Nissan Problems

WE RECEIVED quite a few emails from readers who have experienced the problem or know of it. Nissan released a service fix for it that appears to do the job.

THE highway fuel consumption seems fine. The consumption around town could be because you drive short distances from a cold start. A significant part of your running could be in the cold enrichment phase, which will increase consumption. It doesn't sound as if there is anything dramatically wrong with your car.

THE A33 Maxima is one of the best-performing used cars there is. It has a good record for reliability. With only 60,000km, the car you're considering also has low mileage.

THE Maxima is a very reliable car. Very little goes wrong with them if you maintain them well, as the car you are considering seems to have been. I wouldn't have a problem recommending the Maxima.

LOSS of fuel pressure is always a possible explanation when a car is difficult to start in hot weather, but several problem areas need to be checked.

CARS that aren't regularly driven can develop problems. Seals dry, belts harden, oil drains back into the sump, leaving the engine dry. Running an engine circulates oil through the engine and coolant through the cooling system, but it doesn't help the gearbox or rear axle. It's a good idea to give your car a run once a month. If you can't,, keep the battery on a trickle charger and change the oil regularly.

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.

NISSAN service specialist Jerry Newman says he has never had a problem with the N15 cylinder head cracking, and reckons the $3500 cost to replace it is high. Because it has happened again so soon after replacing the head, and assuming the people who fitted the replacement head are reputable, I would look further for the cause of your problem. Consider a sticking thermostat, a leaking radiator or hoses, or incorrect coolant.

THE Nissan will happily tow your campervan, but you might consider fitting higher-rated rear springs to avoid the rear end bottoming out, and replace the auto transmission oil with a high-quality oil.

Did they hone the bores in the rebuild? If they didn't, or even if they did, I would be suspicious that the rings are not properly seated on the bores and the smoke is blow-by. The problem could also be because you didn't run it in properly after the rebuild and the bores have glazed.