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Nissan Altima Engine Failures

683 messages,  Last post on May 08, 2013 at 10:43 PM

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

    
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Messages Page 66 of 70

#642 of 683 Re: To Electricdesign [freeadventurer] by masterbigrah

Nov 29, 2011 (8:48 am)

Replying to: freeadventurer (Nov 29, 2011 7:50 am)
Free Adventure,
The exact same thing happen to my 2002 Altima a couple years ago (a car I bought new and have babied!). The dealer first recommended adding sealing pellets to fix the head gasket leak as the car was already consumming oil and a new head gasket was $2000 (90K miles on the car). The sealing pellets worked for a few months but the issues continued. I finally agreed to have the head gasket replaced and while replacing the head gasket, they found I also need to replace the CAT. Paid $2500 for this. Very shortly afterward, the car really started cosuming oil (5 qts in 300 miles). I brought it back to the delaer and they said I needed a new engine.
 
You are in the early stages of your engine failing. I would add some sealing pellets and unload that POS. I will never purchase a Nissan again.

#643 of 683 masterbigrah by freeadventurer

Nov 29, 2011 (10:24 pm)

masterbigrah
 
Thank you for your opinion.
But I am a little confused: usually, excessive oil consumption of 2002 Altima is caused by the bad CAT (the engine sucks the chemical ceramic material of the CAT in and it scores the cylinder wall, so the engine will fail eventually); But the CAT of my car is still good and the mechanic has checked the engine, it is also good; furthermore, the CAT has already been hollowed out, so no material of the CAT will damage the engine.
I am just wondering what problem caused the excessive oil consumption now------the head gasket was just replaced, the CAT and the engine are good.
Actually, The CAT and engine are bad or have already been damaged (although the mechanic said they are good)? I need to let the mechanic carefully check the CAT and the engine again? Or I go to another garage to check the car? Or there is other problem caused the excessive oil consumption? sorry,I don't know much about cars.

#644 of 683 Re: masterbigrah [freeadventurer] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 30, 2011 (9:30 am)

Replying to: freeadventurer (Nov 29, 2011 10:24 pm)
How was this engine "checked"? The best way is a cylinder leakdown test--a mere compression test can fool you regarding internal engine wear.
 
A clogged or defective PCV system can also cause oil consumption.

#645 of 683 Re: masterbigrah [freeadventurer] by masterbigrah

Nov 30, 2011 (10:44 am)

Replying to: freeadventurer (Nov 29, 2011 10:24 pm)
How much oil is it consuming? My Altima starting consuming 1qt/3000miles or so for a couple years (65K-85K miles) before I had the head gasket and CAT issues. It is well documented that this engine does consume oil outside of the known CAT failure issue. My CAT was not hollowed out and the Nissan dealer could not/would not comment on the condition of the defective CAT and whether any part of it could of ended up in the engine. Immediately after the head gasket/CAT were replaced, it REALLY started consuming oil (6-7 qrts in 300 miles)and the engine was basically shot. The dealer did eventually work with me to get Nissan to replace my engine (After 6 months of fighting it without a vechicle even though it was 10K miles out of warranty). Otherwise they were not helpful and either wasn't aware of the CAT issues surrounding this model or would not admit that they were aware of the issues. The new cat is now hollowed out. From my understanding (NOT an expert opinion but a lot of research on the subject), I believe since your CAT is hollowed out, you should be safe from catastropic engine failure as long as you monitor the engine oil level regularly. Even though Nissan eventually did they right thing, it was 6 months of stress and frustration that I will not get back. That and the countless stories of others that have got the runaround from Nissan ragarding this same issue. Luckly I owned the car since it was new and had very detailed service records at the dealership.

#646 of 683 To masterbigrah by freeadventurer

Nov 30, 2011 (6:28 pm)

masterbigrah
 
Thank you for your reply.
I will take the car for further research next week.
And about the compression test, last month before the head gasket was changed, I asked the mechanic to do the test because I worry about the damage of CAT and engine; the mechanic said it is normal, I will confirm that next week.
Thanks.

#647 of 683 Nissan Altima 2002 2.5SL by guestk

Nov 30, 2011 (8:31 pm)

Hello,
 
I have an SES light on. We scanned for the code and received P0420 and P0010. Went to Nissan Dealer and they told my My CAT is bad and I also need a new engine.We found my previous owner had code p0420, p1122, p223 an P123. Called Previous owner and he said he fixed the problem with local mechanic, but no proof. Nissan told me it will take about $4100 to fix car with new engine/cat and everything. Should I go there or put used engine from local mechanic.
 
Nissan did an inspection for $98 and also added some oil so I can use car for some days(hopefully).
  
I am not sure what to do. Should I replace the engine (Used/New), Junk It, or trade-in if possible.
Thanks for your help.

#648 of 683 Re: Nissan Altima 2002 2.5SL [guestk] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 30, 2011 (9:12 pm)

Replying to: guestk (Nov 30, 2011 8:31 pm)
Well given the history of these engines, it seems like "used" is not a good idea at all.
 
It's probably too valuable to junk, and you can't get much on a trade-in on a crippled car, so really the new engine is your only logical option IF...IF...the rest of the car is in good shape and you still want to drive it for another X years.
 
If you're sick of it, or if it has other issues (bodywork, bad tires, broken AC etc) then you may have no choice but to trade it on something else.
 
But really, you can't buy much of a used car for $4100.

#649 of 683 Re: Nissan Altima 2002 2.5SL [Mr_Shiftright] by guestk

Dec 01, 2011 (5:24 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 30, 2011 9:12 pm)
I really appreciate your advice. I am not sure if really my engine is going bad or not. It drives with no issues but SES light on. I am not sure if replacing CAT, o2 sensors and camshaft sensors are enough to resolve this issue of SES light?

#650 of 683 Re: Nissan Altima 2002 2.5SL [guestk] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 01, 2011 (9:42 am)

Replying to: guestk (Dec 01, 2011 5:24 am)
Well the engine itself can be tested with a cylinder leakdown test, and after that you'll know the extent of internal engine wear. If the engine tests okay, you can also test the cat and the 02 sensors. There's no reason to be guessing here with a shotgun blast replacing all possible causes for the SES light.
 
but no sense replacing any parts on a car with a genuinely ailing engine.

#651 of 683 Re: masterbigrah [Mr_Shiftright] by guestk

Dec 01, 2011 (5:16 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 30, 2011 9:30 am)
I think they only check for the code and gave me the following report:
 
"CODE P0420 TE CATALYST SYS-B1//CODE P011 INT/V TIM CONT-B1. VEHICLE SHOWS SIGNS OF OIL CONSUMPTION //VERY LOW OIL THIS IS SETTING OFF P0420 CODE// CATALYTIC CONVERTOR HAS INTERNAL FAILURE. COMING APART AND BEING SUCKED INTO ENGINE CAUSING OIL CONSUMPTION. RECOMMENDED ENGINE ASSMBLY AND/CATALYTIC CONVERTOR"
 
It took about 1 hr for the following report (MIL LIGHT DIAGNOSE)

Messages Page 66 of 70

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