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Nissan Frontier vibrations
I have a 2000 Frontier XE, 4 cyl., 4x4. With a
load, either towing or on board, there is a bad
vibration in 1st and 2nd gears, at about 2800rpm.
Two visits and 4 days at the dealer with no
results. They say they are working on the problem.
Help.
load, either towing or on board, there is a bad
vibration in 1st and 2nd gears, at about 2800rpm.
Two visits and 4 days at the dealer with no
results. They say they are working on the problem.
Help.
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Comments
Oh yeah, with a 700# load, the truck sits on the rubber. When accelerating from a stop, there is a shudder that's being caused by the large change in pinion angle. This is nothing new to trucks. Some do it less or not at all really depends on the truck and how it was setup at the factory.
Also, Nissan discontinued the 2wd 4x4 King cab with the 2.4l. Truck weighed close to 4000#...and imagine it with a load...all being pulled by the 2.4l engine. The V6 has a hard time...the 2.4 doesn't stand a chance...
There are alot of differences between the frontier and the hardbody you had, I personally have a 4cyl 98 5spd kingcab and have towed over 3,000# with no trouble, and I have had over 800# in the bed another time, no problems, also I have seen several hardbodies towing large boats when i go out, so far as the original posters problems, I have not heard of these things, but I would agree that it is not a good idea to tow alot with the 4cylinder 4x4 there is just too much going on there with the 4x4 and a load and the weight of the truck that one is just for playing in the mud.
If you do not think that you are getting help from the dealer you brought it to, try another, they mave have better ideas to help you.
Before I bought my CC I had a 1984 KC Nissan 4x4 and I did not have any problems towing,or hauling with it.Granted it was no speed demon with over 1200lbs in the bed,but it got the job done.
The pinion angle change you refer to usually presents itself the other way.The shudder will usually occur because the angularity of the driveline is so great due to putting lift kits on.As you put a load on the vehicle the angle decreases along with the shudder.
The lift kits would depend on whether it is a body or suspension lift. They should have an adjustment made for the pinion angle, usually by relocating driveshaft.
cncman
the true value on towing 3000# is the tongue weight. what was your tongue weight when towing the 3000#. The 800#'s that you mentioned is well within the 1400# limit of hauling, but would you do it with your 4 cylinder everyday? I don't understand why anyone would want to abuse their truck that way. You want to haul or tow, select the correct truck to do so. 800# will strain that 2.4 of yours and decrease its life not to mention what it will do to a stock suspension. I abused my Nissan truck and was rewarded by replacing the auto tranny at 32k miles. I agree that the Frontiers and Hardbodies are different, but the displacement of the motor is still 2.4l no matter how you look at it and there is no substitute for cu in when it comes to producing ground pounding torque to haul or tow.
I guess I should have been more specific about the lift.I wrongly assumed that it was quite obvious that a body lift would have no bearing on the suspension or driveline angles.The higher lift kits do make allowances for the pinion angle,some by having you put in a 3 piece driveline with a carrier bearing and/or by rotating the differential on the springs.
I guess by your statement to cncman that your earlier response meant that ALL compact 4 cyl trucks were not made to haul or tow,ie Toyota,S10,Ranger,Sport Trac,etc.
Back to launch shudder. GM does have a problem with launch shudder in their '99 - '00 Silverado 1/2 ton. If you do a search under topic 1638 2000 Chevy Silverado Vibrations II you will find quite a few experienced the launch shudder. It has been said that it is a bug that GM has to work out on their new model trucks. Apparently it is limited to the 1500 2wd and doesn't affect the 2500's. It also refers to the two piece driveshaft as the culprit. The Helm's manual for the '00 Silverado dedicates a total of 57 pages to solve vibration problems and I believe 5-6 of those pages are to troubleshoot launch shudder. Would verify that but I loaned my manual to my Chevy dealer...
Apologies for being off topic...back to the Nissan vibrations...any TSB's? Check www.nhtsa.com
obviously you know alot more about towing and such than I do, this is my first truck, and I haven't towed before, or carried a big load, I don't know what my tongue weight was, it is my friend's boat, and when we go, I drive to his place and he hooks it up for me, I have a class II reciever hitch on mine, there really wasn't any squat to the truck,
and I was able to maintain 50-55mph in fith gear going uphill, you said you had an automatic, I would never tow with an auto in a four cylinder,
As for the load, of course my truck is primarily a commuter, so I don't have a load all the time, but I am not worried about it shortening the life of my trucks engine or suspension, the frontier now has progressive rate leaf springs in the back
to prevent squatting, and a stronger frame, I do agree that if I towed a boat every weekend, or hauled alot I would prefer the V6, but the 4 does just fine when I have asked it to do alot of work.
I am actually considering getting an '01 desert runner, because I may buy my own boat and would be towing more, then I would go with the auto because it tows 5,000lbs.
this topic is being "frozen." It will be archived or deleted in the next 10 days or so.
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