Nissan Patrol 1981

Nissan Patrol 1981 Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Nissan Patrol here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

• The transmission of my 2001 Nissan Patrol is thumping

  You could be dealing with either a worn transmission itself (where wear inside the gearsets, shafts or torque converter has made something sloppy) or there’s something else in the driveline (such as a differential or universal joint) that has likewise allowed some looseness or play to enter the equation. In either of those cases, a thump or clunk during shifts can be a symptom. It feels worse under acceleration, as that’s when the maximum stress is on all those moving, meshing parts.

  Sometimes, a transmission can be serviced and adjusted to get rid of thumping or banging during shifts. Take the car to a transmission specialist who will be familiar with this transmission and may be able to return it to civility.

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• I am having a problem getting my 2008 Nissan Patrol Ti to start

  Worn glow-plugs will certainly make a diesel engine difficult to start and can easily contribute lots of smoke to the equation. But in reality, you could be looking at anything from worn or dribbling injectors, a blocked air-intake system, a worn fuel pump or simply internal wear in the engine itself. A worn turbocharger bearing or seal can also cause these problems, and don't forget about the simple stuff like a blocked fuel filter.

  Trying to diagnose turbo-diesel engine problems from the colour of the smoke emitted is a hiding to nowhere and you'll inevitably find yourself changing perfectly good parts on a hunch and wasting lots of time and money. The best bet is to take the car to a diesel specialist and have the whole system investigated.

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• Is it worth getting the engine replaced in my 2002 Nissan Patrol?

  If you still want to drive a proper off-road four-wheel-drive, then maybe fixing what you already have is the wise way to go. Supply crunches and high demand have seen the prices of second-hand four-wheel-drives skyrocket. You might be in for a shock when you check the prices of second-hand replacements.

  Beyond that, it comes down to the overall condition of the rest of the vehicle. Off-roaders are big, heavy and sometimes complex machines and if the rest of the mechanical package isn’t in good condition, fitting a new engine will only attend to one of the vehicle’s ongoing cost-centres.

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• Is it wise to buy a 2008 Nissan Patrol with an overhauled engine?

  Four-wheel-drives like the Patrol tend to do big mileages, so you often see them advertised with overhauled or reconditioned engines. That’s not a problem provided the work has been done properly and quality parts used.

  But you also need to talk to the seller and determine exactly what they mean by `overhauled’. A true overhaul will have included reconditioning the cylinder head, boring the cylinders, new pistons, new bearings, rings and even things like a new water pump and fuel pump. The receipts form the rebuild will tell the full story.

  Our bet would be on the car you’re looking at having had a piston failure (number three or four piston) which was too common on the ZD30 engine. At which point you need to find out whether the engine was completely rebuilt, or simply had a new set of pistons and a new turbocharger fitted.

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