Major drive belt failure only 500 miles after dealer replacement
02-15-2018, 10:27 AM
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Major drive belt failure only 500 miles after dealer replacement
Hey all, this is my first post, and I come here because im at a loss with how to proceed. I have a 2011 g37x sedan that just went in for it’s 100k service while I was in Chicago. Infiniti Dealer did plug maintenance and fluid flushes as well as a replacement of my accessory drive belt for preventative maintenance. Drove it almost 300 miles home and start to hear a grinding noise from the acc belt that week. Scheduled an appt at the same dealer to have them check it out next week, but as I was driving around town today I heard a loud clunk, and that was the belt completely coming off the pulleys. I shut the car off and parked it immediately, then had it towed to the closest dealer, a nissan dealer that was still 50 miles away. They told me a pulley (still waiting on more information as to which one) was so loose it came off and destroyed the front engine cover, and took out the new belt. The dealer I JUST had service on the car is refusing to take responsibility for this. I know things happen, but in the entire year and 55k I’ve owned the G for, there has never been so much as a peep from the drive belt or pulleys. To anyone with more mechanical experiance then me: is it possible the dealer didn’t re-assemble the system correctly or damaged it while swapping the belt? I was only about a week and 500 miles into the new belt before the failure. Thanks so much everyone.
02-15-2018, 11:35 AM
#3
There is a tensioner with indicators on it that should show if it needs replaced. It could be it was outside the range and should have been replaced 
Pictures here:
https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...-09-g37-4.html
Pictures here:
https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...-09-g37-4.html
02-15-2018, 12:16 PM
#4
I'm surprised they didn't replace the tensioner and idler pulleys the same time the belt was done. At 100K miles it's highly recommended. Also, manipulating the tensioner assembly to change belts could have damaged it. Specifically, the tensioner is at one position most of the time. To get the belt off, it has to be moved against the internal spring to relieve tension. As the tensioner ages, spring weakens and may no long provide adequate tension (see link above).
This of course has nothing to do with a pulley coming off, but that too is not unheard of. There was a post here not too long ago about the exact same issue.
https://www.myg37.com/forums/g37-sed...e-driving.html
I suppose it's important to check all idler pulley bolts when replacing a belt (along with checking the pulleys themselves for grinding/binding/restrictive rotation).
So, is it entirely the dealer's fault..... hard to say. Did they recommend replacing the pulleys and you declined? Was this fields or someone else?
This of course has nothing to do with a pulley coming off, but that too is not unheard of. There was a post here not too long ago about the exact same issue.
https://www.myg37.com/forums/g37-sed...e-driving.html
I suppose it's important to check all idler pulley bolts when replacing a belt (along with checking the pulleys themselves for grinding/binding/restrictive rotation).
So, is it entirely the dealer's fault..... hard to say. Did they recommend replacing the pulleys and you declined? Was this fields or someone else?
02-15-2018, 12:30 PM
#5
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Hey all, this is my first post, and I come here because im at a loss with how to proceed. I have a 2011 g37x sedan that just went in for it’s 100k service while I was in Chicago. Infiniti Dealer did plug maintenance and fluid flushes as well as a replacement of my accessory drive belt for preventative maintenance. Drove it almost 300 miles home and start to hear a grinding noise from the acc belt that week. Scheduled an appt at the same dealer to have them check it out next week, but as I was driving around town today I heard a loud clunk, and that was the belt completely coming off the pulleys. I shut the car off and parked it immediately, then had it towed to the closest dealer, a nissan dealer that was still 50 miles away. They told me a pulley (still waiting on more information as to which one) was so loose it came off and destroyed the front engine cover, and took out the new belt. The dealer I JUST had service on the car is refusing to take responsibility for this. I know things happen, but in the entire year and 55k I’ve owned the G for, there has never been so much as a peep from the drive belt or pulleys. To anyone with more mechanical experiance then me: is it possible the dealer didn’t re-assemble the system correctly or damaged it while swapping the belt? I was only about a week and 500 miles into the new belt before the failure. Thanks so much everyone.
Did you ever speak to the service manager at the dealer that did the work?
Hopefully you paid by credit card so dispute the charge with your credit card company for poor workmanship and request a charge-back.
Have the vehicle towed to another Infiniti dealer. AAA provides 200 mile free towing.
Telcoman
02-15-2018, 12:42 PM
#6
^^How did you determine the OP has AAA?
This type of failure would be hard to prove it was poor workmanship. The car did drive for 300 miles prior to failure. No significant parts come off to change the belt - coolant reservoir, maybe lower cover. But these have nothing to do with the failure that occurred.
PS. You haven't refueled in 2 months??
This type of failure would be hard to prove it was poor workmanship. The car did drive for 300 miles prior to failure. No significant parts come off to change the belt - coolant reservoir, maybe lower cover. But these have nothing to do with the failure that occurred.
PS. You haven't refueled in 2 months??
02-15-2018, 01:45 PM
#7
I could see a mechanic cranking a pulley loose to make ease of access better to change the belt or as a shortcut or by mistake instead of turning the tensioner and forgetting to re tighten it or not tightening it enough... the 500 miles doesn't seem that far fetched as the amount of time it took before it finally let go...
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02-15-2018, 01:51 PM
#8
You have a point. I recall one of these threads mentioning removal of a particular pulley does make it easier to r&r the belt. I think the OP has an uphill battle here.
Reason enough to do your own maintenance if at all possible. If I screw up I have have myself to blame.
Reason enough to do your own maintenance if at all possible. If I screw up I have have myself to blame.
made me buy the tensioner and the 3 idler pulleys today.
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