08 Versa hatch engine issues- it's at the dealer now

[k8dtm]

Hi. Newbie here. Car is at 27k. Looking for some help. Started hearing a knocking from the front (passenger side) a few days ago. Took it in this morning...and was told a few hours later I most likely need a new engine (I can only imagine the look on my face when I heard that). I've read the forums...I don't know if I should be relieved or not to know I am not the only one this has happened to. I'm familiar with the cold engine ticking...But this was definitely a knock (I called it a "thwack" on the phone with the service dept) and clearly something is up if they're talking engine replacement. I've been good with my oil changes...never waited longer than 4k between and had the routine maintenance done at like 18k. It hasn't been even 3k since my last change and was told today that it was lower than it should be (lots of idling warming up? cold Northeast winter).

Can someone explain to me what is going on (in layman's terms please!)? I take care of my car but I have no idea how its insides work. And I don't want to sound like a shmuck or not have done what needs to be done and I want to ask the right questions going forward. (And no one in my family is mechanically inclined- so no help there for me) I'm still under warranty...so the service dept told me they are basically waiting on Nissan to tell them what to do so they can make sure every step is warranty covered. I don't think they even know exactly what is wrong yet...they said they were waiting on directions from corporate to move forward? If this wasn't something as huge as an ENGINE REPLACEMENT I probably wouldn't post- buuuuut I'm more than a little concerned.

Help...please :-/

[Promise Land]

To start, welcome to the site. We're glad you joined us.

Second, as to what the noise is, it's hard to tell by the description "thwack" and on the right side. Was it a loud thud followed by more noise or just one loud noise? The drive belt and all the puleys are on the right side, so it sounds like whatever made the noise may have been on something there.

As for warranty, the general way it works is the dealer must get all warranty work pre-approved by Nissan. Nissan pays the dealership for the parts and work as long as it's pre-approved. If it's not approved, the dealership is responsible for the parts and labor. Something as expensive as an engine, upwards of $4000, I can imagine the dealer will take every precaution necessary to make sure Nissan pays for the work and parts before they ever turn a wrench on your car. They have a step-by-step procedure they must follow to verify that it is truly the engine that is the problem. And then they will have to send it back to Nissan for examination so the warranty engineers can figure out the problem and cause.

As for why anything would happen, there are a lot of reason that could have nothing to do with your driving and/or maintenance. You'll have to wait to hear back from the dealership (who will hear back from Nissan) as to why something happened. Until then, enjoy the new engine and drive it like you did before.

How has the car been otherwise?

[k8dtm]

Thanks for replying

So the "thwack"- it's loud. A knock/bang that only happens at low speeds. No noises after...just the thwack and then running as usual. It's happened both when the engine is cold and after it's been running a while.

The usual for my car- the engine is pretty noisy when it's cold. (Sort of rattley- read somewhere that someone described it as a sewing maching and that is totally what it sounds like). Some mornings I get a low "tick" when I first give it gas. But once it's warm, it's fine. Sometimes at stop lights I can't tell if it's on or not it's so quiet. Never any issues at highway speed. Sometimes it has trouble moving into 3rd...but that's typically only within a few minutes of starting.

There is this creaking noise that comes from the dash when going over bumps- sounds like the windshield is shifting around (scared the you know what outta me at first). Took it in and they couldn't find anything wrong with it...so I'm stuck with the noise, oh well.

Thank you for explaining the warranty process. That's pretty much the picture that I got from the service rep. Wish I didn't have to wait a weekend to hear though!

[Promise Land]

Ok, it's Monday, any news?

Would this have anything to do with your A/C Compressor kicking on? What mode is your heater switch in (like defrost or defrost/foot), or does it matter?

[k8dtm]

Well apparently there was damage to the lower end block, so I am getting a new motor. At the time I brought the car in, it was a quart low on oil. The dealership service reps are blaming a shoddy oil change for the damage to the engine. Other people (a mechanic included) I've spoken to about the situation don't buy that (less than 2,500 miles since oil change, it only being a quart low, and the fact that the engine or oil dummy lights never went on) and think the low oil level is a symptom rather than a cause of the engine damage. It's not the first problem I've had with the Versa (albeit the worst) so I'm inclined not to believe the dealership...especially since they haven't always done A+ work for me- had my tires rotated and balanced at 15k, only to have the steering wheel start jumping around like a friggin mexican jumping bean when I hit 40mph. Lovely. Regardless, I'm still under warranty so it will all be covered. Thank god. Right now I have my car- it's driveable. Apparently the damage has been done and I should be okay until I bring the car in next week for the replacement.

[Promise Land]

Well, that's good and bad news I guess. Yay, the clock will be turned back for the engine and reset to zero. I wouldn't expect any trouble with the new engine.

But, boo for a bad oil change. I agree that a quart low wouldn't destroy an engine, but I could see if they didn't change the filter some gunk getting through or clogging the filter and starving the lower block of oil. Or, maybe they dropped some Junior Mints (sorry Seinfeld reference) in there. Sounds like a new oil change place will be found quickly.

It's not just your dealer that has issues. When I bought my car I received a "free" oil change from my dealer. I took it in and had the service done. It was SLOOOOW, like 2 hours to change oil. Four days later I found oil all over the front of my car, and then realized they never put my cap back on. They had tucked into the hood lock and then closed the hood. It blew over a quart of oil out of the engine just driving around. The Service Manager gave me some sob story of having a hard time finding good help. I canceled my serviced contract with them the next day and do all the changes myself now.

[Bubs360]

The Service Manager gave me some sob story of having a hard time finding good help. I canceled my serviced contract with them the next day and do all the changes myself now.

I actually bought my Versa used from a GM dealer and I still have my free oil change card in my owner's manual. Even with a newer car, I will never let anyone else perform any maintenance to my car - unless it is a warranty repair. Your story is exactly why nobody else touches my car.

[srellim234]

You guys remind me of my experience with Mountain View Chevrolet about 5 years ago when I still had my K5 Blazer. I was looking for a dealer closer to home to service it than the one I was using 20 miles away. I went into Mountain View without coupons or anything and explained that I was looking for a dealer to provide all my services in the future. The car was a 1994, no warranty work, I was going to be a cash customer. I was going to be a loyal cash customer as long as I liked the service dep't.

Well you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Very first service was a simple oil change. The idiot failed to put the plug back in the pan and I was trailing oil all the way home and back the next day, as well as having to clean up a mess on my newly resurfaced driveway.

I haven't set foot in that dealership since.

[scooterbob]

[QUOTE= The idiot failed to put the plug back in the pan and I was trailing oil all the way home and back the next day, as well as having to clean up a mess on my newly resurfaced driveway.

I haven't set foot in that dealership since.[/QUOTE]

Not to pick at you, but I find that hard to believe. You drove it all the way home with no drainplug? Your pan should have been empty in a matter of minutes! Especially driving it back the next day (after draining all night) with no oil. That's one hell of an engine! Lol

[srellim234]

Big V8 4x4 and about 2 1/2 miles each way.

True story.