Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-74
After returning from another useless trip to the Nissan Service department, I decided to look on the Internet to see if I could find others that experienced the same problems as me. Based on the comments on this site, I see that I am not alone.
First, I own a 2003 Altima 2.5S, and second, I don't drive very far distances, so the car has very few miles on it (21,000 miles in 33 months). I mentioned the low mileage because there's no way I should be having these types of problems on a car with such low mileage.
Now, for the problems that I have had:
A few months after purchasing this vehicle in 6/03, the radiator malfunctioned and radiator fluid was dried all over everything under my hood. Well, Nissan could not deny that there was a problem because the fluid was a dead giveaway, so the service department fixed that.
In 11/2005 (at about 18,000 miles in 29 months) I went to start the car to drive to class and the car simply wouldn't start. It had run just fine the day before and it wasn't cold outside. I called Nissan and they suggested that I have the car towed in, which I did. Now when the tow truck driver arrived at my house he couldn't start the car either, but when he arrived at the service department with car the service man said they drove the car in (i.e. it was starting by the time it got to the dealership). They tested it all day and said they couldn't find a problem, so they kept it over night. The next day they still couldn't find a problem, so I picked up the car and had to pay $63 for the tow. The service man looked at me as though he had never seen a car not start and then suddenly start.
Yesterday, March 27, 2006, at about 21,000 miles in 33 months, strong fumes were coming into the cabin of the vehicle and I began to develop a headache, burning eyes, and an itchy throat as I drove along the expressway. I took the car home and parked it because I didn't know if it was the car, or fumes from outside of the car. Well, about seven hours later I drove the car and the same thing happened to me. When I got off work the next morning, I immediately took the car to the service department. Of course, they found nothing wrong when they ran the diagnostic test, as if those computers are always accurate. What was even worse was that I explained to them that the fumes seem to be really strong when the heat is on, but when I went to leave the dealership my heat was off and the vents were closed, just as I had left them when I was driving there in efforts to decrease the fumes. I approached the service manager and he insisted that his employee had checked the heat and vents to see if he got the same symptoms that I was experiencing. He insisted that the technician had just returned everything in the car back to the way he found it, which was why the vents were closed again and the heat was off. But when the technician came over he admitted that he hadn't turned on the heat at all; according to the technician, it wasn't necessary for him to do a diagnosis. The service manager began to agree with the technician although he first insisted that the tech would have checked the heat.
Long story short, we had a heated debate, which got me banned from one particular service department (Perhaps my calling them incompetent and irresponsible didn't clue them in on the fact that I wasn't coming back to that particular service department anyway), and in the course of that debate it came out that other customers had come in complaining of fumes being released into the cabin, but they couldn't do anything for them either if the computer didn't diagnose the problem. Well, it's troubling to know that mechanics can't look at anything beyond what the computer draws there attention to.
In short, buy a Nissan Altima 2.5S if you enjoy inhaling fumes and allowing the car to dictate when it will and won't start. If you enjoy those things, then you'll definitely enjoy the incompetent technicians and service managers that try to tell you that there is nothing wrong with inhaling fumes and paying for a car that decides when it wants to drive.
2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 S - same problems with strting in addition too bad cam and crank sensors. Very dissappointed with Nissan customer service and will not buy another Nissan.
I hope it is not too late, but I am a mechanic (not a nissan dealer mechanic) and already repaired a number of Nissans with the same problem. It is a $21.99 part, the cam positioning sensor, from Autozone and it literally takes only 5 minutes to put in!!! it is on the driver side on the end of the head held on by one bolt. Really simple, but stupid problem!!!
Which problem does the cam positioning sensor fix? Fumes or not starting?
My 2005 Altima has just failed to start for me for the second time in four months. The first time it failed to start in the evening after I had backed it out into the street to clear some brush. I tried it again the next morning, and it still would not start. Had it towed into the Dealer and they told me nothing was wrong with it. They gave me instructions on how to start it in cold weather. I live in South Texas. I was wearing shorts. Among many other annoyances, they also mentioned the flooding of the engine. It took them over a day to "research" the problem. I tried many ways of getting the service manager to admit that a new car ought to start. He did not agree.
Today it failed to start after a short drive for lunch... maybe a mile and two minutes driving. After sitting a couple of minutes, it did start after giving it a lot of gas. It also seems to know it's the weekend and that the service department is closed!!!
I may try replacing the cam positioning sensor, but this is certainly the last Nissan I will purchase.
I would like to add to this forum by stating that I too have this 'cold start problem' (Houston Tx. Ha Ha). I have a 2004 Nissan Altima 2.5. My starting problems began at 10,934 miles (08/30/04). Simply moved the vehicle from one spot in in my driveway to another, left overnight, would not start next morning. I "pumped pedal" old-fashioned style, and the engine finally started-flooded. Took to dealer - they said all was OK.
SERVICE NOTES: CUST STATES IN MORNING VEHICLE WOULD NOT START - HAD TO HOLD GAS PEDAL TO OPERATION FLOOR TO GET STARTED
CAUSE: CHECKED FOR ANY COMPUTER CODES
CORRECTION: CHECKED FUEL PRESSURE, CHECK AIR INDUCTION. ALL WAS OK
COMMENT: RELEARNED IDLE AIR VOLUME
At 12,000 miles it happened again. The dealer this time said it was a recall with "Intake screws" - could become loose and fall into intake - if not replaced, they replaced screws and said this should fix problem.
Again at 23960 miles 6/09/05 start problem, took to dealership (Warranty) Repair: Replaced Injector Seal and Reset ECM EJ32AA DTC PO 300-P0308- MULTI CYL. MISFIRE also replaced INJECTOR FUEL TUBE ASSY.
TECH NOTES: VERSION 1 23952 CONSULT TESTING PO300, FUEL ALPHA 125% RUNNING VERY LEAN, COULD HEAR HISS AT #2 INJECTOR. I REPLACED INJECTOR SEAL & RESET ECM. TESTED HAD 100% (LEAKING BASE SEAL) EJ32AA ZR 53.
SAME PROBLEM: TOOK TO DEALER 02/16/06-MILEAGE 38343-OUT OF FACTORY Warranty (THANKS TO MY WIFE-SHE OBTAINED AN EXTENDED Warranty FROM A COMPANY PRIOR TO 36K GOING OUT).
THIS TIME TOWED CAR IN $89.00
SERVICE ORDER NOTES:
CHECK AND REPORT CUST STATES VEH CRANKS, BUT WON'T START
VEH NOT START DE938AA 0.5 + GA10AA 0.5 AA 32 1.0 FOLLOW TSB TO REPLACED STARTER ASSY. AND REPROGRAMME ECU.
They stated on invoice that this was a "Remanufactured Starter" $214.80
Reprogramme ECU $98.00
Total Invoice Price: $459.00
I had to pay for reprogramme and tow, since this was not covered under Extended Warranty.
Strange thing, I was replacing the battery the other day and noticed the date on the "Remanufactured Starter" 12/04.
I bought the vehicle in March 04'. Makes me wonder why a 'reman' starter would have orig. date 04 instead of 06'.
We have writted the corp office, attorney's etc, but no resolution from Nissan Motor Corp.
We've had it with this lemon!
We're going to trade it in and get a Camry or something else.
Oh, by the way, today it did the same thing (07/12/06) 43k miles.
This time I decided to go on the web, and I see I'm not alone with this problem.
If anyone has any suggestions, or maybe a tech could advise, please feel free to email me at gregghenry1@yahoo.com.
Regards
G.H.
I am a Nissan owner also I have never owned a Nissan before.
I had several recalls on my car, so I too took my car that morning to the Nissan dealer. My appointment was at 7:30 I never had any problems since I had the car until I took it back for the recalls. now my service enginge light is on. the car putt putt, hesitates to crank, the hand is going to the over heated system. I tried to contact the nissan dealership. they told me that it would cost me to get anything fixed. also the fumes are strong and to top it of I had to sit from 7:30 to 2:30 that day. they kept offering me popcorn and soda, or I could walk down town to get something to eat. okay it was one of those 90 degree days okay, but what I am trying to say is that no problems until I took that car for recalls so the problem is on them.
RECALL ALERT!
It should be noted that as the guy in the earlier post suggested, the problem with you nissan is A FAULTY SENSOR. Nissan has issued a recall of this sensor as stated in this article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060712/ap_on_re_us/toyota_nissan_recalls.
I own an 2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 S. Last week the service engine soon light appeared. Upon a diagnostic by AutoZone, I was informed that I had a bad thermostat. I changed the thermostat, reset the ECU, and the service engine soon light is still on.
I had AutoZone run another diagnostic, this time trouble code PO1102 is appearing.
Does anyone know what this trouble code is for, and what the fix is?
Thank you in advance.
Hey Guys. I need some help..
My vehicle has about 42k miles, it's a 2003 3.5S Altima.
I went out on lunch and came back.. Trying to crank the vehicle..
The vehicle wouldn't start. I ask somebody to jump it, which they did and still the vehicle wouldn't start. I left the car outside. I do all my maintenance on time.
I need some help. Please email me at.. Is Nissan going to cover the repaire cost?
superkmichael@yahoo.com
Hey man my altima is an 05 nissan altima has about 46k miles and it started with that problem I went on a long trip to arizona and then on the way back started to act up it didn't want to start it just cranks now I'm gonna buy a new battery probably see if its that any suggestions would apreciate them email me at perez58us@yahoo.com OK man thanks.
I have had a ton of problems with my nissan as well. I bought it brand new in 2003 (2.5L) with 14 miles on it. it was hail-damaged so I got a deal, but that was cosmetic. however, once purchased, I had a host of problems. the tires were off from the start. they never seemed to stay aligned, and a wheel well bent, and I had to replace two tires after a very short time. Then after 2 years, I started to hear this clanging sound when I drove, like an animal was trapped in the trunk. it freaked me out and I brought it to my nissan dealer, who "didn't hear anything." well, I drove a few months longer, still hearing the sound, and then decided to take it in again, since the brakes seemed to be grinding too. Turns out I had almost no brake pads left, the rotors were burned out, etc etc etc. I am not a wild driver, nor was I involved in much other than short distance driving, and some highway. but somehow after 2 1/2 years, all 4 tires had to be replaced, I had to get new brake pads, new brakes, and new rotors. it cost a fortune and I was enraged because I had taken it in for service not long before. I asked why no one had noticed this very dangerous problem and they said it was "missed." they took some money off the total cost, but I was very disappointed. Then I received 3 different recall notices on the car. When I brake, it still feels "choppy" and I worry that there are more problems with the car. I asked the service dept. if there was something wrong with this year/model of Nissan, and he said no...well, whatever it may be, I can't wait to turn in my Nissan for a reliable Toyota!!
I recently purchased a 2006 2.5 special edition with 8 miles on it.
We have about 1500 miles on it right now and it's doing the hard to start thing. what a pain. my wife is going to take it to the dealer today so hopefully they can figure this out since it appears to have been a problem for a while.
Definitely didn't expect this to happen with only 1500 miles on it.
I own a 2003 Nissan Altima and have brought it back for all the recalls listed here; had the issue with the cold start/New Jersey. The check engine soon light came on and was told that it was due to me waiting until the car was on E to fill it up with gas. I have to drive it anywhere from 17 to 25 drive cycles for it to go off. I had to take the car in for inspection, it passed everything except for a rear light AND the service engine light. I explained it to them, they said to fix the light, come back and indicate it is due to a drive cycle and it should be fine. I went to Nissan and they want to charge me 90.00 to run diagnostics on it. I went to the Quick Oil Change place, ran a quick diagnostics (for free) and found it has a high rpm/idle... Any way to have this fixed?
I have a 2002 3.5 Nissan altima which has had regular maintenance and recalls taken care of. I just took the car to a Nissan service for yet another recall (rear sub frame), until this point I had had no trouble with the car now it will not start, and I have to have it towed to the service department that I believed caused the problem.