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Nissan Altima Engine Failures

684 messages,  Last post on Jun 14, 2013 at 2:37 PM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan Altima, Engine, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 18 of 69

#165 of 684 Re: nissan frontier 2.5 [kamikazejoshua] by electricdesign

Jan 22, 2008 (8:29 am)

Replying to: kamikazejoshua (Jan 21, 2008 7:04 pm)
I have not seen any numbers or percentages to indicate how common this occurance may be. I know that it happened to my daughters 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5S at about 90,000 miles and I have read that many others have had the same complaints of the Cats failing, exhaust clogging and exessive engine oil consumption, generally ranging from about 60,000 miles to 90,000 miles. I have read of the same problems that others are having with the same car on other sites. I do not know what the percentages are, but I would like to know, but have not found a good source for information. Time will tell, we should have good information in a year or two, but it will be too late for too many by then.
I would think the the most logical first step that the manufacturer would take is too increase the reliablity of the Converter, by using better screens on each side of the chemical in the Converter, to be sure that the chemical does not get released into the engine, or breaks loose and clogs the exhaust systems at the next component downstream. Hopefully they are doing that allready, but Nissan is remaining silent about this issue. I have been hoping that they would address this issue, but so far nothing. It seems that once it is out of warrenty, you are are on your own. I would suggest if you have not done so, to go back to the begining and read all the posts in this forum, and read all that you can find about it on the Internet.
I expect a car to last a lot longer than the 3 year manufacturer's warrenty, and I expect the Cats to last a lot longer than the 80,000 mile federal warranty. I buy my cars with 90,000 to 100,000 miles on them and drive them to about 200,000 miles, and I still have the original exhaust system, original mufflers, original Cats, original paint, original engine and original transmission that run and shift like new. Thats what I expect, but maybe it's because I drive Ford V8 Explorers. I will buy my next car for my wife this year in a about a month or two, and will likely be a 2004 Toyota Highlander with V6. I will hate to have to sell my wifes 1997 Ford Explorer XLT 5.0L V8, because it has been such an excellent vehicle, but someone else will be enjoying it for a long time. No Nissans for us!
Good Luck,
E.D. in Sunny Florida

#166 of 684 Re: nissan frontier 2.5 [electricdesign] by aguarino

Jan 22, 2008 (4:33 pm)

Replying to: electricdesign (Jan 22, 2008 8:29 am)
Enjoyed your letter. I agree with your version, that Nissan is being very quiet. If the problem is not that wide spread, you would think that Nissan would assist the complainers and not issue any recalls. But they do not even return phone calls.
I have 3 of these and one affected so far. The other 2 will be up for sale by the end of the winter. I am also going with Toyota or Honda in the future. Glad you have good luck with Fords, I hear from body repair shops that they are slapped together. I guess it it like anything else, maybe the cheaper vechiles are the ones they are talking about. Have you heard anything on a class action filed on Nissan for the Altima's?

#167 of 684 Re: nissan frontier 2.5 [electricdesign] by kamikazejoshua

Jan 22, 2008 (6:09 pm)

Replying to: electricdesign (Jan 22, 2008 8:29 am)
Thank you electricdesign, you have been very helpful

#168 of 684 Re: THREAD FOR ACTION! Nissan Altima 2002 oil burning/engine failure [electricdesign] by isileli

Jan 23, 2008 (6:57 pm)

Replying to: electricdesign (Jan 09, 2008 7:53 pm)
Hey E.D.,
 
I appreciate the info that you've put out on this forum. It has helped me understood technically what my engine problem is. (since I know very little about car mechanics.)
 
I talked to the dealership service manager recently and this is how I summarized it. The dealership is well aware of this issue with the Nissan 2002 Altima 2.5L engine problem but because Nissan corporate won't do anything about it, the dealerships are pushing cost of repairs to the customers and of course not tell customer's that this is a common problem.
 
I don't what kind of system Nissan is running but it seems like everyone is on their own, the dealerships are on their own, the customers are on their own, etc. I had no luck with consumer affairs just like everyone else but to be honest, I think it would have been better if they didn't have consumer affairs because they wasted my time. I think Nissan thinks, we will only buy one car in our lifetime. Bottomline, I will never buy nissan, my family will never, my friends and so on etc.
 
Anyways, I am seeking advice. I am deciding whether to fix my car or trade it in as in a few months from now I am due for new vehicle. The impression I get from your posting and other posting from other people on the internet is that even if I get the engine problem fixed, I will still run into the same problem and because it's just a design flaw with engine. Also, it seems to me that some Nissan dealerships are barely just gettting up to speed with this issue and usually fix one issue instead of fixing all the issues.
 
I prefer to fix and keep the nissan but if I will run into the same or more problems down the road in the next few months, I will definitely trade it in.
 
Any info will be greatly appreciated.
 
thanks,
Isileli

#169 of 684 Re: THREAD FOR ACTION! Nissan Altima 2002 oil burning/engine failure [isileli] by electricdesign

Jan 23, 2008 (9:33 pm)

Replying to: isileli (Jan 23, 2008 6:57 pm)
I am glad that you posted your comments, it has shown me that I need to make some important clairifications. I assume you have read all the messeges from at least #75 on to this one. If not, please be sure to do so.
Now to clear up the misconception. I understand how this could be misunderstood by non technical people, because that is who this forum is mostly for. I've worked on cars all my life, I've worked as a line mechanic in 3 american car dealerships in the 1970's and at a national transmission repair chain, but I retired from that work and found a better way to make a living. I still do all my own work however, and maintain a well equipped garage to work in. My prescence here is to help people and give advice if I can. I have been especially angered by this Nissan Altima 2.5 engine problem because it directly involved my daughters car and has costed me time and money (but not nearly as much as most of you). I have heard of the needless problems and pain of the Nissan Altima owners, and I do deeply sympathize with you.
Here is the misconception, many owners are thinking the engine is bad, BUT it is NOT the engine that is bad. It is the EXHAUST SYSTEM that is bad. The Cats are in the exhaust system, and when the Cat goes bad, it ruins the engine by contaminating the engine. If the Cats were made correctly and did not throw their contents into the engine, the engine would probably live a "normal" life. The REAL solution should have been for Nissan to use quality made Catalytic Converters, that would permanently contain the chemical. It may have just been a poor choice by Nissan to use that particular Cat. I don't know where they get them from, and I don't know where they are made, but I hope that they are now using better Cats in the new Altimas.
Once the Cat messes up the engine by throwing the chemical into the engine, which causes the piston rings and clyinders to wear out, then the engine IS BAD, and usually has to be replaced.
The solution to the problem is to NOT let the CAT eat up the engine. This is a touchy subject, because the CAT is required by law, because it reduces pollution. It also depends on where you live and if you are required to subject you car to emissions testing. What happens sometimes is that the chemicals and screens inside of the CAT breaks apart and the contents of the Cat is blown down the exhaust pipe. If the material happens to be blown out the muffler and out the tailpipe, then the material is no longer a threat to the engine, because it is gone. However, since it is gone, the oxygen sensors in the exhaust system, one before the Cat and one after the CAT, will detect that the CAT is not working and will throw the Diagnostic Trouble Code "Catalytic Converter Efficiency below threshold" or some such messege, and will cause the "service engine soon" light to come on. If the CATs get blown out, the engine will run fine, you would have to live with the "SES" light on all the time, if you can.
Last but not least - Don't ever let your Altima engine overheat. The heat will warp the head and blow the head gasket, maybe crack the head, requiring the engine teardown for head gasket replacement and cylinder head rebuild (read messeges #103 - #113).
About the issue of whether to fix the car or trade it in, that is a matter of money, compare the cost of repair and aggrevation against the trade in value. Unfortunately, I think you lose either way, it's just a matter of how much you lose. Only you can decide how to spend your money.
Hope this helps,
E.D. in Sunny Florida

#170 of 684 Re: THREAD FOR ACTION! Nissan Altima 2002 oil burning/engine failure [electricdesign] by ken75

Jan 24, 2008 (8:22 am)

Replying to: electricdesign (Jan 23, 2008 9:33 pm)
With all these lovely problems that Nissan is having, is there a web site or government program which lists all recalls or problems in the auto industry. Nissans reticence to address these problems has put something of a burr under my saddle even though I have not had a problem, and should not have a problem, with our 2008 Altima 2.5 SL. As my Dad used to say, "something smells rotton in Denmark" and Nissan had better step up to the plate before the issue really starts to effect there bottom line. America's pocket books are tightening up and any whisper of poor product performance can and has squashed a product line. Now that I have spent a bundle on this car, which I really like, it pains me to see the potential for future problems and I hope that either changes have been made in the 2008 model or Nissan will start to take care of business.

#171 of 684 Re: THREAD FOR ACTION! Nissan Altima 2002 oil burning/engine failure [ken75] by aguarino

Jan 24, 2008 (8:52 am)

Replying to: ken75 (Jan 24, 2008 8:22 am)
Any not aware of any design changes for the 2008, if fact the 2006 is now showing engine problems, the same engine that is in the 2002-3-4-5-6-7. I have 3 of these-(1) 2002 and (2) 2003 in this family, and we like the car. Only the 2002 has hit the 80,000 mile mark when all the problems surface. Nissan had not returned any of my calls, and I call routinely. The dealer has been simpathetic but "oh well the car has miles on it and these things happen". Some of the service men working for the dealership in town, it's rumored, that there are several engines being replaced at a cost to the customer of $4000.00 each. Of course, Nissan is very closed mouth about this. I think this is a crime! I reported my problems to Nissan North America, Consumer Affairs, the National investagative division for auto recalls, and the attorney general in my state. I am looking for a class action filing against Nissan on this problem. They are already in a class action for another issue. I wish you well. Enjoy the car while you can.

#172 of 684 Re: THREAD FOR ACTION! Nissan Altima 2002 oil burning/engine failure [isileli] by aguarino

Jan 24, 2008 (9:07 am)

Replying to: isileli (Jan 23, 2008 6:57 pm)
I would like to keep my 3 Nissans also, but do we take the chance? Look at the recalls on the 2006 motors. These are the same one used in the 2002-3-4-5-6. What can you expect? I chose to repair the 2002 that was down, I had to.I am looking for a Toyota or Honda to replace it. The other 2 Nissans will be gone before fall. And I have purchased Nissan most of my life, from the days of the Datsun (300,000 miles) and I sold it. But never again. This family will be going to a more reliable auto.

#174 of 684 Re: 2002 Altima with "THE" oil problem [czander] by laura19

Jan 25, 2008 (11:03 am)

Replying to: czander (Jan 06, 2008 10:56 am)
I have a 2002 Altima S as well. I have had unexplained oil consumption and was told that I needed the valve cover gasket replaced. I did that. Then my Piston # 3 was misfiring. I had my #3 coilpack and plugs replaced. Piston #3 kept misfiring. Was told by another mechanic that I should have had a Nissan coil pack and platinum plugs put in. I did that. Piston #3 still misfiring. Was told that the piston is fine, no scoring, no water coming through. Compression is fine. had the ECM re-programmed and then got a surge problem. Had Nissan re-program the idle. So far, surge problem gone but not the misfiring. No one can seem to find the problem! The Nissan dealership won't even look at my car, ever since I told them the probs. they just say to get a new engine! I used to love this car, but not anymore. I will NEVER buy another Nissan again.

Messages Page 18 of 69

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