Our 2002 Pathfinder SE with 194,000 miles malfuntioned:
Had it towed to dealer
Dealer says ECM bad (Engine control module)
Says relays also bad
Says brakes are completely worn through
Says spark plugs need to be replaced
Says IAC needs replacing, coolant leaking
We pay $3,400 for repairs.
Drove car off from dealer and it now uses 1 quart of oil per 100 (no, not 1000, 100) miles
Dealer says catalytic converter got sucked into the engine and ruined it.
I ask why do they think the ECM failed at the same time the catalytic converter failed?
They say they had to replace the ECM to figure out what happened?
Now we have a Pathfinder using 1 quart of oil per 100 miles and spent $3,400 for what?
Does any of this make sense?
HELP!!!!!
2002 Pathfinder SE-Catalytic converter sucked into engine?
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Blindaviator
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:49 pm
- Car: 2001 Nissan Pathfinder LE
Re: 2002 Pathfinder SE-Catalytic converter sucked into engine?
The IACV failing and damaging the ECU is a known common issue...
When you say "it malfunctioned" be more specific, what happened to get it towed?? Was it because of the IACV and ECU failing??
It's not possible to have the cat pulled into the engine under normal circumstances... When the engine is running there is a constant flow of high pressure exhaust gases pushing the cat internals away from the engine... If the Stealership says the cats are bad why didn't they tell you before the repairs and suggest you replace them??
For $3400 I could have replaced the engine with a rebuilt one (long block costs about $2500 with a 3 year warranty) and still had enough left over to replace everything else they said was wrong...
You can also get a used, low mileage engine, from a salvage yard for about $800 with a 90 day warranty... Would cost about $800 for a shop to swap the engines... I will never take one of my cars to the Stealership unless it is under warranty...
If it was not using large quantities of oil before the repair then it would help to figure out exactly what they did during the repair...
You will need to see where the oil is being leaked or consumed from... First thing you should do is a compression test on every cylinder... The compression test will tell you if one or more cylinders have issues with rings or valve seals... Look for oil under the car after it sits for a while...
When you say "it malfunctioned" be more specific, what happened to get it towed?? Was it because of the IACV and ECU failing??
It's not possible to have the cat pulled into the engine under normal circumstances... When the engine is running there is a constant flow of high pressure exhaust gases pushing the cat internals away from the engine... If the Stealership says the cats are bad why didn't they tell you before the repairs and suggest you replace them??
For $3400 I could have replaced the engine with a rebuilt one (long block costs about $2500 with a 3 year warranty) and still had enough left over to replace everything else they said was wrong...
You can also get a used, low mileage engine, from a salvage yard for about $800 with a 90 day warranty... Would cost about $800 for a shop to swap the engines... I will never take one of my cars to the Stealership unless it is under warranty...
If it was not using large quantities of oil before the repair then it would help to figure out exactly what they did during the repair...
You will need to see where the oil is being leaked or consumed from... First thing you should do is a compression test on every cylinder... The compression test will tell you if one or more cylinders have issues with rings or valve seals... Look for oil under the car after it sits for a while...
Re: 2002 Pathfinder SE-Catalytic converter sucked into engine?
Absolutely NO OIL LEAKING under engine!
Re: 2002 Pathfinder SE-Catalytic converter sucked into engine?
I am aware (NOW) that the IACV can fail and damage the ECU. I have no idea why the CAR malfunctioned. It is my son's car. He was driving it and it stopped working. That's all I know.
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Blindaviator
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:49 pm
- Car: 2001 Nissan Pathfinder LE
Re: 2002 Pathfinder SE-Catalytic converter sucked into engine?
Also get down on the ground and look at the bottom of the car... Oil could be pushed out under speed which will cause it to coat the bottom of the car...
Ok you need to determine where it is leaking into the engine at then...
Have you checked the oil and water to see if they are mixing??
Water in the oil will make it look like a vanilla milk shake...
If they are fine then you need to do a compression test to see if any of the cylinders have low compression... If the compression is good then you can start checking elsewhere...
1qt every 100 miles is a LOT of oil to be consumed... If it didn't have that issue before the repairs then the Stealership has done something to cause it...
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Blindaviator
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:49 pm
- Car: 2001 Nissan Pathfinder LE
Re: 2002 Pathfinder SE-Catalytic converter sucked into engine?
ever changed your pcv valve might help
Re: 2002 Pathfinder SE-Catalytic converter sucked into engine?
It has now been a YEAR since the pre cat got sucked into the engine and my son is still driving the car! Granted, he keeps a lot of oil on hand, but heck it still gets him from point A to point B. He isn't due for an emission test until March of 2019, when I suppose we will have to either junk it or trade it off. Meanwhile, he is getting his repairs paid back through depreciation!
Re: 2002 Pathfinder SE-Catalytic converter sucked into engine?
Here we are 16 months later, and the car is still running! Granted it uses a quart of oil every hundred miles, so most likely won't pass emissions inspection which is due March, 2019. I checked with the local "U-PULL" junkyard, and they quoted me $200 for a used engine, with a 30 day return (for a credit) policy. Does this price sound right? What do you think it would cost to have it installed?
Re: 2002 Pathfinder SE-Catalytic converter sucked into engine?
On emissions:
Does the vehicle have a check engine light on? If so, then you're right that it won't pass emission. If the SES/CEL light is not on, then keep on trucking!
With the cat allegedly reverse-inhaled, you should have either code P0420 or P0430.
And yes, if the material gets into the engine, it could damage your valve seals and piston rings and result in excessuve oil usage. [Did I miss where you addressed the question of whether the PCV valves have ever been replaced?]
And if the engine consumes excessive oil that then collects at the cat, subsequent engine cycles could make it overheat and disintegrate. You have a chicken-egg situation here.
Usually the materials are blown away from the engine as alluded to above, but I have lived just long enough to know anything is possible.
These are things a compression test should help you determine... With a visual look into the catalytic converters before you spend money on a repair that might not be necessary.
On the engine replacement:
First, verify what year and model that junkyard engine is coming from.
Yes, $200 is a very good price but if it is the wrong engine, even a free engine is too expensive.
On labor, just call around. You might expect to pay around $1,300.
If/when you replace the engine, please remember to address these 2:
Does the vehicle have a check engine light on? If so, then you're right that it won't pass emission. If the SES/CEL light is not on, then keep on trucking!
With the cat allegedly reverse-inhaled, you should have either code P0420 or P0430.
And yes, if the material gets into the engine, it could damage your valve seals and piston rings and result in excessuve oil usage. [Did I miss where you addressed the question of whether the PCV valves have ever been replaced?]
And if the engine consumes excessive oil that then collects at the cat, subsequent engine cycles could make it overheat and disintegrate. You have a chicken-egg situation here.
Usually the materials are blown away from the engine as alluded to above, but I have lived just long enough to know anything is possible.
These are things a compression test should help you determine... With a visual look into the catalytic converters before you spend money on a repair that might not be necessary.
On the engine replacement:
First, verify what year and model that junkyard engine is coming from.
Yes, $200 is a very good price but if it is the wrong engine, even a free engine is too expensive.
On labor, just call around. You might expect to pay around $1,300.
If/when you replace the engine, please remember to address these 2:
- Power valve screws
- Rear main seal