My 2017 Q60 premium non Redsport has also started chirping/squeaking when I accelerate from 2.3k rpm to 3k rpm. It’s 28k miles and still under warranty. Should I just take it to the dealer to get it inspected? Also is there a permanent solution to this? I have lots of AMS/aftermarket mods on the way and I want it to be reliable FBO.

 

Absolutely take it to the dealer. If that belt fails, it can cause a lot of physical damage under the hood as it strikes various components.

 

Can anyone describe what the drive belt noise sounds like? I am getting an odd noise between 2.5k and 3k under medium load. It doesn't sounds like a squeaky or chirp but more like (and I know this sounds crazy) a semi truck horn from far away lol. Its very faint and very brief but easily repeatable.

 

I would describe it as more of a high pitched rattle almost like marbles.

 

all the 2018s i've seen with bad belts seem to be mostly q50s but i think i saw one q60 but they were all modded. its difficult to blame it on design defective when your increase the stock hp in some cases by almost double and something breaks.



in theory it shouldn't matter on a turbo car, but maybe the increased heated created by the the higher hp is making the belt loosen over time and become out of alignment. Maybe a upgrade to a continential belt would address the issue.

 

So does this issue appear to not affect 2018 Q60s or are they just too new to know for sure?

 

i think their was a guy with a 2018 q50 that had the belt issue in the fb groups...but he was modded...so hard to tell. i have a stock q60 2018 red sport with no issues at 7600 miles.

 

After washing the car today, I checked the tensioner indicator. It appears the tension is near the edge of the range.

Maybe a trip to dealer is in order...

 

Oh, and I reached out to Gates regarding their serpentine belt version for the VR30DDTT.

Their website shows P/N K060766A, but is currently listed as "not available".

 

Good read:

https://globalgarage.org/best-serpentine-belt-reviews/

I wonder who supplies Nissan/Infiniti with serpentine belts?

 

Well, 22k miles largely trouble free and now just last week I now have the belt screech under heavy load. Will need to bring the car to the dealer next week. Hate crap like this.

 

Northwest area.

 

Of the United States? What city is your dealership in?

 

Let me chime in on this!!

I have a Q50 Red Sport, bought it brand new.

Every time they checked it, they said it was within alignment. It doesn't matter, it fell apart anyways. There is something seriously wrong with these motors.

Had the screeching belt issue. Eventually they replicated the issue. The misaligned pulley had burned out the water pump.

Trip 1, 2, and 3: replaced water pump, drive belt, drive belt pulley, AC compressor pulley, and tensioner.

This fix lasted about 5 months.

same thing, whistling screeching noise at 3200 RPM on long pulls.

Trips 4,5, and 6: Dealership thought it couldn't be the belt again, since it was "in spec", but they found oil in turbocharger, bank 2. replaced turbocharger, AF sensor, EGT sensor.

Got the car back yesterday. Alignment is off because they didn't do an alignment after removing the subframe. A piece of plastic flew off my car on the freeway because they didn't clip the shroud in properly.
I get on the freeway and the belt screeches again!!

So back to the dealership, they keep saying they have to personally hear it screech, but even then, the last replacement only lasted 6 months. So now I'm back to fighting Nissan over these self-destructing belt issue, and pursuing a lemon law claim with them.

tl;dr- 2017 Q50RS, 17k miles, blown through serpentine belt, tensioner pulley, AC pulley, water pump, turbocharger, AF sensor, EGT sensor, and it STILL screeches and smells like a burnt belt at 3200rpm. No replacement part related to the belts has lasted more than 5 months.

 

Where are you located?

 

The pics are missing now, can they be re-added?

 

The pics in the OP are still there. What pics are you referring to?

 

My belt has started to make some noise over the last couple days under moderate load after the engine is warm. 9900 miles. I looked at the belt on the pulley and the clearance seems correct, so I'll just take mine into the dealership and have them look at it (and knock out the 10k service while they're at it). I'll keep you posted.

In regards to overheating and coolant tanks exploding... if your belt comes off, dash lights will come on. If dash lights come on, PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY and shut the car off. The belt coming off is not a major issue as long as you don't keep driving the car.

 

My belt has started to make some noise over the last couple days under moderate load after the engine is warm. 9900 miles. I looked at the belt on the pulley and the clearance seems correct, so I'll just take mine into the dealership and have them look at it (and knock out the 10k service while they're at it). I'll keep you posted.

Quick update: I took it to the dealership and they were unable to reproduce the issue. They checked tension and visually inspected belt and pulleys and found no issues. I told them the engine has to be hot, and they want to keep the car overnight for diagnosis, but I'm holding off on that. The problem has lessened dramatically now, to the point where I only very occasionally hear a little squeal under heavy load. I'm going to keep an eye on it to see if it goes all the way away.

One thing I learned at the dealership though: one of the techs there said that his 3.0T (premium) had a leaking water pump that leaked on his belt and caused it to squeal. They found no leaks in my car, but it might be something to keep an eye out for on yours.

 

Anyone hear anything more about this? I just saw on instagram that a poster said his "serpentine belt flew off and then the water pump exploded, cause it to overheat and then coolant tank blew up etc etc.".................. This has me concerned... especially since I've been hearing a strange whistle sound sometimes when I accelerate. I'm going to call my dealership to see if they can inspect it.

 

Did you ever hear from the dealership? Did they find anything?

I also have a whistle sound when I floor it (no it's not the tires ) I checked the belt and it looks in spec.

 

Maybe I'm reading too much into 'taking out cars' to mean engine replacement. I would expect at worst it stop driving the alternator and the engine shuts down from dead battery but no real damage.

 

The belt could be damaged or apparently in extreme situations the belt could catch fire if it rubs. A car fire could take a car out, but yeah, the drive belt itself won't directly damage the engine.

 

Since this is a accessory drive belt I'm confused on why it's taking out cars.

 

It's the only drive belt in the car and bad alignment could cause it to rub and burn.

 

So are these being swapped by the dealer? Or are they waiting for something to go wrong first? I believe my VIN is within the range


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So are these being swapped by the dealer? Or are they waiting for something to go wrong first? I believe my VIN is within the range

There is no swap. The belt is realigned if it's out of alignment. Contact your dealer if you're concerned, or look at the first post and inspect the clearance on the belt yourself. It's a visual inspection as seen in the pictures.

 

OK, I was going to correct that it isn't a timing belt, but that's been handled.

As for the clicking/ticking noise described above: I think you're referring to a noise the engine makes when running, and is most noticeable right at cold start. I've been told this has something to do with DIG and is normal.

 

Forgive my ignorance, but wanted to clarify how to ready/interpret that bulletin.

If you have a VIN with a *higher* ending number than the ones listed there, that means your car is newer, and therefor not subject to this issue, correct?

 

Just check your build date. It's clearly stated on the white sticker at the bottom of the drives door framing.

 

It's nice to see some actual dates for the first time. Production is 8/16 on mine. Have been driving with a slight cringe every time I mash the gas peddle, lol

 

You guys are right, sorry, it is indeed the Drive Belt...i'd edit the OP if I could!

 

I visually inspected mine. The gap is at spec. It's the pulley in the center of the front the engine. It's a different drive belt than the one pictured as the outside of it is smooth and uniform in color.

 

For those not in the Q50/Q60 FB group, someone just posted the official Infiniti Bulletin sent out to dealerships regarding the timing belt issue; check your VIN range/manufacturing date to see if your Q60 is affected, or just take it in to your dealership if you want peace of mind.

This issue has been taking out Q50 Red Sports (same engine in Q60 RS 400s obv) left and right for a while now...there was another thread here with one example of a Q60 that had this happen, but that's the only case of an affected Q60 i've seen so far...it's only a matter of time though if you have an affected vehicle probably.

People will be covered via warranty/lemon laws, etc., but this is still a potentially dangerous issue depending on the road situation, etc...always good to be aware!!

This is good information for everyone that might be affected. Thanks Jayce. I've gone ahead and made it a sticky.

If the "Warranty and Service Issues" sub-forum picks up in time, I may move to that sub-forum as a permanent sticky.

 

For those not in the Q50/Q60 FB group, someone just posted the official Infiniti Bulletin sent out to dealerships regarding the timing belt issue; check your VIN range/manufacturing date to see if your Q60 is affected, or just take it in to your dealership if you want peace of mind.

This issue has been taking out Q50 Red Sports (same engine in Q60 RS 400s obv) left and right for a while now...there was another thread here with one example of a Q60 that had this happen, but that's the only case of an affected Q60 i've seen so far...it's only a matter of time though if you have an affected vehicle probably.

People will be covered via warranty/lemon laws, etc., but this is still a potentially dangerous issue depending on the road situation, etc...always good to be aware!!

Thanks for posting. My VIN is a later model.

 

Mine is post-SB, too. And for the record, it is a Drive Belt, not a Timing Belt, alignment issue. Big difference. Oh, and FWIW, the VR30DDTT engine has a Timing Chain.

 

I'm not sure if it's the drive belt, but mine makes a constant clicking noise when the engine is running. I've also noticed there's a clicking (different/same?) when I just have ACC on. Has anyone else noticed this? I had my dealer check it out. The tech said it was normal, but couldn't tell me what it was or why, so I didn't come away feeling very assured.

 

The clutch on the A/C will click as the compressor is engaged and disengaged, but it's not a constant click. Mine only makes bizarre sounds at start up but it has always done this.