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Comments
Wayne
Around 2,000 miles started to rattle and the EV mode wouldn't kick in unless you turn the car on and off again, but will continue to rattle and not operate correctly. Then after a bit, like weeks, it stopped, almost like a miracle. I asked when I took it in for oil change if it had self-adjusting lifters and was told it did. Then it started to rattle again! Took it back, had the service guy listen, took it to tech, tech took ride with me, VERY uncomfortable and stared out the window the whole time telling me it was in ALL the Altima's. I said "Really?""Yes" .
Well, guess what? Yesterday, it did a 'drag', twice' and it started running on EV mode like it is supposed to, ran like a top and is getting the best gas mileage. My take it is the computer, they KNOW it, AND they don't want to fix it. I am taking in today, asking them to listen, and when they don't hear anything, telling them EXACTLY! So NOW when I bring it back with a rattle, you will know what I am talking about!!!
NOT thinking Nissan is honest.....
Anyone have advice on how to deal with this? Is it possible to convince the dealership that this should be done under warranty? Is the cost for them to run some chemicals through the engine really $372? I live in Northern NJ, so if anyone knows a dealership that will take care of this in a better way, please let me know!
how did you make out? I am at a dealership in NJ getting depantsed for $89 on an oil change. I think i need to start doing this myself.
I've been doing them myself. I read somewhere that you could still keep your warranty if you can show receipts at the right intervals. I think it's ridiculous to change every 3 months for a synthetic oil, but I'm doing it. I usually buy the oil and filter when they're on sale, usually $29.99 for 5 quarts of Mobil 1 0W20 and a Mobil 1 filter. Sure does beat $89, you should start doing it too. I was NEVER a car person, but it's so easy to do. The first time you do it, just have someone there to let you know if you're doing something wrong, but after that, takes no more than an hour to do by yourself with the minimal amount of tools. Good luck!
They advised that both the cylinder head and manifold had to be replaced. They further advised that the cheaper solution will not work and that the problem was probably caused by using regular gas instead of premium that they say is required for hybrids. They are correct in that i have been using regular, because i never knew that it needed premium since it was bought as a used car and no mention was ever made that premium was required. Is this just a very expensive lesson or do i have any recource?
Also, why isn't it covered under the 5 year/ 60K mile power train warranty?
Please scroll back to my horrendous experience where my Altima (with only 9,600 miles on it) spent 30 days in the Nissan shop with the same carbon deposits that lead to a multiple cylinder misfire. You will see that there was talk of a recall to replace either the valve springs or even reprogram the computer controlling how the valves close to shake loose the deposits.
Here is a large snippet from page 10 of this thread:
As far as your vehicle goes there was no "damage" to your engine or to your valves. As with any fuel injected vehicle, the engine builds up carbon deposits in the fuel system. The Altima Hybrid has had an issue with this carbon building up with very low miles though yours is only the second one that I have come accross, Nissan has started to see a problem. Unfortunately I do not have any info. as to when the recall may come out. Any info. that I have on the problem has been given to us via the "tech line" help desk. From what they say the spring for the valve is too soft which allows the carbon to build up along the valve. I just found out from my tech that what they may do is replace the valve springs so that when the valve hits it, the valve will spring back hard enough to break any debris free therefore burning off any carbon. There may also be a reprogramming for the vehicles computer to adjust the air and fuel mixture and opening and closing of the
valves. Your vehicle has been driven 2 times and the tech will take it out once more before we release it. I am also going to have the vehicle cleaned inside and out before we call you."
This was after my car had spent a month in the shop (Dec. 15, 2009 through January 14th 2010 ....again I only had 9,600 miles on it). Note: I only have 18,000 now (January 2011). I still get the shaking especially when braking from time to time. Even more disturbingly, the "Service Engine" light illuminates from time to time but then turns off (unlike the constant illumination that lead to the servicing in 2009). I have the 6 year 72K mile extended service warranty (which is the only reason that they gave me a loaner for the 30 days that my car was in the shop). Needless to say the recall never occurred. I see that one person mentioned that his problems were solved by replacement of the springs. "Hymanyclan", even though you are above the 60k mile power train protection, maybe you should contact your state's consumer protection as it is clear that Nissan knew there was a problem with the 2007-2009 Nissan Altima Hybrids and even considered a recall. They should repair or replace your engine for free. Lean on Nissan! This is a customer service fiasco about which they should be embarrassed enough to make your situation right!
Wayne
After they had an engineer check it AGAIN, they decided that it has an issue that needs a fix they don't have yet! I have the paper work that states this. They won't admit that they adjusted something after doing a diagnostic; after warming up, is running more efficiently at this time, but knocks until warmed up.
My advice to anyone is get a diagnostic somewhere else. Know that the dealer is NOT your friend, and they are there to make money. After you find out what is wrong somewhere else, you DO have the option of contacting the dealer again AND Nissan main office with proof, since main office doesn't want unhappy customers. However, it still comes back to the dealer, but they are more willing to listen to what you are saying and NOT charge you for BS work to get money after you contact main office. The dealers are NOT honest. Know that going into it.
Regular gas. BTW, I have found that the techs will tell you anything to get rid of you also. It's YOUR MONEY, so beware!
It also states that 87 Octane (using the (R+M)/2 method as we see on our pumps in USA and Canada (=RON of 91-92) is fine.
Anyway, for an update on my issue... After the first dealership tried to rip me off badly, the second dealership actually took the time to look into the cause of the carbon buildup. Nissan Tech Support told them the first step will be to replace the cylinder head. I don't know too much about cars, but I think the cylinder head is the large piece that also contains the springs/valves. So, maybe the new head will address the cause of the carbon buildup. The dealership said Nissan is starting to realize there is really a problem, as the head is on back-order (I'm number 28 on the list now). Maybe there will be a recall in the future but for now, bulletin NTB10-056a covers the issue, and repairs should be under warranty. Luckily I did not listen to the 1st dealership who only wanted to charge me $400 to flush the carbon and not actually fix the problem.
The situation happens even more quickly when you are running the heat inside the cabin, and who wouldn't be when it's that cold out.
One thing you will find in the summer is that the EV mode won't function correctly (per se) if it's really hot out (like over 90). This is a safety function so the battery doesn't overheat.
The mechanic at the Nissan told me it is OK to do it every 6000m and synthetic oil is not required for Hybrid. Synthetic oil lasts longer, that all. Is this correct? Do Toyota Hybrids need synthetic oil?
My dealership has replaced the head on my NAH with a re-designed head which is supposed to put an end to this carbon issue. The car still had an issue a day or so later after it was replaced.
On the second try when I bought the car back, the dealership replaced the Mass Air-flow sensor and reprogrammed the computer and it still has the same noise.
On their third attempt, the dealership replaced the oil with 0w 20 synthetic oil, which also did not work. Now I started getting worse gas mileage and the engine was not going into hybrid mode as much.
What makes it worse the rep from Nissan corporate that I was working with closed out my file. That's when I drew the line and called a lemon law attorney.
I had a meeting this morning with a Nissan specialist at my nissan dealership and duplicated the engine rumbling/grinding noise. After he heard my car, he said it was bad and advised them to remove the head again and check for carbon buildup. My car is at the dealership right now and they are removing the redesigned head to see if there is more carbon buildup and will be working with Nissan Engineering.
EVERYONE THAT HAS THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO HIRE A LEMON LAW ATTORNEY RIGHT AWAY.
So my thought is they wanted to get into the hybrid market but didn't work out all the 'kinks' first and now they are having the same problems over and over again, and still are not addressing it in a way they need to. Which is why some are promised a recall, some are told it's 'carbon', others are told it's the head. My gut tells me it's the computer and it's too costly for them them to fix all of them and they are indeed doing it one-by-one to keep people somewhat placated.
I have thought of class action myself. I'm sick of the dealers sweeping this under the table, and although I am sure that corporate does know about it, they don't have a fix. Since my car is now making a horrible knocking, I am going to go back AGAIN. Believe me, they do NOT like to see me coming in there. My car before this one was on the third engine when I got the Altima although I did contact a Lemon Law attorney. I was thinking it would be better. What a joke THAT is!
Yes, class action suit might just bounce them into action, me thinks.... :lemon:
However, the complaints that we have on the NAH started very early after we purchased the vehicles; mine at 2,000 miles. Nothing had changed. And although you 'resent' people for trying to rally others to sue Nissan, I resent the inference that we don't know how to take care of our cars and you know best. I am married to a mechanic. He too, has been a technician for many years. We aren't trying to get Nissan to do anything other than to fix a problem that our cars all have and that Nissan dealers are trying not to fix, probably for a variety of reasons.
My last visit to the Nissan dealer has a report that states in writing that they know that there is a problem, but they don't have a fix for it. Yet. If you got a good car, you're one of the more lucky one's. Maybe the '09's were manufactured with something done differently. I don't know. Mine is a '10 and I am religious about maintenance. I read the manual. So please don't assume that you have all the answers and we don't know what we're doing because we are truly frustrated by the dealers for being given the run around and no fixes for cars with engines that are BANGING so loud that you can hear them a block away coming down the road.....
db, it's obvious that enough people here have the exact same problem that it can't be something that these people are doing, or aren't doing.
People like you and I have dodged the bullet so far, but that doesn't give you the right to come here and blindly call these people stupid and proclaim Nissan as having made a perfect vehicle.
To everyone else: Apparently this message board isn't immune to trolls, unfortunately.
:O)
My car is still at the dealership since Feb 8 and its now March 13th. They are working with Nissan engineering and have replaced 2 heads, ignition system, Mass air flow meter, the computer, tested the firing of fuel injectors and now have decided to replaced the fuel injectors. This is my 4th Nissan vehicle and I too have a technical background. I always used synthetic oil and have changed it around 4k miles. BTW... My attorney and I have reached a "good-will" settlement with Nissan. SO OBVIOUSLY they are keeping it quiet. :lemon:
I also note that my $23K car does not come with the floor mat.
I called the sale person to confirm the B is for battery. He did not return my call.
B is low gear. Has nothing to do with battery.
I took it to my dealership and they adjusted the brake switch.
9 months later the problem came back. This time when I took it they told me that the switch could not be adjusted and that Nissan had issued NTB10-139 suggesting replacement of the both swtich and the harness sub-assembly. This cost my $430. I had to get done because you can't drive the car with no brake lights.
I think Nissan should have covered this because you don't know that your brake lights are not working. It is a safety issue.
Tom Scott
2007 NAH with Tech Package
Mileage as of today: 55,800
Average MPG Computed: 32.8