So a few things to cover;

Been browsing the site for a few years now. Thought I'd join and contribute what I can. The factory service manuals have been particular useful. Huge thanks goes out to all involved for having those available, and for free none the less.

I've got no interest in mods, drifting, spoilers or making my car sound like a piece of lawn care equipment. But I own a Nissan and when I was wrenching for a living, I enjoyed working more on the imports, specifically Japanese vehicles, over the domestics. And that was even before I owned an import. But after owning both Chevy and Ford, I also worked for a Ford dealership for a minute, but I've grown tired of the domestic brands.

Anyway... Forgive me if my search skills suck, but I found it interesting the lack of threads on tools, tool boxes, or threads from/on being a Nissan mechanic/technician. Not looking for anything specific, per say, just an observation.

I think you're right. After a quick search, the only significant tool discussions I could find were for OBDII diagnostic scanners.

Rogue One wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 17, 2020 1:31 pm

I think you're right. After a quick search, the only significant tool discussions I could find were for OBDII diagnostic scanners.

Yeah, forum of car guys and no one is talking about Nissan specific tools or tools needed to do certain jobs on certain Nissan models, or tools they use as a tech/mechanic, or just showing off their shinny Snappy's, etc...
I don't have anything special to show, but I like tools. It's my favorite part of working on cars.

Nissan or Datsun specific tools are rare. Such as the special tool designated for band adjustment on the British Borg Warner M35 automatic transmission used on the RL411 and early 510 sedans and wagons. Too few special tools and too few vehicles requiring them. to deserve much attention.

For the most part, the special tools we use most these days are thumb drives. With the exception of measuring jigs for CVT rebuilding, most of the tools in the "special" cabinet are only special because they have a Nissan part number. The vast majority have perfectly good equivalents at Harbor Freight or off the SnapOn truck. Even the ones I use most as an electrical specialist, pin-fit gauges, can be adequately substituted with a collection of different sized safety pins. There's rarely just one pin in a connector shell, so if a safety pin drags in 7 of 8 positions and slides in just one, you can be quite sure the box spring is shot on the pin that slides. You don't need a precision pin-fit gauge for that, especially one that will probably cost $50 a pop if bought as a special tool. I use the Nissan versions because the dealership has them (and is required to buy them), but they wouldn't be necessary were I working in an independent shop.

Fair enough. Though that's only part of my observation, and I wasn't necessarily saying "specialty tools" as being specific for Nissan's... For example I believe you need an external torx plus #24 socket for removing the flywheel on some of Nissan's CVT transmissions, like the one in my 2011 Altima. Not specialty in the way you're referring, but without the proper socket, you're not going to complete the job. Or needing a 12mm 12-point deep head bolt socket for removing head bolts. Things some of us might not might already have because they are common or used on a daily basis...

I'm not much when it comes to improvising and automotive repair... In my experience and others sharing their experience, "close enough" or "it will work" is not good enough and often causes more trouble than just having the proper tool in the first place.

Any tool is a 1-off specialty tool when you have a welder

But yes, I've seen special Nissan tools in the FSMs and thought "...I can just use a block of wood and a pry bar to do that", and have in fact done it with success. Previous posters are correct, which is what makes Japanese brads typically better to work on, lack of specialty tools required.

Personally, I don't do enough work to justify the cost of snap-on. Plus, when the aforementioned welder (or torch) has to be called into service, I don't feel bad about sacrificing a cheaper tool.

PapaSmurf2k3 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 21, 2020 3:18 pm

Personally, I don't do enough work to justify the cost of snap-on. Plus, when the aforementioned welder (or torch) has to be called into service, I don't feel bad about sacrificing a cheaper tool.

Yep, 'nother selection from the Pittsburgh "Weldable" product line.

I think I came to see this as a forum of car enthusiasts, and that is a large spectrum - from people who just like to be in a Nissan/Infiniti/Datsun, to people who care more about cosmetics and spit-shine their cars every weekend, to those who modify their cars for the track, even those who modify the heck out of them and only race in stoplight championships etc.

There are a few wrenchers, but I do not think that is the larger demographic of owners, especially on the Infiniti side where I spend most of my time.
I also think reliability and complexity plays into all of this. Very few things on a Nissan will stump a competent independent mechanic. As compared to the Volkswagen, Jaguar and Benz forums I visited, oftentimes a forum member designed a tool/jig that enabled easier access or service of a frequently failing part.
Maybe due to passion (or financial demographic) these other forums also had a lot more owners in possession of the propriety diagnostic equipment their cars required.

As another example, I think I was able to do my first Nissan engine swap on jackstands and using a basic entry level socket kit from AutoZone. Probably not worthy of mention in a tools sub-forum, hehe.
Granted, I have since grown my tool selection to ratcheting wrench sets as well as a power tool here and there, but I have very few Nissan specific tools - namely the crank/ring gear stoppers for v8 engines, and PVC pipe that I fashioned as seal removal/installation tools and save myself money on Kent Moore tools - still nothing worthy of any toolbox talk.

Toolbox discussions, that'd be nice but those are expensive. Nissan/Infiniti owners seem to like cheap.

I still don't think I've once seen any car forums with a genuine "tools section" though.


- just my observations of course.

PapaSmurf2k3 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 21, 2020 3:18 pm

Any tool is a 1-off specialty tool when you have a welder

But yes, I've seen special Nissan tools in the FSMs and thought "...I can just use a block of wood and a pry bar to do that", and have in fact done it with success. Previous posters are correct, which is what makes Japanese brads typically better to work on, lack of specialty tools required.

Personally, I don't do enough work to justify the cost of snap-on. Plus, when the aforementioned welder (or torch) has to be called into service, I don't feel bad about sacrificing a cheaper tool.

I've seen your on-the-spot fabrications in person.

Speaking of which, I need to get my a** down there again one of these days for some time in the shop over some cool beeahs and grilled foods.

If you can get some of my packages out of USPS and deliver them yourself, I'd actually have some stuff to work with haha. They've been ridiculous this year.