Nissan Problems

The DPF requires a certain drive cycle to do the automatic burn it must do to rid itself of the accumulated carbon. Your driving cycle obviously doesn't meet the criteria so the automatic burn hasn't been done and the dealer has attempted a forced burn in an attempt to save the DPF. In one sense you're lucky that it only cost $3200 as many people find they also have to replace the catalytic converters and the cost can climb as high as $6000 or more when that happens. You might have a case against Nissan, consult the consumer affairs people in your state and get their advice.

There is no law I am aware of that requires carmakers to hold a certain stock of parts, but it has been the practice in the past that they would hold parts for a period of 10 years. That was before the dreaded GFC. We know that carmakers are cutting back on the stock of parts held, that costs money, and are relying on being able to quickly source parts from overseas if they aren't on hand locally. I'd say you have been treated poorly; Nissan should have been able to fly in the parts you needed from their overseas affiliates and have them here in a matter of a few days. Jump up and down and make a fuss, it seems that's the only way some carmakers get the message.

For starters, make sure the oil used in the service was the correct Nissan recommended oil. Even if it was have the oil changed again. The spare wheel is a full-sized one, being a normal 16-inch wheel, but because it isn't the same size as the road wheels, which are 18-inch, it is speed limited.

It could be a sensor that’s playing up and sending the wrong signal to the computer on occasions, a sensor like the crank angle sensor, or it could be as simple as the fuel injectors needing a clean.

That model was known around the trade as the ‘grenade’, as it was just a matter of time before it blew up. I would suggest it could have.

You would expect it to be revving harder with the extra load of the trailer on the back, so that’s normal. I would engage overdrive when conditions suit, like on the flat, and run at the lower speed, but disengage it when the engine starts to labour, such as climbing hills or pushing into a head wind etc.

It sounds like the torque converter locking up, which is a normal function of the transmission to save fuel. When it does you should see the engine speed drop as the converter locks up and rises again when it unlocks. It’s likely that you’re driving on or around the lock-up speed so you’re getting it cycling in and out of lock-up. Taking it out of overdrive at that speed will get around the problem.

Your cheapest course of action would be to fit a non-factory clutch kit and don’t replace the dual-mess flywheel. That would cost you around $600, but wouldn’t be my recommendation. A non-factory clutch kit with a replacement dual-mass flywheel would cost around $1800, a similar cost to an equivalent factory kit, but the best course of action given that you tow would be to fit a non-factory heavy-duty clutch and a solid flywheel. Cost for that would be about $1800.

My experience is that the D40 Navara is quite a smooth riding ute, sure it’s designed to carry a load, but compared to, say the old D22 Navara, which was a bone shaker the D40 is very smooth. It’s very unusual for a tyre to develop flat spots in a short period of time; the vehicle would have to be sitting for a long time for that to happen. Goodyear Wranglers are generally regarded as good tyres. If you wanted to try other brands, try B.F. Goodrich or Michelins.

Since we last responded to your question we have found out that the X-Trail does have an issue with the breakdown of the catalytic converters in the exhaust system, and the abrasive powder formed can be sucked back into the engine because of the valve overlap Nissan employs to control NOx. Once in the engine it can cause rapid wear of the bores and rings, and the oil trial like yours shows.