 is actually a timing chain?! Aren't they suppose to last for the life of the car?

 

It's not the timing chain...........yeesch. It'll last next ta forever. The 'floating calipers' have a tendancy to lock-up on/against themselves (bracket pins) overnight, especially when it's cold and humid, and make a distint clunk when initially moved after start up, but not again until left sitting for a while. I've also had a similar noise that occured via drivetrain (mainshaft) 'slack' that also was only prevalant after long periods of sitting. Never became anything but an annoyance in over two hundred thousand miles of, otherwise, trouble free driving.

 

Just like JBX said, cars tend to make odd noises when you first start driving them after they've sat around for a while. Disc brakes can make a griding after sitting for a while, there's the ever present ABS cycle noise which occurs at around 7mph after starting the car, the auto can make a clunk as the stiff bushing adjust from sitting or being torqued on uneven surface. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about any noise that occurs right after driving a cold car that's sat for a while.

As for the accessory belt, it will not cause a "clunk". The only thing the belt might do squeal like a stuck pig because the belt tension is low. This usually happens right after start up. At 60K miles, the belt should be perfectly fine. The orginial accessory belt on my 96 VQ Maxima had 113K miles and it still looked perfectly fine after 9 years use. The current owner is still on the same belt (130K miles). Some of the ribs were cracked, but that's considered normal and safe per the FSMs. You need to replace the belts when the ribs start falling off or the belt is brittle. I highly doubt your G's belt was at that point.

As for $200 for a belt replacement, that's highway robbery, even if this was in Canada. Removing the belt on my fwd VQ Maxima took 15 minutes and that included jacking up the car, removing a wheel, and splash guard. The G's belt is far easier because you don't have to remove anything. Simply loosen the tensior and remove the belt. The OEM belt costs $25.

All VQ Maximas have timing chains and the same basic accessory layout. I've never heard of a timing chain going bad on any VQ, though I do know the chain tensioners can go bad. Thank goodness Nissan put access ports on timing chain cover to replace the tensioner. The water pump is driven by the timing chain.