| Please Be Warned, You Will Be Stranded ! - Click HERE for Original Thread |
| Big Willy |
Hi All,
Before i start, I want everyone to know I love my Mo.
(2004 SL, 44k miles ).
I'm not sure were to post this so everyone will know.
I will take pics in the next week or so to show the damage.
About 2 months ago my battery died in my Mo...It wasn't under warranty, it was cold and dark, so I stoped at the store and grabed a battery...no big deal...I did question why it was dead at 30k, but everyone said it was normal...
It is NOT normal for the average battery to die at 3yr. 30k.
So anyway, last week my wife was driving home with my daughter on a busy freeway, and the car started acting weird...reving and not going anywhere...Seemed like the trans let go. Car would run, but wouldn't rev, and when you put it in gear, it didn't go anywhere...
So I take it to the closest dealer, after Nissan told my wife to get it towed, they were not going to do it. ( Great job Nissan, leaving my wife and kid on the side of a busy highway.)
...after a day of normal Nissan dealership runaround, the service manager tells me the battery is leaking all over the trans lines and it put a hole in the trans line, so no fluid in the trans...then I asked if he saw fluid on the battery, and he said know , but he could tell it was leaking everywhere...Anyway at this point i need my car fixed. $500 to replace a line and fill with fluid. I call Nissan Consumer affairs they say your basically out of luck...but she was nice enough to tell me the alternator recall on the car was fixed at 20k...? WHAT? What altinator recall...?
Let me say this, I've been working on cars and engines for a long time...So long story , even longer...the Altinator over charged the original battery , it blew all the fluid out all over the trans lines, and that is why the trans stopped...the kicker ?
After trying to contact 3 dealers about buying a new Murano
( Yes, I love it that much , that I would still buy another. )
I haven't received one call back.
so let's recap;
bad battery from altanator recall- $125
Tow truck- $100
Trans line and fluid -$505
...don't forget WIFE & 3yr old on the side of the road...?
At least 1/2 day on the phone...REntal, and still no call back from any dealers. WTF !
So All I have to say is "F" NISSAN ! I hope GM buys them out and runs them into the ground with the rest of the junk they build. |
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| ekaxel |
| You didn't see any of that mess when you replaced the battery??? |
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| njjoe |
Big Willy-
Something just does not sound right.
For one, yes, it is normal for an OEM battery to run out of juice after 3 years. Except for Gonzo, most people have replaced their Nissan battery at around 3 years.
Nissan claims the alternator overcharged the original battery causing it to boil over?? If that is the case then why did it not cause the new battery to boil over?
I also find it hard to believe the battery acid ate through the tubing in just two months.
-njjoe |
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| Big Willy |
quote:
Originally posted by ekaxel
You didn't see any of that mess when you replaced the battery???
Let's see...car broke down on the side of the road at night...It was a rainy night in Feb...No i didn't. And the battery acid from the first battery was freshly spilled. it would have looked just like the rain at that time. no damage until a few miles later when it had time to sit. |
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| Big Willy |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
Big Willy-
Something just does not sound right.
For one, yes, it is normal for an OEM battery to run out of juice after 3 years. Except for Gonzo, most people have replaced their Nissan battery at around 3 years.
Nissan claims the alternator overcharged the original battery causing it to boil over?? If that is the case then why did it not cause the new battery to boil over?
I also find it hard to believe the battery acid ate through the tubing in just two months.
-njjoe
Ok let's go back over this...try and keep up.
Alt. is bad so it wears battery prematurly...How many other auto manufactures have batteries that only last 3yrs?
The Alt. was replaced before the old one was completly out of juice. The car was in for service and they replaced the Alt...then a few days after the battery let go. I had no Idea at the time they replaced the Alt. for a recall.
As far as the Trans Line...I'm with you, but i have it in a bag and it is a mess...
I really don't care who even reads this. I'm just letting you know what happen to me. I will never buy another Nissan. Heres an Idea, don't listen to me...Send your wife and kid out in the car and then get one of those excellent sales reps to help you. Good luck. |
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| BikerJohn |
Big Willy;
I do feel your frustrations. I've been there.
However; with all the circumstance I don't really think that any other manufacturer would have treated you any different. It was a "dealer" related issue. Dealships generally do not tow vehicles. They may sometimes re-imburse you for the cost if the problem was a warranty problem.
I really think that you or your wife in this matter would have ended up in the same situation with any other manufacturer's vehicle; very unfortunate but it does happen.
I understand that you have to direct your frustration somewhere and if it helps to do so here; we are all ears.:4: |
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| Big Willy |
quote:
Originally posted by BikerJohn
Big Willy;
I do feel your frustrations. I've been there.
However; with all the circumstance I don't really think that any other manufacturer would have treated you any different. It was a "dealer" related issue. Dealships generally do not tow vehicles. They may sometimes re-imburse you for the cost if the problem was a warranty problem.
I really think that you or your wife in this matter would have ended up in the same situation with any other manufacturer's vehicle; very unfortunate but it does happen.
I understand that you have to direct your frustration somewhere and if it helps to do so here; we are all ears.:4:
I really have not one issue with the car breaking down...I really don't. I haven't even gone into detail about how rude the dealership was...Cars break down all the time. When my wife called the dealer and they couldn't give her the name or number for a tow truck and then cut her off mid sentence...your right it is a dealer issue...a Nissan dealer.
Let's walk through this senario...My lexus breaks down, and they show up with a new one for me to take home, while the service guy waits with the car, then they drop it off at my house when it's fixed. Did that cost them more money, or did they sell another car?
I can go back and forth with this for weeks. The botom line is after discussing all the issues with Nissan consumer affairs, I am now 100% certain, this will, or already has happen to others.
I still am so floored that everyone belives these batteries should only last for 3 years. Your crazy. Think about why? It's because the alts. are bad...Bet no one even knew of this.
I would hate for anyone to be treated this way. I only wanted to post this in hopes it would save some one some greef...Now go pull those batteries out and tell me if you see signs of the battery acid. I'd be real curious to see how many others have this problem. my guess is there will be a few. My car is a SL built in Sept. 04. Maybe, I'm wrong and I apologize if that's the case. but I don't think I am. Good Luck. |
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| Lightninrod |
Your auto insurance should pay you the towing charge. At least State Farm does.
Not going to help you any but I never replace an OEM, lead/acid battery in my vehicles as I hate the possibility of acid damage and that is just one of the reasons.
FWIW, my wife's one year old(at the time), 1997 Pontiac GTP's battery's case split and the acid ruined several parts. GM covered the repairs.
Dan |
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| Big Willy |
quote:
Originally posted by Lightninrod
Your auto insurance should pay you the towing charge. At least State Farm does.
Not going to help you any but I never replace an OEM, lead/acid battery in my vehicles as I hate the possibility of acid damage and that is just one of the reasons.
FWIW, my wife's one year old(at the time), 1997 Pontiac GTP's battery's case split and the acid ruined several parts. GM covered the repairs.
Dan
I am having my insurance cover the tow bill. I was really suprised to see that battery in the car in the first place.
Covering the parts wasn't really a big deal, I wasn't happy about it, but if the warranty is up it's up. but the run around at the dealer and crappy service just sucked...the kicker is they didn't even clean up under the car. The service manager told me I would need to power wash it to get the trans fluid off everything...( I would think for $500 it would have at least been cleaned up a bit...) so I didn't have a power washer handy and ended up with leaks all over my drive way...I was waiting for the service guy to ask me to put his tools away for him too. No excuse . Nissan was made aware of the issues. They suck. It's that easy. |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by Big Willy
I still am so floored that everyone believes these batteries should only last for 3 years. Your crazy. Think about why? It's because the alts. are bad...Bet no one even knew of this.
I understand your frustration with the lack of courtesy extended by your Nissan dealer. It comes as no surprise since Nissan is not known for their customer support.
As far as the Nissan OEM battery goes, it is not uncommon for them to last only 3 years. The battery's prorated warranty is good for 36 months, so obviously Nissan does not expect them to last longer. Many forum members report that they replace their batteries at around the 30 - 36 month mark. I intend to replace mine this summer at the 3-year point.
The alternator problem is no secret. It was a very popular topic on this board a few years ago. There was a nationwide recall that affected all 2003 and 2004, and some 2005 MOs. It was initiated almost three years ago. A diode inside the alternator would fail due to vibration, causing the alternator to stop generating power. The battery would die and the car would stop running. The redesigned alternators fixed the problem. The incidence of alternator failures have since dropped to almost zero.
-njjoe |
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| Big Willy |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
I under your frustration with the lack of courtesy extended by your Nissan dealer. It comes as no surprise since Nissan is not known for their customer support.
As far as the Nissan OEM battery goes, it is not uncommon for them to last only 3 years. The battery's prorated warranty is good for 36 months, so obviously Nissan does not expect them to last longer. Many forum members report that they replace their batteries at around the 30 - 36 month mark. I intend to replace mine this summer at the 3-year point.
The alternator problem is no secret. It was a very popular topic on this board a few years ago. There was a nationwide recall that affected all 2003 and 2004, and some 2005 MOs. It was initiated almost three years ago. A diode inside the alternator would fail, causing the alternator to stop generating power. The battery would die and the car would stop running. The redesigned alternators fixed the problem.
-njjoe
Do you think the batteries in the second gen will last only 3 yrs? And what about the 06' or 07 mo's Are they still replacing the batteries in these at 3yrs.? |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by Big Willy
Do you think the batteries in the second gen will last only 3 yrs? And what about the 06' or 07 mo's Are they still replacing the batteries in these at 3yrs.?
I guess we'll just have to wait until '09 and '10 to see if those batteries fare any better.
Were you aware that the OEM battery in the MO is not maintenance-free? They need to be checked on a regular basis to ensure the electrolyte level does not drop too low. Many MO owners do not realize this.
-njoe |
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| craigster |
I replaced my battery after 2.5 years - been fine ever since ('05 SE). I read this forum and was prepared.
This happened on another one of my cars a few years ago (about 3 years on OEM battery). The high drain of accessories can be a problem on the cars of today. The second battery has lasted 4 years (so far) on my other car, no problem.
Then again, I have AAA so if I need a tow or battery replaced, it's covered. Quickly and hassle free. My kids are grown now but I would NEVER have let my wife (or myself) drive without roadside assistance and a cell phone. |
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| DMordarski |
| i bought my 05 6 months ago, the battery was already week... my maxima needed a new battery within three years, its a nissan thing. |
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| Mr3Putt |
| What really sucks is that it cost more to fill up the MO than it does to change the battery. |
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| koenig |
I'm not sure I'd agree with batteries lasting just 3 yrs! My wife's 01Max was replaced last year. My son's 03Max is still on it's original! My 06 Murano shows no sign of weakness..... and we live in Ottawa, where batteries are called upon thoughout the cold months! Back to the problem.... the dealer sounds pretty lame, not taking the time to 'powerwash' an acid littered engine bay. On the other side of the story, I believe it to be wise to READ your reciepts(make time in the evening) when picking up your vehicle.... and you would have been aware of the alternator change. Perhaps your interest would have been aroused, and perhaps a look under the hood to INSPECT the work done! What I don't understand is when a 'overcharging altenator' warrenty issue is at hand .... why wouldn't the battery be changed out as well..? or at least inspected. Without re-reading the entire thread, a question comes to mind... How long after this warrenty work was done before said battery died? If, in my mind, it was say <30 days, I would be all over my dealership.
my .02,
Sandy |
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| Big Willy |
quote:
Originally posted by koenig
I'm not sure I'd agree with batteries lasting just 3 yrs! My wife's 01Max was replaced last year. My son's 03Max is still on it's original! My 06 Murano shows no sign of weakness..... and we live in Ottawa, where batteries are called upon thoughout the cold months! Back to the problem.... the dealer sounds pretty lame, not taking the time to 'powerwash' an acid littered engine bay. On the other side of the story, I believe it to be wise to READ your reciepts(make time in the evening) when picking up your vehicle.... and you would have been aware of the alternator change. Perhaps your interest would have been aroused, and perhaps a look under the hood to INSPECT the work done! What I don't understand is when a 'overcharging altenator' warrenty issue is at hand .... why wouldn't the battery be changed out as well..? or at least inspected. Without re-reading the entire thread, a question comes to mind... How long after this warrenty work was done before said battery died? If, in my mind, it was say <30 days, I would be all over my dealership.
my .02,
Sandy
The battery was replaced about 2-3 months after , but it was acting funny up to the point when it finally died. |
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| Eclipse1825 |
| My Battery on my '04 Armada lasted 4 years and then just died without any warning in the Sam's parking lot. At least it was convenient. I just walked back in the store and bought me another battery stared her up and has been fine ever since. |
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| koenig |
Hmmm...! 2>3 months. Do you still have the old battery? or can you retrive it? Batteries that are 'overcharged' tend to show it by their lead plates. They will have all sorts of 'bends' in them(plates), not straight as in a new battery. In extreme cases, these bent plates will crack battery cases, and then leak acid all over! I believe, if in fact you can produce said battery, that the dealer would have to answer for it, as said battery would have had that damage BEFORE the new alternator was installed!!! And therefore, possibly the claim could be made that no inspection was done... I know .... a long shot! Have you checked to make sure that the NEW alternator is not overcharging? Could be quite the scene if that is going on!.... another long shot, I know, but.... sh-t happens!
best,
Sandy |
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| Big Willy |
quote:
Originally posted by koenig
Hmmm...! 2>3 months. Do you still have the old battery? or can you retrive it? Batteries that are 'overcharged' tend to show it by their lead plates. They will have all sorts of 'bends' in them(plates), not straight as in a new battery. In extreme cases, these bent plates will crack battery cases, and then leak acid all over! I believe, if in fact you can produce said battery, that the dealer would have to answer for it, as said battery would have had that damage BEFORE the new alternator was installed!!! And therefore, possibly the claim could be made that no inspection was done... I know .... a long shot! Have you checked to make sure that the NEW alternator is not overcharging? Could be quite the scene if that is going on!.... another long shot, I know, but.... sh-t happens!
best,
Sandy
Battery is long gone. I had to turn it in for a core charge whne I bought the new one. Nissan told me that nothing would be coverd because it was a Nissan Battery. |
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| ekaxel |
| Did the '04 have the bigger maintenance free battery? |
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| Big Willy |
quote:
Originally posted by ekaxel
Did the '04 have the bigger maintenance free battery?
Nope. |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by ekaxel
Did the '04 have the bigger maintenance free battery?
I don't believe so.
I know for a fact that the 2005 MO did not have a maintenance-free battery.
-njjoe |
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| Eric L. |
| I think the difference is that 03-04's had 490CCA batteries from the factory, and later MO's had something closer to 600CCAs. My original battery lasted a 3-1/2 years, and I replaced it as it was getting a little weak before the winter months with a Duralast Gold from Autozone. The new battery is more powerful and car has had no issues starting up even when temps approached 0F. |
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| Gonzo |
quote:
Originally posted by Eric L.
....car has had no issues starting up even when temps approached 0F.
Same here with my original OEM battery.... did I just jinks myself? |
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| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by Gonzo
Same here with my original OEM battery.... did I just jinks myself?
I think elves (or maybe leprechauns) replace your battery every so often to give you the illusion that you are still on your original battery! :D |
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| Eye Pod |
| The lead acid battery used in cars is very old technology. They are not very reliable. The life expectancy is highly dependent on ambient temperature and usage profile. |
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| Kris |
Living in warmer climates, my experience is that batteries last only approximately 3 years. Two of my OEM Nissan batteries did not even last that long.
I said it many times - get yourself a new battery every 3 years or os if you do not live in cold climate. Or change battery at the first sign it is getting weak.
PS. For obvious reasons it DOES NO APPLY to Gonzo...:) |
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| TheGymKid |
I haven't had any issues with my battery or the car running weak... what are the tips to check my battery and keep an eye on it to grab the issue before it becomes an issue.
Have the STS who changes my oil and rotates my tires check the battery level? Buy something to check it myself? Just look at the battery dial on the dash? (if there is one).
I just passed the 3 year mark on my mark with Murano and this thread has got me nervious !! :3: |
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| cwirth |
| Why does Nissan still use lead acid batteries? Cost? I was surprised when I bought my 09 a few weeks ago and noticed that there were battery caps on the battery. I thought maintenance free batteries was the norm. I didn't even know they made lead acid batteries except for lawn mowers etc. |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by cwirth
Why does Nissan still use lead acid batteries?
What do you expect them to use - fuel cells? Ninety-nine percent of all OEM car batteries are of the lead-acid type.
-njjoe |
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| cwirth |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
What do you expect them to use - fuel cells? Ninety-nine percent of all OEM car batteries are of the lead-acid type.
-njjoe
I meant why don't they use Maintenance Free Batteries! |
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| Corin |
quote:
Originally posted by cwirth
I meant why don't they use Maintenance Free Batteries!
That has been a heated topic on this forum for several years now.
Some people (e.g. Gonzo) like these kinds of batteries, claiming that they last longer if you are good about keeping up with the maintenance. Most people are like you, annoyed that they used an "old style" battery.
There are many, many discussions on this forum about batteries. If you search around, you'll find that a lot of people (myself included) gave up on the OEM battery BEFORE it started showing signs of trouble and swapped it out for a maintenance free one. Several of us (including me) went ahead and spent the big bucks to get an Optima Red Top, arguably one of the best batteries on the market right now, although also one of the most expensive.
I still stand behind my decision to get a red top. In my opinion, the extra money spent, and doing it earlier than necessary, is well worth the peace of mine that I won't be stranded out in the middle of nowhere (well, at least not due to a crappy dead battery). |
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| TheGymKid |
| Helloooooooooo.. did anyone see my comments? I'm getting nervous !! |
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| njjoe |
TheGymKid-
The electrolyte level should be checked on a regular basis, especially during the hot summer months.
There are six (6) screw caps on top of the battery. Each cap gives access to a separate compartment. Remove each one and look for fluid in the battery. The fluid should cover the plates inside the battery. If they are uncovered then you should add distilled water so that it is approximately 1/4" over the top of the plate.
That's it.
-njjoe |
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| TheGymKid |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
TheGymKid-
The electrolyte level should be checked on a regular basis, especially during the hot summer months.
There are six (6) screw caps on top of the battery. Each cap gives access to a separate compartment. Remove each one and look for fluid in the battery. The fluid should cover the plates inside the battery. If they are uncovered then you should add distilled water so that it is approximately 1/4" over the top of the plate.
That's it.
-njjoe
Thank you !! Glad someone cares about me enough to answer so I don't get stuck on the side of the road somewhere. |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by TheGymKid
Thank you !! Glad someone cares about me enough to answer so I don't get stuck on the side of the road somewhere.
TGK-
I just assumed that with all of the mods you have done to your car (except the baby car seat) that you also knew about battery maintenance. Sorry. :)
-njjoe |
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| Eric L. |
| If you can't quite visualize the plates, then filling up each cell to about 1/2" from the bottom of the cylindrical well is also adequate. By the wall I mean the hole you peer into when you remove the cap. Do not overfill - thats battery acid in there - mix with water, you get more acid! |
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| Kris |
quote:
Originally posted by cwirth
Why does Nissan still use lead acid batteries? Cost? I was surprised when I bought my 09 a few weeks ago and noticed that there were battery caps on the battery. I thought maintenance free batteries was the norm. I didn't even know they made lead acid batteries except for lawn mowers etc.
All batteries are lead-acid. The difference being that some are maintenence free....Nissan just have poor quality batteries, that's all.... |
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| Gonzo |
I've been checing mine every 6 months and for the most part they are OK some a little low... could probably strech it out to every 9 months. Fill using a turkey baster.
As others have said, do not over fill... there needs to be room for venting.
Finally after filling it up take it out of the car and out for a nice dinner.... treat it right and it will treat you right. :4: |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by Gonzo
Finally after filling it up take it out of the car and out for a nice dinner.... treat it right and it will treat you right. :4:
So that's your secret!!:2:
-njjoe |
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| Kris |
quote:
Originally posted by Gonzo
.................
Finally after filling it up take it out of the car and out for a nice dinner.... treat it right and it will treat you right. :4: ......
Gonzo
you have an interesting taste...........in dates I mean..:D |
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| Corin |
quote:
Originally posted by Gonzo
Finally after filling it up take it out of the car and out for a nice dinner.... treat it right and it will treat you right. :4:
Ah, FINALLY Gonzo reveals his secret. Are you married, Gonzo? If not, I think I know why..... :D |
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