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hey, norb...
dude, if you want to insult people, at least learn the language first.
The one we purchased was made in early March 2004. A former car salesman I talked to suggested it might be in the "second wave" as opposed to the "first wave" and was less likely to have problems. The date of manufacture is on the driver's side door, right side.
If you don't need one until the 2005 models are out, it's probably safer to wait. We were planning to do some traveling in the early fall and wanted to get a few 1000 miles on it before we take it anywhere. So after months of debating, researching, and comparing with others, decided to get it now.
So far I can't find anything wrong with it. Has about 800 miles on it and has been through my rather tough off road test (see previous post) which it passed with flying colors. My wife rates it the most comfortable vehicle we have had for highway travel. I could not agree more.
81 Trekker
I just updated my Honda Odyssey's Navi-DVD disc after 3 years. You buy it from Honda/Alpine, they send you a disc, you pop out the old one, you insert the new one, the system reboots, DONE! What IDs are they talking about?!
On a side note, Navi software does detect version numbers (database version of DVD) and takes proper action (such as reboot). Once a system is updated to newer version, YOU CAN'T GO BACKWARD! However, that does not apply in your case.
However, my bet is NOT on the DVD-disc. It could be the DVD-player. In any case, swapping systems would identify the problem. Good luck.
Also, the Off-Road Editions gas tank and transfer case skid plate with easily fit on the other models. While all come with the radiator and oil pan protected, it's best to have all four plates if you may do any off-road travel.
I agreed to pay for the parts and the dealer agreed to pay for the labor as part of the sales contact. It's hard for a customer to estimate labor costs, so I felt that was the best way to do.
Mine also came without front splash plates. If you plan to do any travel on gravel roads, have them added or the front of your running boards will have some damage. After I washed it and noticed the minor damage to the running boards, I had them installed.
Be sure to see if they decided to throw in things you don't need. The two of us will likely never need the third seat. (Both second and third seats stay down for the GSD who sits back there.)So why get the extra protective covers for just behind the 3rd seat. Suggest trading them for some accessories you really need.
We got the official Armada rubber floor mats for the front seats after ordering some others that did not cover the area well. Also added a bug detector to the front of the hood. It's bad enough to have to clean the bugs of the front below the deflector. Now, maybe at least the windshield will stay cleaner. It's not an easy windshield to clean, even standing on the running boards, unless you are somewhat taller than my 5'8".
With any new vehicle, it's really important to clean off the bugs and bird droppings as the chemicals in them can do a job on the paint. Best thing for cleaning them is Seltzer Water from the local grocery store. Learned this tip when I got the Mustang GT a couple years ago.
As for protective covers for the back area, I did find two that would cover from the back of the front seat to the tailgate. They are soft, vinyl like and we did not like them. Instead, got a piece of indoor outdoor carpet from Home Depot for much less money and cut it to size. No one seems to be making hard protective covers for the rear areas that will cover the entire distance from tailgate to rear of front seat.
We also found seat covers in denim for the front seats from a company in Florida at a reasonable price.
81 Trekker
My Armada has about 4500 miles on it. I noticed a little better gas mileage in 2wd rather than 4wd automatic. Still only averaging around 12.2 mpg. Sound system- Bose not up to standards. My wife has a Maxima with bose. Great Sound! My subwoofer is working, but not very good base. Front center speaker crackles when listening to talk radio. Other problem is with overhead center consule. Bolts holding the center consule are just above the DVD player.Due to heavy vibration issues, the bolts just broke through. Took it back to nissan dealer. They told me they were not going to cover this because they think somebody hung on it or pulled on it to make it break. "Plastic just doesent break like this" they said. I blew up at the service writer which brought the service manager out. They will cover it this time he said. Only other problem I've noticed is the hard downshift when off the gas and Breaking at around 40-45 mph.
Any comments greatly appreciated. Going to look back on previous posts to see if anything was stated about these problems. GREAT WEBSITE!
tidester, host
2004 Full-Size Truck Comparison Test
About the only thing the editors dinged it on was the Wind & Road Noise category (although you wouldn't know that by reading Brian Moody's comments).
Steve, Host
big "0" in Hawaii
Can't help you with the brake dust. I've noticed it at each Armada bath time. Annoying but not a big deal for me.
81 Trekker
Armada: 87
QX56: 91
I guess you have to pay extra for 10hp and 5ft-lb of torque.
What the dealer told you about the DVD disc being serialized to the system is false. Its nothing more than a plain data DVD which will work with all Nissan Vehicles equiped with Nissan's NAV system.
My suggestion, once the system is fixed by the dealer is to make a backup of the DVD using one of the gamer crackering tools, that way you always have a working DVD to fall back on.
-Rich
I just bought an Armada that was made in 4/04 and I think they are instituting the fix at the factory now. The resonance is non existant. Another sign is the god awful smell when I took devlivery. It was definitly not the typical new car smell, it was a glue type smell. It all cleared up in a few days though.
I also noticed better fuel efficiency in 2WD mode.
-Rich
The brake dust problem comes from the fact the factory puts semi-mettalic brake shoes in the vehicle. Semi's have an almost instant break in period and will grab the rotors from the start. They wear very quick.
When you go in for brake service whether dealer or aftermarket, have them cut the rotors and install full mettalics. The brake dust will be very minimal, no where near the factory semi mettalics.
One important note ... Never wait until all four brakes need to be done, as you should only change two wheels (All Front or All Rears) at a time, wait 500 miles and change the others. There is a long break in period for mettalics to marry to the rotors and if you did all four (Like I Did) you'll turn grey and old very quickly as you roll through stop signs and red lights literally standing on your brake pedal.
-Rich
Well, I decided to put the Armada up for sale. I'm also working a trade deal on a new Titan crew cab, but I'll probably be patient and try to sell the Armada. I love many things about it, but the resonance has been getting worse and I'm just about disgusted with it all. Along with all of the squeaks and rattles, it's just too much. It does go in the shop Friday for the "fix", so there's still hope of keeping it. We'll see..
Dealers in Houston are taking 4 and 5k off Titans these days..
Do to a vibration if the front end while braking,they turned the rotors and offered to replace the pads but didn't have them in stock,So far the braking has been flawless. The other issue with wind noise from the sunroof was fixed do to out of alignment.
Overall I'm very pleased with the Armada and would do it again. Sticker was $43100/ paid $39450 if you can get one without the Res.go for it. The V8 Rocks!
Now let your driver put on the brakes or go down a hill Do you feel like your sliding out? Well my wife does and so do I. My dash lights went out over the weekend (kinda scary at night btw) so I dropped the mada at the dealership. It was a fuse (I checked the inside ones, don’t know where this one was).
While it was there I asked the service writer to look see if there was anything wrong with the passenger seat. He also check a brand new one waiting to be PDIed. Why Nissan only has a 6-way passenger seat even in the most expensive Armada is beyond me. The problem is the seat bottom is too flat. The lowest level the rear part can go down makes it horizontal with the front part of the seat. Why anyone would want the rear seat bottom higher than the front????
So I called Nissan Consumer Affairs
He said I was not crazy (at least concerning this problem) and even said I was the second person that called him about it. He will talk to Nissan Tech on Wednesday.
So, I am asking all Armada owners to call NCA, you can use the 800 number below or hear on over to www.nissanusa.com
Have your VIN handy.
Thanks
Chris Hunt
http://www.peake.com/occ/MyCJ/ArmadaAndJeep.jpg
PS: My original post last night was removed because I mentioned the name and direct number of the NCA rep. I am unsure If I can post the public Nissan Consumer affairs 800 number or not. But since your reading this you should be able to click on this
www.nissanusa.com
Look for the Contact Us hyperlink.
I sure hope Nissan does not have any message boards or this message will get canned. What is Edmunds so scared about?
They are open
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Eastern / Central Time
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Monday through Friday
But mine certainly don't tilt downhill and I wouldn't want to rely on a seat belt to keep me comfortably in driving position. Sounds way too tight.
People do adjust their seat tracks to make them lower or higher or to give them more leg room, but you run into safety issues. Maybe Nissan will come out with some type of retrofit spacer kit that won't shear off in a wreck.
Steve, Host
Now maybe if I sewed sandpaper to my jeans.....
Irreguardless, I would appreciate a call to NCA.
If someone does not have the 6-way leather could you measure the height of the front and rear of the seat bottom? I'll post mine tonight.
norbin, ceric and rszkodz: Yes, the info that the Service guy told me about the disc serial number matching the DVD deck is most unlikely, but one thing is true. They don't carry spare DVD's as they do many other common parts. He also said that sales would not let him borrow a DVD from a new vehicle on the lot to check out my deck. Not ideal cooperation here....
The ONLY complaint I had with my LE was the wind noise coming from the closed sunroof. The Service Dept. lowered the front edge of the glass where it stuck up slightly into the airstream. Doing so reduced the irritating wind noise by 80%. They said that they wanted to check with Nissan Tech to see what else they can do to completely eliminate the wind noise and then have me bring my rig back in.
Passenger seat: yes, it slopes down in front and doesn't feel right. It looks like just installing spacers on the seat's front bolts would help tremendously.
Engine oil: hopefully, this topic won't start an "oil war", but the dealer was going to use 10W-30 on my first oil change. The manual recommends 5W-30 and it comes from the factory with 5W-30. Of course 10W-40 won't hurt anything (and may be more appropriate in extremely hot climates), but I've always heard that 5W-30 is used in MOST (not all) modern engines to provide slightly better mileage.
really?!?!
and you drive them all off the assembly line, huh???
I may have found the problem with my seat memory only working part of the time. For the last week I have made a concentrated effort when I get in to avoid the seat control knobs, and the memory has worked everytime. I don't use the running boards when I get in so I think I may of been brushing the seat adjustment and since it is adjusted all the way down and back you don't notice it move. If you touch the controls the auto adjust is turned off. If I was brushing the controls it was very slight and brief but like I said I've made a concentrated effort of avoiding them and it has worked all week.....
Sunroof-
Now they replaced the drain assembly in my sunroof to cure a bad rattle...I think it came from the factory missing some parts since I noticed an additional heavy plastic piece running along the back of the sunroof and sitting on top of the headliner that wasn't in there previously. While they got rid of the major rattle this new piece makes a good bit of noise when you hit some moderate bumps. If you grab this piece it swivels up and down and is not spring loaded so it bounces up and down...is this typical or should it be more solid? If you reach up behind you when you are sitting in the front you can feel this piece. If someone would check theirs I'd appreciate it.
Headliner/console-
I noticed a couple of days ago that the plastic around one of the bolts in the over head console where the dvd monitor is cracked and that the spring clip on the same side half way down is not holding the console and headliner together so now I have a squeak/rattle there...how much do you want to bet that they blame the aftermarket monitor I put in on it....I hope I don't have to fight with them as I'm positive it isn't from that but from the whole roof shaking no resonance but lots of vibration, since I've read numerous others are having the same problem. I am wishing I would of went with two monitors in the headrest now. Luckily my daughter doesn't seem to be bothered by sponge bob bouncing around.....
Well other than these issue and the 10-11mpg I'm still happy with her but I'm wishing I'd kept my Xterra for another year and saved some gas money for an 05' hoping the roof and rattle problems were worked out..
The NCA rep told suggested to me that if more folks called in then the chances are higher something can be done.
Thanks
Chris
After my dealership tightened the roof racks, I haven't noticed my resonance issue at all. Anyone else have this done vs. the TSB? It amazes me, previously the booming would sometimes give me headaches.