Nissan Problems

IF IT gives you peace of mind then it's probably a good deal, but I wouldn't be taking it myself. The car is still in its infancy and there are likely to be few problems within the next two years.

OPINIONS vary on how often you should run it on petrol, but once a week is a good average. You can use regular unleaded or E10.

THE 2.5-litre Navara diesel should handle your towing needs comfortably. The Navara is a great dual-cab ute for the family. It's comfortable, roomy, has a good towing capability and is economical.

MAKE an appointment with the service manager to drive the car with him, point out the noise and ask him to explain why it's not a problem. If the explanation doesn't satisfy you, demand it be fixed.

I WOULD choose the Pathfinder. Longevity comes down to three things, the quality of the engineering that created the car, build quality and servicing. Nissan, in my view, wins hands down on the first two counts, and the third is in your hands. All things being equal, I would expect the Pathfinder to outlast the Falcon.

I WOULD like to be able to confirm that the problem with the 3-litre turbodiesel engine has been fixed, but I can't. My attempts to get Nissan to own up to a fix have been a dismal failure. All it would tell me is it would take care of owners of any Patrol that had an engine problem. Read into that what you will.

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.

RETURN it to the dealer and park it there until it's fixed. It appears your car is unroadworthy. Demand the dealer fix it, and have them give you a replacement vehicle in the meantime.

I HAVEN'T heard of any problems with the sensor, but it sounds a serious issue.

MY INFORMATION says the Pulsar GL has single-point fuel-injection, not a carburetor, so I'm not sure what adjustments the mechanic made. I would be checking the electronic sensors, specifically the oxygen sensor, that control the air/fuel ratio.