Yes, I have a solution - an immediate recall or, failing that, a class-action suit. I leased a 2005 1.8L Sentra new from the dealership. It came with a 5-year/100,000K "bumper to bumper warranty." Today - April 2010 - it has just under 66,000Kms. on it. The car has been consistently maintained by reputable mechanics. For the last 2 1/2 years, the check engine light has gone on and off. Starting became rough. Code 4 was diagnosed but all "fixes" did not cure it. Car began starting rough and eventually would not start. Dealership service denied it was an engine problem. December 2009, I was persuaded that buying out the lease was cheaper than buying new. Stupid me. In less than 14 months, I've spent just over $1,000 on "fixes" and the damn thing is still acting up. Last tow and service cost about $250 and three days later the CEL came on again. It's only a matter of time before the head gasket goes and that'll cost $1,500-$2,000! The car is a hopeless lemon. AND I'm sure the dealership knows it because when I was processing the buyout in the showroom, and mentioned the CEL, service said, "Oh, your coolant is probably low. We'll top it up for you." Yeah, top it up and avoid doing the gasket...And now, since I've taken a look at the Auto Beef site, I know I was "had" - and there's a word for that.
1)The dealer probably wanted NGK plugs because those are the stocks and they wanted to make sure the car hasant been messed with by anybody else.
2)The car ran hot while it was idling because your headgasket was probably already blown, thus your running on less coolant. Being the reason you ran hot, even idling.
3) These headgasket's always seem to go. Some last longer than others and some just last forever. But these headgaskets are very common to just simply wear out.
4) Yes they should have done the full diagnostic when they first received the car the first time. If they would have simply checked the plugs before guessing at the problem.
5) This situation could have been avoided if they had made a proper diagnostic the first time.
6) There is nothing wrong with replacing the head gasket and driving it afterwards. Not sure what horro storys you have heard...
7) Recall wise... They don't always make up recall's for every little thing. Its just something that Nissan development team comes up with after a car has been manufactured.
My best advice is to go back to the dealership you first went to. Ask for the service manager and complain that their technician replaced the spark plugs obviously for no good resaon because it didnt fix the problem. Ask for your money back for the complete repair and see if you can work a deal to get that head gasket replaced.
I have a 2005 Nissan Sentra SE 1.8L, the car was purchased BRAND NEW with 8 miles on it. It currently has LESS THAN 80K. When my car hit 52K miles, it blew a head gasket with NO prior warnings! I was on the interstate at the time and all of a sudden the RPM gauges went nuts and then my car completely shut down! Thank God I was sitting in traffic when it happened and avoided being smashed to a pancake! The car NEVER indicated that it was hot, EVER! I ended up having to put a new engine in it. The second engine had less than 24K miles and now, a year later I have put maybe 27K miles on it ( going back and forth to work and doc appts.) and I get the SES light this past Saturday! I brought it into Auto Zone and they tested it and it said that cylinder #2 was misfiring. I work about 20-25 miles away from home and I am scared to drive it considering what happened to me last time. This second engine has also about a total of 50-55K miles on it and now I'm experiencing engine issues! I completely agree that it is a manufacturing issue. On engine #1 Nissan REFUSED to help me with the issue stating that since it was outside the warranty, there was nothing they could do. I complained and complained to them b/c they kept stating that it was MY fault the head gasket blew, b/c I allowed the car to over heat. Well how could I have known that it was overheating if the gauge NEVER indicated such! I am SICK of this car! I will NEVER buy Nissan again!
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No one told me why my car ran hot or what a misfire # 2 cylinder would do to my car. I never got an electronic printout for the diagnostic test they wanted to charge me for. Please explain to me (1) why the dealership would not touch my car until that insisted that I had NSK spark plugs even though the same problem came back in 10 days (2) why my car ran hot while it was idling (3) why it blew a head gasket (4) the diagnostic test they could have done (5) how this situation could have been handled differently (6) how safe my car is to drive after replacing the head gasket (have read numerous horror stories about other major problems with this car (7) why there have not been a 'recall" on these head gaskets and how many complaints are needed?
FYI, Idling your car will not overheat it enough to blow the headgasket.
Whoever tested your car and put new plugs in it at first at the dealership is a moron. You headgasket was already blown. Yes they do drive around and run normal for awhile. Only on these Sentra's though.
I have replaced many headgaskets at Nissan on these cars. Some customers don't even know they have a blown one till they come in.
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