Nissan Navara catastrophic engine failure

[Oggy]

Catastrophic engine failure, Hello chaps...I have 2011 ST YD25, The vehicle was purchased brand new in 2012, has only travelled a mere ~88000 kms and has been periodically serviced as per Nissan’s new car warranty recommendations. For reasons not exactly clear has major damages to # 3 piston, 3 of the Valves, mashed injector and a missing glow plug tip.

Initial diagnostics suggested that possibly the Glow plug tip has snapped off and proceeded to mince everything in # 3 pot . The vehicle is only just out of it warranty by way of time not Km’s.

We were hoping Nissan would supply some good will but have turned their backs on us and now accusing us of over-revving the car. My Mrs was driving at the time with me as a passenger and did not over rev the motor.

a BIG NOTE: LUCKLY THIS ALL HAPPENED AT IDLE SPEED! I’d hate to think what would have happened had we been travelling along at 100km’s.

Anyways, the dealer has suggested that the bill to repair the vehicle under warranty with all parts & labor would equate to $25,000.00, yes $25k!!!, I could go on and on about the story of what got us to this point but its long.

Ive spoken to Department of commerce regarding my options and now will hire a third party investigator to provide his report on what could be the cause. I have a very big problem with the safety factor behind this issue, When I purchased this vehicle for $43000.00 less than 4 years ago we did so with the belief that Nissan is a safe, reliable and quality brand of vehicle. We opted for a diesel engine for their reliability. I am extremely disappointed that after a mere 88000kms well under Nissans 100k warranty claims and that it has taken 5 weeks to get to this point.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Regards Oggy

 

[jonney]

thats not good and pretty bad on Nissans behalf. keep on fighting as you will win this case. also i do not beleive the cost for total repairs is 25k, thats bullshit, tell them to replace the whole engine as it will work out much much cheaper than a re build from those idiots. good luck.

 

[Oggy]

Agreed Jonney and appreciate the feedback, the $25k is understandable if one was to order each component genuine directly from the parts book. long motor is $13k short $9k, but short will be no good now the head is busted big time. those prices are trade the dealer cliams he's looking after me.

the 3rd party inspector said the same, unfortunately for Nissan i have a bad very bad taste in my mouth after this, i was due to trade up as well soon...not anymore no more Nissan for this balck duck!

Cheers Oggy.

 

[happy john]

Sorry to hear, sounds like a fair bit of poor customer service for both of you. Was there any mention of a timming chain or tentioner failing?, the dealer can record any evidence of the motor being over revved from the ECU. As that speed is limited even if one was idiotic enough to push it that region it would not cause the failure you have suffered. I've not seen anyone with the same condition and diagnosis in the four years browsing this and other forums. I hope you get some sort of satisfaction asap.

 

[Old.Tony]

Pretty rare for the glow plugs to fall apart. I wouldn't be a happy camper either.

Thankfully a rebuild is cheaper than the dealer is saying. I did a search on eBay for Navara Engine and found someone in Sidunny that rebuilds them from $5K. Maybe someone in Perth can do similar?

 

[Oggy]

No happy john, mine has the Timing chan mod, however apparently there can be a single chain lower down??

Regarding your comment on the over-rev, Nissian is accusing us of over-revving on the down shift...which is entirly untrue, can that be recorded on the ECU because if it can that will be the show stopper?

Cheers Oggy.

 

[Black_Outlaw]

If you get no luck with the Nissan Dealers (though I would push it hard), hit up Nathan at Autofix Mechanical Repairs in Kelmscott. He's a straight up guy whom quiet a few of us in Perth deal with (far and wide). He'll be more than happy to discuss options and pricing - WELL UNDER that ridiculous NISSAN OFFERING.


Tel: 9399 1101
Email: [email protected]

 

[Oggy]

Apparently Patrols had an issue with ceramic plugs overheating due to on\off timing...consequently the plug stayed on for longer than usual exposing the plug to high temp and the flow on effect was corrosion and ultimately failure and the tip would fall into the pot, mine do show evidence of corrosion.
cheers Oggy.

 

[Oggy]

nice one Black Outlaw, much appreciated.

 

[happy john]

Yes the ECU will record the maximum rpm and can be obtained on their software. But I doubt they would show you and hope that you were not aware of this.

 

[Oggy]

sweet, thanks Happy John.

 

[Black_Outlaw]

nice one Black Outlaw, much appreciated.

Happy to help a Fellow West Aussie Nav owner. Plus, I've been shafted myself by a few places, and Nathan looked after me when I needed it..

He loves a chat.. And might just have things laying out-back that will lessen the cost!

Keep us updated with you progress.

 

[nuckin futs]

if you went to your local nissan dealer id be giving him a miss and going to the top. theres been a few good will claims that ive read about. as for engine replacements, when i picked up my double row timing chain kit i was talking to paul and he told me about their replacement engine they do. was around the 8k mark (still pricey) but comes with duplex chain kit, upgraded oil pump, hardened crank and oil galleries drilled oversize. still need all the old bolt on bits off your old motor, but most reco engines do

 

[jonney]

Oggy, i see you mentioned your engine had the Timing Chain Mod, was this the Double Row or a good heavy duty brand name ?? maybe your issue is to do with a failed chain guide or a failed chain tensioner that may not have been replaced when the new chain was fitted.

 

[Oggy]

cheers black outlaw, Nuckin Futs and Jonney...if i dont get any assistance ill be certin to talk to Nathan or Paul.

Jonney, my engine has the upgrade already fitted (factory), however ive heard there can still be a single row down low, ive made inquires via a specialised claims investigator, he suggested that even though the factory has upgraded the timing chain area there is still a single row chain down low apparently and that can still be the issue so we’ll see.

 

[jonney]

i thought the lower chain was only for the injector pump and if it breaks you shouldn,t get any major damage to the pistons of cylinder head area.
as i mentioned if the mechanic uses a Stethoscope tool he should be able to pinpoint neary the exact location to where this horrid rattle is coming from, only a 5 minute job and when the engine is totally cold as you know.

 

[Old.Tony]

The lower chain is driven by the crankshaft and drives the fuel and vacuum pumps. The upper chain is driven by the fuel pump sprocket and drives both camshafts.

What eats away at the engineer in my head is how they thought a double row chain was needed for the camshafts and only a single row chain could be the driving force for the other chain plus the fuel and vacuum pumps as well. Talk about introducing the weakest link!

If I was designing it I'd have gone for gears, but failing that I'd have used HyVo chains.

 

[Black_Outlaw]

You forget one aspect...

Mass produced cars are designed with inbuilt obsolescence and are built to a PRICE (Accountant), not a Standard (consumer).

I have never seen an engine series with this amount of known chain / tensioner failures as the YD25 pre 2010 in the D40 range. It's obvious that they are good for a lower output power (D22) but when that torque and HP are increased, the fail rate escalates.

 

[Stelianos]

You forget one aspect...

Mass produced cars are designed with inbuilt obsolescence and are built to a PRICE (Accountant), not a Standard (consumer).

I have never seen an engine series with this amount of known chain / tensioner failures as the YD25 pre 2010 in the D40 range. It's obvious that they are good for a lower output power (D22) but when that torque and HP are increased, the fail rate escalates.

the first yd25 on the d22 had dual lower chains as well. they already had the plans etc. they just decided to go cheaper and less quality when nissan moved out of Japan merged with Renault (there is no Nissan atm basically)and has plants in thailand ....