I had the same problem with unbalanced tires. The dealer tried to balance them without any luck. They replaced all 4 tires with Michelins and they are fine now. Now, if they can only fix the door rattle.
Not sure if it will last , but my 2 ratttles were fixed witha trip to the dealer. Brought the mechanic with in the back ona road test and he was able to isolate one to the rear hatcha nd the other to the door. Not sure how he adjusted but in 2 trips since I have not heard them
I'm convinced now that the "rattle" is caused by the friction of the metal door mechanisms rubbing together, as the body flexes over rough surfaces. The fix described eliminates the friction...and the "rattles". This has worked, while all the ADJUSTMENTS the dealer made didn't.
I have 3,200 miles on Smoke SE. Problems include: wind noise from mirrors and roof rack (I took off the cross bars), rattles in both sliding doors, had rattle in overhead console (dealer fixed), trailer towing package came without power converter and wiring harness extension, center console plastic discolored by keys (dealer ordered another), vibration/booming/harmonics in all 5 gears at 1,900 RPM, rough paint on lower panel of driver sliding door. Is NTB 03080 fix for door rattles? Got as high as 27.3 MPG on trip with 25.5 overall. Gas mileage dropped drastically on next trip (22 MPG). Comments please!
Sounds like you got a pre-production model. It looks like you have a bunch of nagging problems. Nothing too serious but since you spent 30 large on this vehicle, it should be better.
Regarding the gas mileage, it could be anumber of things. Here in the NE, we got hit with a wicked cold spell earlier this week. The cold weather coudl easily play havoc with the gas mileage. Also it could be the brand of gas. More city driving then highway driving. How did you figure out the gas mileage, by the computer or by mileage between fill ups?
Both my wife and I notice the front vents to be very noisy even at the first fan setting. If you turn it up any higher, you might as well forget about having a conversation in the vehicle. I am not sure if it's because the vents are much closer to ear level than most vehicles or maybe it's just a bad design.
I would certainly agree with dtownft; they are nagging problems. The 27.3 MPG sounds terrific. I have slightly over 1200 miles on my SL and my mileage is only 17.6 MPG (computer), mostly local driving. I too have rattles in both sliders (see post #159). Yesterday I went over a bump and it sounded like the entire passenger slider was bouncing up and down. Some are using WD40 (See Posts #178 & #179). But, I will wait until I return mine to the dealer and get their opinion on using WD40 (See my concern in Post #182). The manual recommends the use of a multi-purpose grease, NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Soap base). Good luck on the resolution of your problems.
terryharris - I've got 7,200 miles on my van already (whew!). No issue with mirrors. Removing crossbars made HUGE difference. Had big-time rattles in both doors. The TSB did not cure them. WD40 on all hinges, latches eliminated every one (see post 210). No issue with rattles or discoloration with either console. No vibration from running gear. Our paint is flawless! Most MPG I ever got on 6 hour trips was 22.4, but I had lowered tire pressure for more comfort, which means more drag. Only get 16-18 around town...but it is a 4,200 pound van! The Biggest Mini-Van! We all drive oxymorons. LOL.
cirruss - No excessive noise from any vents in our van. Ask dealer to check for blockage in ducts.
Shenkar, for some reason my post #172 got repeated as post #174!
Got my SE back from Falore yesterday and they took care of the rattle from the sunroof. Per their technician, the railing had a loose screw. In order to fix it though, they had to completely open the entire roof trim! Hopefully, they put it all back together
Nissan and Falore are still having problems with getting a replacement part for the little plastic molding on the third row.
New question: does anybody else hear a rattling noise from the roof when the skyview screens are retracted? There's no noise typically when they are extended to cover the skyview. I guess it is expected, huh?
Still having great fun with understanding and using the various controls Great van!
Shenkar, for some reason my post #172 got repeated as post #174!
Got my SE back from Falore yesterday and they took care of the rattle from the sunroof. Per their technician, the railing had a loose screw. In order to fix it though, they had to completely open the entire roof trim! Hopefully, they put it all back together
Nissan and Falore are still having problems with getting a replacement part for the little plastic molding on the third row.
New question: does anybody else hear a rattling noise from the roof when the skyview screens are retracted? There's no noise typically when they are extended to cover the skyview. I guess it is expected, huh?
Still having great fun with understanding and using the various controls Great van!
Shanker, maybe I mentioned this to someone else, but yes, I do hear noises from the third seat. But, since I have a child seat in the middle, I couldn't tell. One time, I actually sat in the third seat next to my son (who was in his booster seat) and couldn't hear any noises or squeaks or rattles etc.!
I am pretty much all smiles, now that I was able to eliminate the rattles from all the doors using eyeblinds WD40 tip. My van is so much quieter, it really feels like a $30,000 vehicle now, instead of some clapped out Yugo like before.
The last things I want to deal with are the occasional bumps that come from the area of the rear seat, and possibly from the spare tire area as well.
I'm going to try the same thing that I did for the doors, on the seat latches that release the second and third row folding seats. I'm also going to try a piece of foam/sponge material under the spare tire to isolate it from the floor.
The opening latch on the drivers side slider stopped working. The door will open from the outside but not the inside. Not a good situation for passengers riding on that side of the door.
About a month ago I determined that the windshield washers were inadequate. With the van stopped, the spray just reached the lower part of the windshield. At highway speeds the spray hit only the base of the glass. I notified the dealer and they ordered new nozzles. The factory service manual ( I have the CD version) states that the nozzles are not adjustable. The new nozzles were installed yesterday and were no improvement. I again notified the dealer and they promised to contact Nissan and then let me know what will be done. It snowed last night. This morning the dealer called and told me they received calls from 3 van owners complaining that the washers were inadequate. The dealer also checked some of the vans on their lot and found all had the same problem. Because of multiple complaints, the dealer stated that Nissan is looking into the problem. Because of the sloppy streets all winter here in Minnesota, this is a serious safety problem. I suggest that Quest owners check their washers at highway speeds to determine effectiveness. I expect that if there are many complaints that Nissan will quickly provide an effective correction. It would also be interesting to determine whether or not Nissan has been aware of the problem and simply neglected to notify dealers and owners.
You are right on about the washers. I had sort of forgot about it cause you don't use the washers that much. But they clearly don't work as well as they should.
I purchased my van in Step 03 with NAV version 6.1 and found out that there is a newer version of NAV software version 6.2 with vans with later production date. I called the NAV software maker Zenrin and Nissan dealer to get the lastest upgrade and they refused for a free upgrade. I finally called Nissan Consumer Affair (800) Nissan1 and they also refused to get me the upgrade disc.
I am disappointed that I purchased a 2004 Quest and got an outdated version of NAV software in 2.5 months. The buttom line is Nissan should make sure all the same model year car should have the same feature including NAV software. Does any one else file a similar complaint? I don't really want to spend another $185 for a software upgrade.
I recently replaced the supposedly wonderful all-season touring tires that came stock with a set of Nokian Hakka Q winter tires. What a difference in quality.
The stock tires are Goodyear LS with an H rated speed capacity, which should be providing better handling on a minivan. What I found was the tires handled terribly due to weak sidewalls unless at 35 PSI...and at 35 PSI they are harsh. Just a low quality tire, which is typical of OEM tires.
The Nokian replacements are dedicated winter tires (and they are unreal in the snow, and a lot cheaper and more effective than AWD), although a size smaller in 215/65/16 because no tire other than the Goodyear LS exists in the stock size of 225/65/16. These tires outhandle the stock tires on dry pavement, and can be run at 33/34 PSI with better ridigity and softer ride than the Goodyears. Get rid of the junk rubber rather than a slight airdown of the stock tires, which will reduce the handling noticeably.
As for the previous "flat tire" posts...had the same thing happen. Tires lose approximately 1 PSI for every 10 degrees the temperature drops. If you bought the van in August in 90 temps, and have now seen 30 degree temps, you'll have lost around 6 PSI. The system is just reminding you of this before you blow a tire.
I'm very interested in the 04 Quest SE, but having read some of the problems that new buyers are experiencing, I'm on the fence. Can anyone who has bought the vehicle confirm whether it is truly a "good buy" or a lemon waiting to rot?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
PS. I'm interested in buying the 04 Quest SE in Georgia.
I'm in Atlanta. I bought my SE in September and have already put 7,200 miles on the van during trips to Florida, Louisiana, and all over Georgia.
I bought it specifically for this purpose...to bring the family together on these trips. Since we owned 3 Mercedes at the time we decided to add the Quest, we are used to high quality vehicles.
Yes, we have had some of the issues that have been reported here, but have had them all rectified one-by-one. We are very happy with the van, since it does what we expected it to do extremely well. The problems we've experienced and you've heard about are the typical types of things you find with "first year" vehicles...they have to work some kinks out.
I really don't feel that the issues we've experienced are in any way out of the ordinary for a totally new model... and they have been much less annoying and costly than trying to keep my other 3 expensive marvels of German engineering on the road.
As buyers of a brand new model, we all role the dice. but... Have you looked at problem posts for competitors, including the 04 Sienna? I think you'll see the Quest is not unique, and it seems to me the majority of the problems posted here are minor and repetitive (Many people sharing the same complaint). Only time will tell how reliable a new model will be, but you can be assured that the most important element, the engine drivetrain, is essentially the top-rated system used for years. The van handles extremely well, is extremely quiet (which is one reason the rattles can be irritating) and is very comfortable. These offset crash test rating was GOOD. These are all signs of a well-made van, so the future seems promising. Nissans have been pretty reliable, so that's a good sign.
I have the SL in Georgia. We took a trip to Indiana over Thanksgiving. 10 hours up and back. The van did great! So glad to have the room for the trip. I only wish I had gotten the DVD because the VCR player that hangs between the kids and the front seats prevents me reaching the snacks behind the front seats when they want something. Love the leather. It cleaned up nicely after the snacks. If I had gotten the SE, I would have gotten it for the second sliding door and VSC, not for the sunroofs. I have a friend, though who has them and loves them. I love the engine power and steering. Wish it was slightly easier to park, but I am experienced with it now. Long wheel base is great for ride, but does affect parking, I think. I wish it would get about 5 more mpg, city and highway. Some folks on here are getting better gas mileage than others. We got up to 24 mpg on our long trip, our best yet. City gas mileage is more like 16-17 mpg.
Read the Sienna problems board. It has similar and other issues. I think a lot of this stuff is first year of production.
You can eject the NAV disc under the passenger seat. The DVD disc should have the version number. You can goto www.zenrin.com to check the difference between version 6.1 and 6.2. I found the detail coverage increase at least 8 states. The lastest might have other improvement, but it's not list under zerrin's web site.
funny, I have the sonar warning system for backing up, and for the most part have found it annoying since it is pretty sensitive (backing out of the garage is kinda tight and we have a vehicle in the driveway, so it chirps a lot) but it has come in handy when parking. As you get closer to an object behind you, the beeping rate increases, just prior to impact it kicks in to a steady beep. I tested it with a neighbor and got the steady beep before he told me to stop. Knowing that makes parallel parking a heck of a lot easier.
At the risk of being redundant, the driving is truly impressive. This is a large, heavy vehicle that handles to me like a car. I drive 140 miles a day to work, so I have the "feel" of my commute down to a science. Though a good portion is highway, there is a fair amount of windy country roads. I drive the same way around curves, etc. as I do with my Outback, the only real difference is the Quest is so much more powerful when passing or driving upgrades. When I need to make a left turn into a busy road, the power is great and the visibility, through the huge side windows, is outstanding. Not to mention the large mirrors. My wife was instantly comfortable with the van, too - it drives much "smaller" than it is. P.S. Does everyone know that the fuel economy display can be reset? I didn't, so in case there's someone else like me out there, just hold the button down while displaying it for a few seconds and it will reset. -Vince
You can eject the NAV disc under the passenger seat. The DVD disc should have the version number. You can goto www.zenrin.com to check the difference between version 6.1 and 6.2. I found the detail coverage increase at least 8 states. The lastest might have other improvement, but it's not list under zerrin's web site.
I just checked the size of Michelins that my dealer put on as replacements. They are Energy LX, 225 60 17. I believe they are priced lower than the originals, but as far as I can tell, they feel pretty good. According to a website calculation, these tires will register .4% lower speed than actual. When my speedometer reads 60 MPH, I am actually going 60.2 MPH.
I used the WD40 on both of the sliding doors on my SL after getting in touch with my service advisor. After spraying the WD40 on each and every hinge and latch and where they ride and connect on both sliding doors, the rattles continue unabated. Unfortunately, all rattles and noises are not equal. This is one of a number of issues that remain to be resolved.
I'm a prospective Quest SE buyer. Since the Navigation system is DVD based, is it possible to use the Navigations system while at the same time play a DVD for the passengers? If so, there must be 2 DVD players, huh? Can someone repsond to this, please.
Also: Sienna/Quest--for me it all boils down to a 16 week wait for a Sienna or a 3 week wait for the Quest--otherwise they each have their strength and weaknesses.
While I am a fan of WD 40, I don't think I would want to use it on door latches. It would likely collect dust and dust leads to wear and tear. Wouldn't a silicone spray be a better lubricant in this instance?
Yes. There are two independent DVD players. Both are under the front passenger seat. Quest's birdview navigation is quite unique and cool. While rattle seem a common problem here, it does not happen to every Quest. So far I don't have this problem. One vote for Quest.
Silicone spray!?! Yeah...you very well may have a point (if there is such a spray). I never looked at that potential. I just tried what eyeblind said had worked successfully for him, and fortunately, I had the exact same success.
If I have any more problems down the road, I may try a different lube, but as of now, it's all good!!
Raul4 - Sorry you got no relief from your rattles. It's a shame, cause other have posted here that it worked for them too.
jimbocolo2 - My service advisor indicated that if the WD40 doesn't work to use what they use which is a white lithium lubricant. This is consistent with the lubricant recommended in the manual on Page 9-2 which is specified as a lithium soap base. However, the nissan dealers in my area do not sell it. If you go to the WD40 web site at www.wd40.com, you will note that they are introducing a new 3-in-one professional line among which is a white lithium grease. This seems to be the same kind of grease recommended in Nissan manual. Among its uses as shown on WD40 web site is, automotive hinges, locks, latches, etc. But, I cannot find it in my area and it apparently is not yet available here.
You can find your White Lithium grease at Pep Boys..."Pyroil" brand for $2.99 a spray can. They also have it in a tube, and they have a spray silicon, if you'd rather try that as jimbo_colo2 suggested. Look where the fan belt dressings are, to find it.
Although they're different chemical formulations, they all appear to do the same thing the WD40 does, based on the descriptions they give: "penetrating machine lubricant".
Hope one of these will work to get your rattles out. Good Luck!
Thanks a lot for the info. But I found some white lithium of the same standard (NLGI No. 2) that is recommended in the Quest manual. I very meticulously applied it to all hinges and latches on all doors including the back door and the tracks where they ride and connect after which I left the van sit overnight. I sure was hoping it would do the trick but it didn't even begin to quell the rattles. I can only conclude that the noise on your van and others here are from a different source than mine. I'll have to leave it to Nissan to solve. Taking it to the dealer next week for this and other problems. Thanks again.
Also...how's your tire pressure. I noticed that when mines much over 35, bumps will send shivers through the cabin. Doesn't happen at 35 or less. Don't know if this is characteristic of vans, since this is my first minivan. They're essentially rolling boxes, with not much in them to absorb sound. But I definitely get the shivers if I'm much over 35. You too?
Maybe it's the OEM tires. Anyone out there replaced them, and had a better ride, or noise reduction?
In my experience, rattles/noises in a vehicle are the worst kind of problems to resolve. Perhaps these will not be so difficult to correct. My tire pressure is at 35 PSI. I notice that when driving in street traffic (up to 35 mph) the ride is quite bumpy. On the freeway at 65 mph it is very smooth - but when I get up to 70mph it starts to vibrate. Over 70mph, the vibration is a bit more intense and at 75mph the vibration is at its worst. I feel certain it is contributed to the tires. Also, I believe that some of the rattles in the doors may be attributed to the tires. I do recall when I replaced the tires on my previous 1999 Venture van with Michelin tires, the ride quality was substantially improved, in that, the tires seemed to absorb more of the imperfections in the road. And, I also recall that a couple of rattles in that van were never heard after I replaced the OEM with Michelins. It was a pleasant surprise.
Yes, anything over 35 PSI and the ride is harsh and sends those shivers. Anything much under 35 PSI and the handling characteristics, which are what we all love so much about the Quest, begin to suffer noticeably. For an H-rated tire, these Goodyear LS are OEM junk. They have to be right at 35 PSI...and keeping them there as temps rise and fall would be quite the exercise.
I am running Nokian Hakka Q's in 215/65/16 size for the winter. These are a dedicated Q-rated snow tire, and they outhandle the Goodyears noticeably on dry pavement, snow is just amazing, and they don't suffer like the Goodyears with a bit less air. With a good H or V rated tire, performance would be the opposite. On warm days, though, as PSI rises, they start the "shiver" around 37 PSI.
Basically, a good tire will give you around a four or five PSI range where you don't notice any driving difference. The Goodyears need to be within a PSI of 35 or you can really tell.
I had planned to put the Goodyears back on in the Spring, but they are so bad that I am going to get a good set of summer tires so I can really enjoy how well the Quest drives.
This isn't a Quest issue - I've never bought a car where the stock tires weren't absolute garbage, and this is no different. A new set of shoes makes an incredible difference in handling and ride on just about any new vehicle...just be prepared to spend $100 a tire, maybe a bit more, to get there.
Raul4, if you've tried all the lube tips we've been able to come up with, and no improvement at all, you may want to have your dealer look at the tires as a probable contributing factor.
That intermittant vibration thing seems totally weird. Mine is rock-solid at all speeds (up to 90), and gets better as the speed builds. I doubt it's the van, and would not be surprised if you didn't have a broken radial belt in a tire.
I never heard of anyone else on this board with a problem like this. And everyone else got SOME improvement from greasing the latches, etc.
Nay - I certainly agree with you about the stock tires. One should plan on buying a good set of tires when they purchase a new vehicle.
shenkar - I plan on making that a part of the discussion next week when I go back to the dealer. The vibration and the rattles could very well have a common cause.
I've posted this before, but I had what felt like unbalanced tires that got pretty bad around 70 - 75 MPH. My dealer replaced them with Michelins (after 2000 miles). No more tire vibrations.
I have posted before about the driver slider rattle on my SE and the clunck noise from the 3rd row seat area. Both have been fixed with 2 trips to the dealer. I was a little surprised they actually fixed them. They tightened up the mounting brackets of the 3rd seat and that fixed that noise. All they claim to have done on the slider is adjusted it. Don't know what that means but that very annoying rattle is gone. The slider noise would go away if I applied pressure to the door in almost any direction. Also if you are driving along and crack the driver door open the rattle had a much more metalic clicking noise to it so I don't think it was just a matter of something rubbing together. Hope this helps others no that there is a cure. I am very satisfied with the van. My neigbor is a mechanic for infinity and he says that the v6 engine in the Quest is the best v6 in the world. Makes me feel good about that anyway.
I have put 1600 miles on my SL and developed some squeaks and rattles from what I thought was the door, but when I went and sat in the second row seats the squeaking noise went away on the side I sat in. The rattles from the doors continued however. I took it into the dealer and they lubed the second row seats and adjusted the doors and all the squeaks are gone (so far). Still have a slight rattle over big bumps though- I guess it's hard to make a van this big very rigid without weighing as much as an SUV.
Very happy with the van, very smooth and quiet (again), functional, and gets lots of looks and questions- glad I didn't buy the Toyota- very boring (but otherwise a nice van), and I agree that this is one of the best V6s money can buy.
I had the door rattle too. I brought car in and it was adjusted . The passenger rattle was gone!!! Well it came back thouh less frequently and less severe. Im sure our cold winter making things stiffen up isn't helping. Well I tried Shenkar's spray solution but used silicone spray rather than wd40 and so far my next 2 outings the rattle is gone. In fact it was so quiet in this van that I was hearing other noises I suspected were rattles, but then noticed they ame from the seatbelt not used on passenger side that would on odd bumps gently clatter agains the moulding. This van is so smooyth and open that non rattle noises get amplified yet road noise is kept out!
I've had to re-spray once since my inital application, so this may turn out to be a once-a-month, 5-minute ritual, but I can deal with that.
I have not done my seat latches yet, but since the van quieted down so dramatically once the door rattles were gone, I'm ready to do them as well.
Hope to get the same result and stop the seats from making noise when going over heavy bumps. I doubt this would be an issue if the seats were completely bolted down, but I think this is the price we pay for having them foldable.
Hi, I just ordered my Quest, dealer is searching for my color. I always put 4 snows with new rims on my vehicles and have Nokians on my old Windstar. Do you put the snows on original rims or put on new wheels with tires? What did you do with the TPMS on the Quest? Leave them off or put them back on? Is there a dash warning if you leave off the sensors during winter. Do they need to be reprogrammed?
I just installed 4 new Blizzaks (215/65x16)on takeoff alloy wheels from Tirerack. I wanted the TPMS to work so I had to buy four new sensors from my Nissan dealer at about $75.00 each plus another $12.00 for the nuts that hold the sensors/valves to the rim. I had the sensors mounted on the rims by the local Tirerack installer. When I put the wheels and snows on, I found that the TPMS wasn't working so when I took our Quest in for its first oil change I had the service tech look at it. They had to "teach" the TPMS to recognize the new sensors. Now, everything works fine! (and no charge for the diagnosis/cure- it was covered under warranty)
Hope this is of help!
P.S. The Blizzaks work great in the snow. So far we've had an 18" snow storm last weekend and another 10" storm yesterday and without snow tires, I doubt we could have made it out the driveway even with the traction control!
Comments
I'm convinced now that the "rattle" is caused by the friction of the metal door mechanisms rubbing together, as the body flexes over rough surfaces. The fix described eliminates the friction...and the "rattles". This has worked, while all the ADJUSTMENTS the dealer made didn't.
Regarding the gas mileage, it could be anumber of things. Here in the NE, we got hit with a wicked cold spell earlier this week. The cold weather coudl easily play havoc with the gas mileage. Also it could be the brand of gas. More city driving then highway driving. How did you figure out the gas mileage, by the computer or by mileage between fill ups?
The 27.3 MPG sounds terrific. I have slightly over 1200 miles on my SL and my mileage is only 17.6 MPG (computer), mostly local driving.
I too have rattles in both sliders (see post #159). Yesterday I went over a bump and it sounded like the entire passenger slider was bouncing up and down.
Some are using WD40 (See Posts #178 & #179). But, I will wait until I return mine to the dealer and get their opinion on using WD40 (See my concern in Post #182). The manual recommends the use of a multi-purpose grease, NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Soap base).
Good luck on the resolution of your problems.
cirruss - No excessive noise from any vents in our van. Ask dealer to check for blockage in ducts.
Got my SE back from Falore yesterday and they took care of the rattle from the sunroof. Per their technician, the railing had a loose screw. In order to fix it though, they had to completely open the entire roof trim! Hopefully, they put it all back together
Nissan and Falore are still having problems with getting a replacement part for the little plastic molding on the third row.
New question: does anybody else hear a rattling noise from the roof when the skyview screens are retracted? There's no noise typically when they are extended to cover the skyview. I guess it is expected, huh?
Still having great fun with understanding and using the various controls
-- Regards,
-- Vee Gee
Got my SE back from Falore yesterday and they took care of the rattle from the sunroof. Per their technician, the railing had a loose screw. In order to fix it though, they had to completely open the entire roof trim! Hopefully, they put it all back together
Nissan and Falore are still having problems with getting a replacement part for the little plastic molding on the third row.
New question: does anybody else hear a rattling noise from the roof when the skyview screens are retracted? There's no noise typically when they are extended to cover the skyview. I guess it is expected, huh?
Still having great fun with understanding and using the various controls
-- Regards,
-- Vee Gee
Shanker, maybe I mentioned this to someone else, but yes, I do hear noises from the third seat. But, since I have a child seat in the middle, I couldn't tell. One time, I actually sat in the third seat next to my son (who was in his booster seat) and couldn't hear any noises or squeaks or rattles etc.!
The skyview screen is annoying though
-- Regards,
-- Vee Gee
The last things I want to deal with are the occasional bumps that come from the area of the rear seat, and possibly from the spare tire area as well.
I'm going to try the same thing that I did for the doors, on the seat latches that release the second and third row folding seats. I'm also going to try a piece of foam/sponge material under the spare tire to isolate it from the floor.
Will post results. Wish me luck!
With the van stopped, the spray just reached the lower part of the windshield. At
highway speeds the spray hit only the base of the glass. I notified the dealer and they
ordered new nozzles. The factory service manual ( I have the CD version) states that the
nozzles are not adjustable.
The new nozzles were installed yesterday and were no improvement. I again
notified the dealer and they promised to contact Nissan and then let me know what will be
done. It snowed last night. This morning the dealer called and told me they received calls
from 3 van owners complaining that the washers were inadequate. The dealer also
checked some of the vans on their lot and found all had the same problem. Because of
multiple complaints, the dealer stated that Nissan is looking into the problem.
Because of the sloppy streets all winter here in Minnesota, this is a serious safety
problem. I suggest that Quest owners check their washers at highway speeds to
determine effectiveness. I expect that if there are many complaints that Nissan will quickly
provide an effective correction. It would also be interesting to determine whether or not
Nissan has been aware of the problem and simply neglected to notify dealers and
owners.
I am disappointed that I purchased a 2004 Quest and got an outdated version of NAV software in 2.5 months. The buttom line is Nissan should make sure all the same model year car should have the same feature including NAV software. Does any one else file a similar complaint? I don't really want to spend another $185 for a software upgrade.
The stock tires are Goodyear LS with an H rated speed capacity, which should be providing better handling on a minivan. What I found was the tires handled terribly due to weak sidewalls unless at 35 PSI...and at 35 PSI they are harsh. Just a low quality tire, which is typical of OEM tires.
The Nokian replacements are dedicated winter tires (and they are unreal in the snow, and a lot cheaper and more effective than AWD), although a size smaller in 215/65/16 because no tire other than the Goodyear LS exists in the stock size of 225/65/16. These tires outhandle the stock tires on dry pavement, and can be run at 33/34 PSI with better ridigity and softer ride than the Goodyears. Get rid of the junk rubber rather than a slight airdown of the stock tires, which will reduce the handling noticeably.
As for the previous "flat tire" posts...had the same thing happen. Tires lose approximately 1 PSI for every 10 degrees the temperature drops. If you bought the van in August in 90 temps, and have now seen 30 degree temps, you'll have lost around 6 PSI. The system is just reminding you of this before you blow a tire.
Nay
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
PS. I'm interested in buying the 04 Quest SE in Georgia.
I bought it specifically for this purpose...to bring the family together on these trips. Since we owned 3 Mercedes at the time we decided to add the Quest, we are used to high quality vehicles.
Yes, we have had some of the issues that have been reported here, but have had them all rectified one-by-one. We are very happy with the van, since it does what we expected it to do extremely well. The problems we've experienced and you've heard about are the typical types of things you find with "first year" vehicles...they have to work some kinks out.
I really don't feel that the issues we've experienced are in any way out of the ordinary for a totally new model... and they have been much less annoying and costly than trying to keep my other 3 expensive marvels of German engineering on the road.
Have you looked at problem posts for competitors, including the 04 Sienna? I think you'll see the Quest is not unique, and it seems to me the majority of the problems posted here are minor and repetitive (Many people sharing the same complaint).
Only time will tell how reliable a new model will be, but you can be assured that the most important element, the engine drivetrain, is essentially the top-rated system used for years. The van handles extremely well, is extremely quiet (which is one reason the rattles can be irritating) and is very comfortable. These offset crash test rating was GOOD. These are all signs of a well-made van, so the future seems promising. Nissans have been pretty reliable, so that's a good sign.
Read the Sienna problems board. It has similar and other issues. I think a lot of this stuff is first year of production.
At the risk of being redundant, the driving is truly impressive. This is a large, heavy vehicle that handles to me like a car. I drive 140 miles a day to work, so I have the "feel" of my commute down to a science. Though a good portion is highway, there is a fair amount of windy country roads. I drive the same way around curves, etc. as I do with my Outback, the only real difference is the Quest is so much more powerful when passing or driving upgrades. When I need to make a left turn into a busy road, the power is great and the visibility, through the huge side windows, is outstanding. Not to mention the large mirrors. My wife was instantly comfortable with the van, too - it drives much "smaller" than it is.
P.S. Does everyone know that the fuel economy display can be reset? I didn't, so in case there's someone else like me out there, just hold the button down while displaying it for a few seconds and it will reset. -Vince
Also: Sienna/Quest--for me it all boils down to a 16 week wait for a Sienna or a 3 week wait for the Quest--otherwise they each have their strength and weaknesses.
While rattle seem a common problem here, it does not happen to every Quest. So far I don't have this problem. One vote for Quest.
If I have any more problems down the road, I may try a different lube, but as of now, it's all good!!
Raul4 - Sorry you got no relief from your rattles. It's a shame, cause other have posted here that it worked for them too.
If you go to the WD40 web site at www.wd40.com, you will note that they are introducing a new 3-in-one professional line among which is a white lithium grease. This seems to be the same kind of grease recommended in Nissan manual. Among its uses as shown on WD40 web site is, automotive hinges, locks, latches, etc. But, I cannot find it in my area and it apparently is not yet available here.
Although they're different chemical formulations, they all appear to do the same thing the WD40 does, based on the descriptions they give: "penetrating machine lubricant".
Hope one of these will work to get your rattles out. Good Luck!
I very meticulously applied it to all hinges and latches on all doors including the back door and the tracks where they ride and connect after which I left the van sit overnight. I sure was hoping it would do the trick but it didn't even begin to quell the rattles. I can only conclude that the noise on your van and others here are from a different source than mine. I'll have to leave it to Nissan to solve. Taking it to the dealer next week for this and other problems. Thanks again.
Also...how's your tire pressure. I noticed that when mines much over 35, bumps will send shivers through the cabin. Doesn't happen at 35 or less. Don't know if this is characteristic of vans, since this is my first minivan. They're essentially rolling boxes, with not much in them to absorb sound. But I definitely get the shivers if I'm much over 35. You too?
Maybe it's the OEM tires. Anyone out there replaced them, and had a better ride, or noise reduction?
My tire pressure is at 35 PSI. I notice that when driving in street traffic (up to 35 mph) the ride is quite bumpy. On the freeway at 65 mph it is very smooth - but when I get up to 70mph it starts to vibrate. Over 70mph, the vibration is a bit more intense and at 75mph the vibration is at its worst. I feel certain it is contributed to the tires. Also, I believe that some of the rattles in the doors may be attributed to the tires.
I do recall when I replaced the tires on my previous 1999 Venture van with Michelin tires, the ride quality was substantially improved, in that, the tires seemed to absorb more of the imperfections in the road. And, I also recall that a couple of rattles in that van were never heard after I replaced the OEM with Michelins. It was a pleasant surprise.
I am running Nokian Hakka Q's in 215/65/16 size for the winter. These are a dedicated Q-rated snow tire, and they outhandle the Goodyears noticeably on dry pavement, snow is just amazing, and they don't suffer like the Goodyears with a bit less air. With a good H or V rated tire, performance would be the opposite. On warm days, though, as PSI rises, they start the "shiver" around 37 PSI.
Basically, a good tire will give you around a four or five PSI range where you don't notice any driving difference. The Goodyears need to be within a PSI of 35 or you can really tell.
I had planned to put the Goodyears back on in the Spring, but they are so bad that I am going to get a good set of summer tires so I can really enjoy how well the Quest drives.
This isn't a Quest issue - I've never bought a car where the stock tires weren't absolute garbage, and this is no different. A new set of shoes makes an incredible difference in handling and ride on just about any new vehicle...just be prepared to spend $100 a tire, maybe a bit more, to get there.
Nay
That intermittant vibration thing seems totally weird. Mine is rock-solid at all speeds (up to 90), and gets better as the speed builds. I doubt it's the van, and would not be surprised if you didn't have a broken radial belt in a tire.
I never heard of anyone else on this board with a problem like this. And everyone else got SOME improvement from greasing the latches, etc.
shenkar - I plan on making that a part of the discussion next week when I go back to the dealer. The vibration and the rattles could very well have a common cause.
Very happy with the van, very smooth and quiet (again), functional, and gets lots of looks and questions- glad I didn't buy the Toyota- very boring (but otherwise a nice van), and I agree that this is one of the best V6s money can buy.
Hope this helps.
I have not done my seat latches yet, but since the van quieted down so dramatically once the door rattles were gone, I'm ready to do them as well.
Hope to get the same result and stop the seats from making noise when going over heavy bumps. I doubt this would be an issue if the seats were completely bolted down, but I think this is the price we pay for having them foldable.
I just ordered my Quest, dealer is searching for my color. I always put 4 snows with new rims on my vehicles and have Nokians on my old Windstar. Do you put the snows on original rims or put on new wheels with tires? What did you do with the TPMS on the Quest? Leave them off or put them back on? Is there a dash warning if you leave off the sensors during winter. Do they need to be reprogrammed?
Any advice would be appreciated.
thanks,gg
Hope this is of help!
P.S. The Blizzaks work great in the snow. So far we've had an 18" snow storm last weekend and another 10" storm yesterday and without snow tires, I doubt we could have made it out the driveway even with the traction control!