NEW MEMBER, PLEASE HELP! 02 Nissan Sentra SE-R PRE-CAT FAILED, RUINED ENGINE!

[02SentraSE-R]

I have a 02 Nissan Sentra SE-R with 95,691 miles.........the engine has locked up because of pre-cat failure (been inspected by a shop). I've talked with Nissan Consumer Affairs and can't get them to replace the pre-cat and engine! The car is outside of warranty because of time and mileage. Even the federal emission warranty of 8/80k miles has expired! The pre-cat was inspected under the recall on May 04 BUT was not replaced! Any ideas? I bought a 45k mile motor out of a 04 Sentra SE-R (qr25de) for $460.......my mechanic friend can swap for $400. What do I do with the bad (problem prone) header/pre-cat?.......can I run a header and elimate the pre-cat or will the check engine light stay on? Exhaust recommendations would be helpful. PLEASE HELP!Mike

[nametakennow]

Get an aftermarket header on this one. Sim or move the second O2 sensor to avoid the code. Search for some better instructions (there's actually a "Common Issues" thread in the Table of Contents that explains your options for avoiding the light).

Nissan owes you an engine regardless since this was a recall issue. I'd keep fighting them. It has nothing to do with warranty, and you followed the procedure by having them check it, this is no fault of yours and they should fess up.

[02SentraSE-R]

Get an aftermarket header on this one. Sim or move the second O2 sensor to avoid the code. Search for some better instructions (there's actually a "Common Issues" thread in the Table of Contents that explains your options for avoiding the light).

Nissan owes you an engine regardless since this was a recall issue. I'd keep fighting them. It has nothing to do with warranty, and you followed the procedure by having them check it, this is no fault of yours and they should fess up.

Not sure how to do that........I'll have to search for that thread, thanks!

I just called the "regional specialist" for Nissan Consumer Affairs one last time........there's nothing they can do for me!! I even threatened getting an attorney involved (which I can't afford). They won't fess up!........they say they've already completed or "closed out" that recall on May 19th, 2004 on my car when it had about 50,000 miles. I say it was done, but not correctly!.........it should of been REPLACED not inspected!

[02SentraSE-R]

Get an aftermarket header on this one. Sim or move the second O2 sensor to avoid the code. Search for some better instructions (there's actually a "Common Issues" thread in the Table of Contents that explains your options for avoiding the light).

Nissan owes you an engine regardless since this was a recall issue. I'd keep fighting them. It has nothing to do with warranty, and you followed the procedure by having them check it, this is no fault of yours and they should fess up.

Table of Contents??........can't seem to find it! HELP!!

[RED_DET]

Top of the page...

zeroforum?id=53

[nametakennow]

Table of Contents??........can't seem to find it! HELP!!

That's why it's bright red in my signature , I should have mentioned where it was, though, my apologies.

I'm not sure who you should talk to, then, because it sounds like they "inspected" it and found that it hadn't disintegrated yet, so they checked the box and went on. Maybe you should contact the NHTSA and talk to them about how the recall system works, then inform them if Nissan is violating it.

Keep us updated, this sucks.

[nismo4life11]

that sux As for headers I run OBX headers right now seem to be pretty good quality plus there stainless.

[02SentraSE-R]

that sux As for headers I run OBX headers right now seem to be pretty good quality plus there stainless.

I love the idea of a header, OBX seems good for the price (seen on ebay for $200 w/shipping). Don't really care for stainless (all the discoloration they get after heating up and easy to stain w/oil & grease), I prefer ceramic coated headers.

[nametakennow]

Ceramic coatings often start to crack and fall off with time. As long as you wipe down a stainless header before you fire it up, you won't get anything (finger prints, oil stains, etc) besides a mild discoloration (which, IMO, looks pretty cool).

[02SentraSE-R]

Ceramic coatings often start to crack and fall off with time. As long as you wipe down a stainless header before you fire it up, you won't get anything (finger prints, oil stains, etc) besides a mild discoloration (which, IMO, looks pretty cool).

That's true.......good point! I'll have to remember that (cleaning PRIOR to firing it up)! The mild discoloration looks very cool but hate burnt in finger prints, oil stains, etc!

I SCORED a 02 up Nismo stainless header with cat that was hardly used for $270 WITH shipping on ebay!! .........go to

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...&rd=1

[the technican]

sorry for your loss, but the 2.5 motor is very tempermental and is subject to eating itself at any time...it may have not been caused by the cat but it may have what happens is because of the valve overlap for emission performance..i.e. there is no EGR on a 2.5. and the ceramic from the cat gets sucked into motor and scores up cylinder walls and then engine consumes oil and throws a rod....sucks i know but i have seen it more times then i like to remember.. i factory rebuilt motor is not that expensive considering about 2500 bucks but you got a pretty good warranty with it dont go junk yard unless it is very low miles about 100k miles is about all you can expect out of a 2.5...good luck and i feel your pain

[nametakennow]

Eh, there's the possibility that it ate a butterfly screw too, but the most likely reason is precat failure.

QR's will last well over 100k if you fix their bugs and keep up on maintenance.

edit: I did some digging on this (thanks to another member here who works for Nissan). Turns our Nissan is completely covered here. That said, you can try talking to your dealer, they have a couple of appeals they can try to get it covered by Nissan, but these appeals are based purely on goodwill, so they are not legally obligated to help you out. Sorry for the bad situation.