FAQ Kenny (or anyone else!)

[Actual_Ben_Taylor]

Found this, sounds very similar to something my car does - Have there been any waranty alerts about this, or is it a known problem???

Cheers,

Ben

Something in my engine "rattles" when I take off sometimes.
Check the symptoms carefully. The issue referred to here is very specific:
The car needs to have been sitting, engine off for an extended period (30+ minutes). The first time you try and move off (or just put the car in gear, hold the clutch in and blip the throttle), you will hear a sharp "metallic" rattling sound from somewhere in the front of the engine.
Always consult your dealer, but we have found on several cars, there is a problem in the variable valve timing actuator and inlet cam sprocket, that causes this noise. Nissan have a fix for it, and the job is done within a day.
We've only seen the problem on the S14a cars, but scanning newsgroups and talking to folks in Japan indicate it may also affect the GTiR Pulsar.
Any mechanical noise should be investigated. This is one possible cause that took a long time to track down with the help of a very persistent dealer.


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Black '98 S14

[Nathan_200sx]

didnt one of the sunny's have the ca18det engine? was it the GTiR?

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Nathan
Red S13 Mongoose, K&N T3 280ish BHP http://mysmilies.com/smilies/cwm30.gif
Empty bank account

[Paul_S13]

Nah GTiR's came with SR's

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Black S13
Blitz filter
Wombat exhaust

[TAC]

My car does this after I've been shopping (...oh,oh - girly stuff) - stop at Tescos for ca ½ hour & car rattles like buggery when I start it up again http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/frown.gif. Am getting a service tomorrow so may ask the guy about it...

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- Purple S14 Touring
Mongoose & TC (...soon...)

[Kenny_s13]

Ok I will check the NMGB database and see if there are any bulletins concerning this problem. I will let u know - off the record as it were - hehe. It may not show as a warranty bulletin, just as a service tech bulletin. we'll see.

[Rossy]

I'm sure this is what I get every morning. It sounds like it is coming from just behind the dash (that'll be the engine then I guess?!).

At first I thought is was somthing to do with the air-con...

It goes after a while, but I think I better get it checked!


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Ross
'97 S14a

[JB]

Took the car in for a service yesterday pm and explained to them the noise it was making and under what conditions. Was told that "they all do that sir" and that it's nothing serious.

Frankly I think it's pathetic that they never even attempted to diagnose the fault and left feeling that I would have got better service if I'd taken the car to Halfords for service. Brincars Nissan of Cannock obviously do not care about their customers or their cars. http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/mad.gif

Does anybody know if I have to take my car for servicing to a Nissan dealer as part of the requirements of the warranty, or can I go to someone reputable who knows his spanners from his big end?

Sorry about the rant http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/mad.gif but Nissan have really pissed me off and I'm worried about the car http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/frown.gif



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JB
2000 Emerald S14

[Chimp]

main dealers tend to be nazi-esque in general. Our local fiat dealer told the girly that her new car leaked as "most new cars do". There was 1.5 inches of water on the passenger footwell. Gotta love em, then they told her it was because she parked it on a slant. heh.. Best bet is to complain to Nissan HQ wherever that is, I wrote a top letter to fiat and she got a wikkid courtesy car while they took hers away to be looked at by an adult.

[TAC]

Took my car in for its service today - took printout of start of this topic. Told 'em car was making noises & asked 'em to look. Gave them printout in case it helped(!) (Remember that I'm a girly & we don't know what we're talking about with cars...have to have hard evidence to back yerself up, y'know.) Forgot to mention that noise is intermittent so true to form, the %!&@* car didn't make any noise whatsoever! http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/frown.gif
Have decided to live with noise until something breaks.

[Kenny_s13]

Right I have checked the warranty bulletins and the tech bulletins and there is as yet nothing on this problem posted (possibly early days) But before you all start running to your local dealership waving bits of paper, the manufacturer does have your interests at heart, the car comes with a three year warranty and if there is a problem that is highlighted that is a defect with the vehicle it will be rectified. Nissan Primeras P11 also suffer from a cold start rattle that is regarded as characteristic, ie will not cause any damage to the working parts of the vehicle as manufactured. However many concerns can only be dealt with on a complaint basis, ie genuinly highlighted by yourselves. We are not there to fob you off, but rather to make sure the car you own is looked after and runs well and that problems that you find are dealt with as effectivly as we can.
Secondly the fault has to occur whilst the vehicle is in the dealership, I suggest if it is a common occurence you arrange for the dealership to have the car for a couple of days to test.remember that the average service and road test takes about 1.5 hrs, if you want your car thouroughly looked at for a particular problem you need to allow us time to do the job.
Thirdly you can have the car serviced at a non-Nissan Dealer , but you must ensure that they follow the service schedule strictly and use only Genuine service parts not copy parts. The dealer must be Vat registered and have experience with your type of car.And yes not using a Nissan Agent may affect your warranty. Most technicians at Franchised dealers go through at least 7 years of training,by Nissan, so mostly the Hi-Tech (senior technician) will be able to spot defects of this nature and get it sorted. We also have a hotline to The Factory and can talk to senior Nissan Techs about problems you have. Not only that, Nissan Customer support are excellent people for you the customer to talk to if you want to go to that level Nissans are generally very reliable, my car has over 140,000 miles on it and still goes pretty well. And S14s whilst they have a few things highlighted are also in this class.]
Last of all don't go in feet first screaming and shouting, that will get you no where. Take a reasoned approach and you will find your dealership more likely to get on the case for you.

[JB]

Kenny

I had my little rant about Nissan Dealers when I was in a really foul mood with Brincars. Obviously not all dealers are the same.

I do get annoyed with them, though, when you ask them to check something out and they quite obviously havn't. Being told "they all do that" is not satisfactory, but being told "they all do that because...." would be much better.

I also object to taking a reasonably clean car in for service and having to spend an hour after collecting it getting the oil off the bonnet and off the cream leather seats because the mechanic can't be bothered to put a seat cover on. Not the sort of service one expects on a car costing £25000 new!!

My company car is a Saab, which when it goes for a service is always velleted inside and out by the dealership and any work I have asked them to do is always explained in detail when I collect the car.

However, I HATE the Saab for being boring and wooden to drive but LOVE the Nissan for being a great piece of kit.

I get so hot under the collar about the noise because I don't want anything bad happening to my little S14 (aaah!).

Next time I'll try a different dealer, yours sounds ok but Kent is a little bit too far to travel from Stafford.

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JB
2000 Emerald S14

[Actual_Ben_Taylor]

I'm surprised that your Nissan dealer doesn't valet your car after they've serviced it, the dealer I go to always does that.

The only time I've had problems is with those 'come and go' faults, which never seem to happen when the car is at the garage (makes you look very stupid!), normally get 'come back when it does it again' but I suppose its fair enough, if the mechanic can't see/hear the problem......

Ben

[Kenny_s13]

I'm sorry you recieved indifferent service from your dealer,JB, just to say we are not all like that. Sorry we are not in Stafford.
Wash and vac is a part of the Dealer Operating Standards now, although even with a good valeting bay we have trouble keeping up( sales dept monopolising our crew ) But like you say if you've got white leather and you get oil on it , arrgh. personally I would phone the Aftersales manager and have a moan at him. Car protection kits should be used as a matter of course. ( also my other car is a Saab 9000)