Nissan Patrol 2002 Problems

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.

THE 3.0-litre turbodiesel Patrol is regarded in some quarters as a grenade waiting to go off. I would steer away from them.

YOU NEED to be very careful when having your diesel converted to dual-fuel, converting diesels is quite a new science compared to the conversion of petrol engines and there isn't the same level of experience there to call on. It does work, and can cut fuel consumption, but It's also quite easy to increase the engine's power to the point where the engine can be damaged. Speak to the converters involved and ask them if you can talk to other owners who have made the conversion so you can get their opinion.

BECOME a mongrel rottweiler mum and don't let up. It might not work, but you never know, Nissan might relent in your case. You could take legal action, but that's going to be costly and, at the end of the day, will probably go nowhere. The sooner we have lemon laws here the better.

Under the Australian Consumer Law introduced in January 2011, a consumer can request a refund or a replacement for persistent problems if the car doesn’t do the job it’s supposed to do.

THE factory clutch is a bit marginal and usually starts to shudder before actually failing. Most people replace it with a heavier-duty aftermarket clutch, which seems to last much longer than the original.

As much as you love it the reality is that it's an old car and not worth repairing. It's obviously done you proud, but it's time to move on to a newer car.