02 Pathfinder Intake bolts came loose damaged engine

[NFSPD]

Please post if you have had this problem

I am having an issue with Nissan motors. I live in Melbourne Florida and have my 2002 nissan pathfinder at nissan of melbourne currently. My Pathfinder has 46,000 miles on it the warranty is 5 years or 60,000 miles so I am just outside the years but way under the miles. I am having what seems to be a common problem that Nissan will not recognize.

My pathfinder was driving fine then started making a clunking noise then it stalled. I brought it to the dealer to be told that 2 screws in the intake manifold back themselves out and got sucked into the engine and completly destroyed it. Nissan is saying it is my problem because i am outside the warranty. But this is a huge manufacturing defect that Nissan knows about and won't recognize. They want $9,000 to put in a new motor or $5,000 for a used one that has more miles then the one I had. The car is only worth a bit more then the repair costs. I found many othes with this issue and the links are below.

onehttp://x.nissanhelp.com/forums....html

anotherhttp://npora.ipbhost.com//inde...alves

..http://www.consumeraffairs.com....html

morehttp://www.canadiandriver.com/....html

more zer...64383

[KoukiS14]

That's absolutely a nightmare. I don't even know what else to say. . I'm not sure how you can go about exacting what they owe you.

I'm sorry. .

[02QX4ME]

I have never heard of that failure with Pathfinder/QX4. One of the top reason I bought 02 QX4 is from the research, I know its reliability is near the top, and no recall for the 2002 and newer.

[fueler]

02QX4ME, the reliability ratings you have been hearing about Nissan are mostly based on the VG series engine, which Nissan has been using since 1983 and just recently retired it in 2004. Unfortunately, I have heard nothing but complaints about the VQ series engine in the 2002-2004 Pathfinders... Not the first time i've heard of this problem.

[02QX4ME]

Really? That is a true surprise to me. I thought Worlds Auto (?) rated VQ engines 10 best engines for consecutively 12 years(?)...

[fueler]

Really? That is a true surprise to me. I thought Worlds Auto (?) rated VQ engines 10 best engines for consecutively 12 years(?)...

That is true.... but i've been reading Nissan Message boards for a while now and it seems that the VQ in the Pathfinder seems to die prematurely... Ignition coils going bad before 100k miles..... brass venturi screws that back out and kill the engine.... etc.... Here is some info and opinions on the VQ35 http://www.ultimatecarpage.com...24697
Modified by fueler at 12:48 PM 5/31/2007

[02QX4ME]

I think I happened to have read all the good things about this engine. Well, I also think I need to keep crossing my fingers really tight...

By the way, my RX300 engine is much smoother than this VQ. Probably also due to better insulation and some other factors, at freeway speed, I don't hear any engine sound in RX300. Why I haven't heard any rating of it?

[Buzzman]

Oh great. Thanks guys. Just when I was sleeping well, comfortable in the knowledge that my '02 Pathfinder was going to give me many more years of trouble free performance. Now I'm having panic attacks everytime I turn the key.

Seriously though, is this something I should have looked at, or do I just keep driving it?

My truck is running so well right now that I hesitate to mess with it. The engine runs great, with no hesitation or surges that others on this forum seem to be experiencing. I'm also getting better gas mileage since I changed my O2 sensor and spark plugs.

Happy motoring.

[MetaOrbit]

Whew, I don't know what to tell you to do. The best thing I could think of would to be the squeaky wheel and keep writing and/or calling NNA.

I'd also look into a garage other than the Nissan dealer to do the engine swap. No matter how you look at it, it won't be cheap, but it should be cheaper performed anywhere other than the dealership.

If it makes you feel any better (not that it should), I've heard of this problem. Not so much with regards to Pathfinders, but I've heard of several occasions where this has happened on Maximas and Altimas. It seems to be common to the VQ35DE motors. Some folks have gone so far as to go in there and put loctite or even JB weld the screws to prevent them from backing out.

Nissan is aware of the problem; it's a shame they're not stepping up to the plate and taking care of it.

[KoukiS14]

Should try and score a Nissan turbo diesel :o

[MinisterofDOOM]

Good luck with your battle with Nissan NFSPD. I've heard of this issue before and have a hard time seeing why Nissan would not be willing to help you out with it (aside from obvious money savings on their part). Did you have the Pathy dealer maintained regularly? If you did, I'd say that makes a strong case in your favor, since it's something THEY should have caught in the process.

I think I happened to have read all the good things about this engine. Well, I also think I need to keep crossing my fingers really tight...

By the way, my RX300 engine is much smoother than this VQ. Probably also due to better insulation and some other factors, at freeway speed, I don't hear any engine sound in RX300. Why I haven't heard any rating of it?

Are honestly complaining that a utility SUV has a harsher engine than a Luxury SUV? Even if it was true (which it isn't, more on that in a minute), that's a pretty harsh comparison. I certainly wouldn't go around complaining that my pickup truck has a harsher ride than my Cadillac (a much more exaggerated unfairness, but a good example).

You've pretty much hit the nail on the head: the reason for the difference is due to the Lexus' heavier sound insulation and stronger luxury focus.

Go drive a Camry with the 3.0. You'll quickly find that the motor isn't quite as smooth as your RX leads you to believe.There's also the difference in power between the motors: 220 for the RX, 250 for the Pathfinder.And there's the difference in purpose between the two cars. Even though the 2nd gen Pathfinder is TECHNICALLY a car (unibody, not body-on-frame) like the RX, it has a lot of "truck" in it's purpose--far more than the RX. Simply due to that, it's going to be a little less luxurious (and will also beat the snot out of the RX once the pavement is left behind).

The reason you haven't seen any ratings of the 3.0 in the RX is because it is, by it's very essence, a completely AVERAGE motor, with nothing outstanding about it. It does it's job well, and is certainly not a poor powerplant, but there's nothing particularly noteworthy about it. It may be reliable, but it doesn't offer the superb package the VQ does: broad torque and horsepower bands, smooth revving, great response, good fuel economy, tremendous reliability, a wonderful exhaust note...Also, the intake screw issue is not really an issue with the VQ, but an issue with the pathfinder intake. Of course, that doesn't make it any less severe an issue, but look at how many other Nissan models (both front and rear drive) use and have used the motor for years upon years with extremely positive results.

Don't take my comments personally, though...I mean no offense, nor am I trying to compare the RX and the Pathfinder. I just hate to see vague misconceptions drawn from vague generalizations.

I should add, though, that the Toyota 3.0 IS a pretty smooth V6 when compared to the huge wealth of other cometitors out there, especially the American ones. But I definitely can't say it's smoother than the VQ. Consecutive drives in a 3.0 Camry and VQ-powered Maxima tell me otherwise.

[NFSPD]

I have been calling nissan usa everyday. they say they can't help me because me repair is to costly and if it was cheaper they could help. So I said thats great you stand behind your product enless something really bad and expensive happens then its the consumers problem. that sounds like great business. They said they are sorry but its my problem I said thanks I need to speak to someone higher up they told me they would call me and they never do. I am just getting the run around. I am going to get a lawyer soon .

[Acey]

Honda ran into this with transmissions. I took a class action lawsuit decision to make any difference with them. Still didn't because it was a couple months out of the vin range. I hope Nissan doesn't do this but I doubt they will step up other than a TSB. Too costly.

[fueler]

http://npora.ipbhost.com//inde...14826

[kingorcus]

hey guys

just bought a 2002 Pathfindercan someone please post step by step procedure to fix these engine screws problem

Thanks

[88pathoffroad]

Download a factory service manual from phatG20.net and start reading.

[kingorcus]

The service manual for 2002 pathfinder doesn't work

anyone has it??

Download a factory service manual from phatG20.net and start reading.

[88pathoffroad]

Works fine for me. You just need to un-RAR the file to use it. Google it!

[kingorcus]

hey guys

My mechaninc did the Job on the weekend

luckily no screws were missing...two were little loose

also I change my plugs..

[Buzzman]

How many miles are on your truck, and how much did your mechanic charge?

[kingorcus]

69khe is my friend with spark plugs only $120

[Buzzman]

69khe is my friend with spark plugs only $120

You done good.