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iant007 Profile
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Date Registered: 11-2012
Location: Cape Town
TOTAL POSTS: 2
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Advice needed: Engine damage through catalytic converter


Hi all (this is a repeat post, I most stupidly posted in the newbies section under Introductions, so apologies to the forum administration).

Being a newcomer I apologise upfront for repeating an oft brought up problem but I am in dire need of sincere advice.

I hail from sunny Cape Town and drive a 2003/2004 T30 QR25 petrol. I purchased this vehicle from my employer as it has a full service record. I had the clutch replaced (noisy release bearing) - 2 000 AUD by a third party repair company. The car had been surging after rapid acceleration (max about 5 times) and after switching off ignition it would be fine on restart. Took to dealer service agent for service, they found nothing wrong - said they had to reset the timing. Surging still there if one accelerated hard but since this was seldom done it only appeared about twice - after about two months of normal riding, no off road and no fierce acceleration the engine just cut out - the check light was then on. After three hours the engine could be restarted and could drive to dealer service agent with check light on. This was about 2Km away. They said timing chain (1 000 AUD) had to be replaced (145 000Km). The car then drove with a continuous light surge (more noticeable at higher rpm but definitely could be felt even at 2 000 RPM) and ECU light would come on - they checked this, reset whatever but it still surged. A week after I got the car back there was no oil in the engine. 6 pints of oil and I was on my way again. Having never seen smoke before I wasn't looking for it and there certainly wasn't smoke when I first took it for timing chain replacement and I use it mainly for commuting and in chiefly heavy traffic. (80Km/Hr)

Took the car to dealer again following day. They say the catalytic converter was blocked, had disintegrated and damaged number one cylinder. No quote until engine has been stripped - they say there will be charges involved. I can get a used motor for about 2 200 AUD, fitting and service extra from a third party. Now here's the advice I require: Is Nissan pulling a fast one? This car has always been serviced - don't they check fuel/air mixture? With valve timing issue due to chain (which was not noisy) wouldn't they check emissions and again catalytic converter. While the car had been serviced wouldn't they pull the plugs and see that it had been possibly using oil (1 pint every 1 000 Kms - I thought this was normal, stupid me but the car ran fine). Now 6 pints every 100 Km. Plugs lean or rich? I feel totally ripped off - this was a beautiful car and now just an untrustworthy wreck. Is this a cover up due to negligence on the dealer's part? The compression is fine on all cylinders but is now smoking like crazy.

Warning bells are ringing but I'm not going to point fingers - reminds me of the guy going in for an appendix removal and coming out minus a leg. The dealer is reputed and their foreman contacts me to give an update. I drove the car home on Friday as I feel I may be able to get a cheaper solution elsewhere. What are the chances that the cat was clogging due to incorrect fuel/air mixture right in the beginning which lead to this catastrophic failure? I would love to hear from people that had similar problems and whether this too was initially thought to be a timing chain issue. I'm at wit's end.

Yes, there is a last part to this post:- Used engine or rather have the engine repaired by Nissan. They said they may be able to reduce labour rate. I'm not using this as a excuse to have a run in with them, I want to be treated fairly.
10/Nov/2012, 10:03 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
cooch t31 Profile
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X-TRAIL HOLIC
 


Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re:


When the dealers do their services, they are supposed to check air fuel mixtures and so on. They will be quick to add that anything can happen in the time between services or will try to blame the issue on the driver or the way it has been driven, even if it has been driven carefully (many of us including myself have been told that from Nissan).

You could stress the point to let Nissan know that the issues were happening before they did the timing chain and maybe they will keep that in mind when costing up the repair bill.

When they strip your engine down be sure to get a written quote before they start any work, that way you can compare to the cost of a replacement engine. I personally think that a replacement engine plus some labour will be your cheapest option.

I hope it doesn't cost you too much as there is nothing like the feeling of a big hole in your pockets.

Good luck with it and keep us informed of how you go.


---
Tony X-891c

HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1

11/Nov/2012, 5:07 am Link to this post Send Private Message
 
jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Advice needed: Engine damage through catalytic converter


Hi Ian,

Sorry to hear about your troubles...

In addition to the information you have already provided in your post, I would be interested in the error codes the dealer has re-set when the check engine light was one.

I doubt the timing chain needed replacement at any stage, as it is usually the time chain tensioner that goes bad and require replacement (not the chain itself) and this is only needed when you hear the time chain rattling.

A damaged catalytic converter or more accurately flaking of the cat. converter can indeed happen due to excessive heat and the ceramic flakes from the cat. converter can indeed damage the cylinder walls beyond repair. In most cases where such a damage taken place, the advice is to replace the engine block, as the engine will continue to burn oil ongoing and will never be the same.

I doubt the compression test is favourable and I also doubt the car had a 100% clean bill of health when you bought it, as the above damage and also the "no oil" in the engine scenario are all pointing to a previous damage that was patched-up!

Don't spend any more money on fixing this engine, if you like the car and intend to keep it, have the engine replaced. That's the only sensible solution in this situation.

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11/Nov/2012, 6:50 am Link to this post Send Private Message MSN Blog
 


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