Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61
I have a 2002 Nissan Sentra, bought at 20,000 miles. It suddenly started to die when stopped at traffic lights. Taken to the dealer; the dealer replaced the ECM since ECM was not communicating to the diagnostic probe. But he is not sure whether to replace the mass air flow meter and spark plugs further (I was charged $95 even with this uncertainty). What are the items in the recall; I hear ECM is one. Is air-flow meter included? With the new ECM it is making a strange noise. Though I will never buy another Nissan, how will get the current one running for some more time?
I have a 2005 nisan sentra spec v and have only the problem with hard stsrting power is good and idrive it very hard. to the people with the oil consumtion issue I consume around half a quart every 3-5 thousand miles and have gone as far as 12,000 miles on an oil change, I highly recomend the use of mobil 1 full synthetic oil I've used since I bought the car with 9,000 miles on it. also those who complain about brakes it is how you drive or you are getting ripped off by your mechanic, I have 58,000 miles on my original pads and rotors and will need brakes in probly another 10-15,000 miles.
Well here we go... bought it in 2002 right off the showroom floor.
Only problem I've ever had is oil consumption. The breakin took quite a bit - 1 litre between changes. And of course the incredible "pinging" sound when the car was shut off. My buddy -a master mechanic- asked me after I took him for a spin if it always did that and to bring it back right away as the cat converter was super heating and probably blowing back into the engine!!!
They changed the engine a year later (how do I really know if they changed it???) now we are 2007 and at 100K kms and I am losing most of theoil before 1000kms of driving...
Right side door speaker gone...
Too bad this was a very fun car
BTW I just changed my brakes at 104,000 kms...-front only...
Wonder if the altima 3.5 would fit in...:)
I purchased a 2003 SE-R (non Spec-V) approx. two months ago. So far I have driven it fairly hard, on a daily basis, enjoying its great pick up and precise shifts.
But like everybody before me, I have had problems and I have noticed a progressive wearing of the brake pads. There is a very long struggle to start on some occasions, and sometimes the car runs very sluggish; chugging and losing its ability to pick up speed. I have been to a local dealership in town for questions about the mysterious rattle everybody mentions, and I was told that it originates from various heat shields surrounding the exhaust system. Numerous owners have come in and had unnecessary shields removed, solving the problem quickly and for next to no cost.
I have yet to bring my car in for an oil change - it runs clean and still has plenty of clean oil on the dipstick, but my next change will be synthetic oil for sure. I have been fighting for a while to find after-market performance parts for my SE-R, but there isn't that much market for real performance parts.
All in all, the car is good, but my hunger for speed isn't yet fulfilled. I still wish I had bought an srt-4 (my original intent, but for the lack of sufficient funding).
I bought a 2003 Spec V in 2004. I've had nothing, but problems with it. First the pre-cat blew up and my local dealership said it was tampered with. I fought them 2 months over this issue. I got tired of their bs, so I bought an after-market header. Car ran fine for 4 months until I left work one day and kaboooom - blew a hole out the back of my block. I had it towed to same dealership and they said it wasn't under warranty since I had an after-market header on it. I fought them for 4 months. Finally I took them to arbitration court and won. I got a new engine put in the car. 38k miles later on this engine, I'm having problems again. Car is using up oil like crazy. SES light came on - Cylinder 4 misfire. I pulled plugs out and spark plug in cylinder 4 was burned and the tip was touch the electrode. I replaced the spark plug and car ran fine for a few hours. Now it is hesitant and bogging out at higher rpms.
I too have problems with hard start.
First engine didn't have problems with a hard start until 22k miles. First engine blew at 24k miles.
Even with this replacement engine, I'm still having problems with a hard start.
I won't ever - I repeat ever buy another Nissan again.
I bought an 02' spec-v in 05 that had 40K on it. As soon as I went to start it up the following day... took almost 3 tries for it to start.. That's just the beginning... now, almost 2 years later (with noticeable problem in between) I am going through almost 3 quarts of oil a WEEK!!!
I drive the car about 17 miles each day from my house to work and then back. Now, after noticing this problem for about a few months now my SES light came on and my converter is going.. I can barely get enough pick up to get on to a highway. The car cannot drive over 60MPH.
I have found out from my uncle, who is a very good mechanic, that the piston rings went a long time ago, and he sees it a lot in this car. The piston rings being fried is making the car burn off oil through the exhaust system, as well as the converter causing it to get a bad reading. There is really only a few solutions...
1. Keep dealing with the problem and order cheap converters and keep putting oil in it.
2. Leave it.
3. Sell the damn thing. They all seem to suck!
Hey Guys and gals... I believe we are all in the same boat.
I have a Nissan Sentra SP V, which I purchased in Aug, 05 with 32k miles. I now have 52k on it.
First of all, YES, it burns oil!!! But I don't use regular barrel oil. I use synthetic oil. The viscosity breakdown is much slower than the common oil. And let me tell ya, it's pretty good. And since it's a high revving motor... it's better for the engine.
2nd, the main problem I've had was the loss of power from the throttle. I think I've seen a couple of comments about that. To all who have had this problem, change your M.A.S. (Mass Airflow Sensor), and that should take care of the problem. Hopefully it's under warranty. Since I've changed mine, I haven't had any problems.
It's a fun car to drive, but ya have to be ready to tackle the little headaches that come with it. Yes, we have all been HAD by Nissan, and its @#$% up that Nissan does not stand behind their product 100%. I'm considering trading mine in, but I can say in the short time I've had it, I've had a lot of fun with the 6-SP BUMBLE-BEE.
L8r ALL.... HTJ...NYC
I see there are a lot of people out there that feel my pain.
I am currently going through the process of trying to have Nissan replace my sentra, SER engine after it has gone to the grave after ONLY 64,000 miles. Where did it begin?, with the stinking pre-catalytic conv. The darn thing fell to pieces and blocked the second catalytic converter. This caused a hissing noise to happen at the exhaust flange, by the header. The hissing was exhaust being pushed out the flange. Originally I thought it was a blown exhaust gasket so I took it to the local exhaust shop to have it changed. There the repair man showed me the gaping hole in the pre-catalytic converter. He told me to stop driving it because the back pressure can damage the valves along with the danger of the pre-cat. material being sucked in to the engine. So I took it home and remove the catalytic converter, and dumped all the loose ceramic mesh out put the pipe back on and took it to the dealer to have it replaced. While driving I saw white smoke belting from my car. I thought it was due to the exhaust flowing through unclean. The dealership said that it will do no good to change the catalytic converter because the engine was consuming oil, a new engine will be needed. My mom has a 300zx and it has been a good car. I was so happy to buy this car at 46,000 miles, but it looks like my opinion of Nissans have changed. How they handle my problem, will determine if I ever buy a nissan again...
I just read everyones gripes about problems with the qr25...i just bought a spec v 2002 not knowing its inherent issue...I've owned it for twenty days and it already in the shop getting a new motor... after taking it to the shop and noticing how bad this problem really is I am going to tell the place to take it back... ny has a 30 day grace period luckily... also it had an ses light on the day I bought it, fried ECU... took it back and had it "fixed" not 3 days later I took it back for another fried ECU... nissan is really jerking around about this motor and its problems... due to this, this will be my last nissan.
Drum soldier.
I too have a 2002 Specv that has a serious oil consumption problem. please check out the website thenissanfight. com to find out more information.
Before I start let me say that I do 80% highway driving...
I bought a brand new Spec V in the spring of '03. I am on my third engine; the first failed at 57k (drivetrain warranty ended at 60k). I was really busy, but I took it to the dealer for hard starts and a lifter tick. They told me.
"...the O2 sensor is bad, but if you're short on time we can take care of it when you get your next oil change (another 1000 miles/3.5 to 4 weeks away). It's not bad enough right now to press the issue".
I got nothing, but a blank stare about the lifter issue. As I merged onto the freeway one morning, before that next oil change, the tach would not go above 2500 RPMS at about 65mph and died on the side of the road. Once I finally got it to the dealer, they said the first CAT fell apart, destroyed the second, got sucked into the engine block and scored the cylinder bores. They replaced it and the ECM and paid for my rental after I complained for 2 months.
The second engine lasted about 30k. It started burning oil and of course, knocking as a result. They never confirmed if the valves, the piston rings or both were causing the problem. BTW, I still have the lifter tick from the first engine (LOL).
Between the original and the replacement motor, I had both the cam sensor (engine 1) and crank sensor (engine 2) replaced. For the last replacement, I called 1-800-NISSAN1 and tried to get them to pay for a much cheaper rental car bill and they wouldn't spring for it. Their regional customer relations manager said Nissan was doing me a favor by replacing the engine AGAIN.
The third (current) engine seems to be holding up so far, but we'll see. I followed Nissan's break in specs on all three of my engines to the letter and we see where it's gotten me.
They claim the engine in the B16 is the same, but from what I understand, it was gutted and completely revamped other than the liter size and the name plate. To anyone looking to buy a Nissan I suggest getting a car with an SR20 or the famous 3.5 that is either available or standard in almost ever car they make above the Sentra.
Well by looking at everyones comments, I don't really know how they got problems in their spec Vs, but I'm the proud owner of a 2003 SE-R spec V and the only problem I had was that my air bag sensor light went off, got that fixed though. I've had my car for over a year and man that thing can hawl, the thing I like the most is the Rockford fosgate stereo, that thing puts out some great bass, well anyways maybe the vehicle that these others are buying have had a problem and in order to sell them they are going to do any thing to get their money. One more thing my car has 71k miles in it and just to say these cars are one of kind.
I keep reading how everyone is having problems with their engines on their Spec V's. I just so happen to own an 04 spec v and I haven't had any problems with it at all. All I do is constantly stomp on the gas and e-brake it around corners. I'm starting to think sertain people don't drive it right. Don't buy the car if you can't handle a 6 speed.
I've had the same problem and as a result I need a new engine... Problem is My sentra is out of warranty and I can't seem to find a replacement motor... wondering if you all new the best way to find one...thanks.
I own a 2006 Spec V. It's an awesome car, but it is very loud. It has more noises than I can describe. I have taken it to the dealership and they said they can't do anything about it, that its "normal". YEAH RIGHT. They even scratched my bumper and didnt tell me about it. Never buy Nissan, ever!