Can't wait to see final details on the EX35

Drive train.

 

Nother one bites the dust

I need to change my No vote to Yes..

I noticed a clone of Jaak's picture while under the car changing the oil the last time, but it was dry, so I took note and checked again next time. Next time was Saturday.. There was active fluid under the car, with visible dropplet hanging from the CVT.

I took it to the dealer this morning.. I'm at 54000 miles. Still under the powertrain, but out of the bumper to bumper by a long shot. They told me since it was a leak, it was unlikely that the warranty would cover it.

I called the lexus dealer to start on Plan B.

The Nissan dealer called back, It was just the seal to the left front wheel. It's covered under warranty. I Picked up the car, they charged me nothing, the invoice showed a $6 seal, 40 minutes of labor, and $19 for CVT fluid.

About an hour later, I leave the restaurant that I went to straight from the dealer and see drips on the ground under the drivers side. I back the car up, look at the pools of fluid.. More CVT juice.

They made it Worse.

I've collected about a 7" in diameter pool of fluid in a drip tray in my garage.. I wonder what they'll say in the morning when I show up with it asking for an explanation.

I'm seeing a 400h in my future...


Just thought I'd share.. My frustrations with Nissan service (at 3 different dealers in town) are driving me to buy a luxury brand car to try and get away from the consumer grade service..

 

Re: Nother one bites the dust

I need to change my No vote to Yes..

I noticed a clone of Jaak's picture while under the car changing the oil the last time, but it was dry, so I took note and checked again next time. Next time was Saturday.. There was active fluid under the car, with visible dropplet hanging from the CVT.

tkris-

There is no need to change your vote. The assembly pictured in jaak's photo is actually the transaxle (CVT) and not the transfer case. The transfer case has only one output shaft and that is the driveshaft to the rear wheels.

-njjoe

 

I'll give you that I don't know for sure yet.. but they've replaced the seal, that wasn't the problem.. Others who have had seals replaced and had to go back (as I have to now) seemed to find that when the leak is coming from above the seal its usually a combination of the cvt being cracked, usually caused by the transfer case starting to fail. If they fix it right today, i'll post with what the real issue was.. if they don't, I'll never know what the real issue is. =)

 

5-2-2007:
I was driving to work today, pulled away from a full stop at a 4 way stop and my left front brake wouldn't fully release. I pulled off the road safely, but the brake is still semi-stuck and I'm having it towed to the dealer on a flatbed. Waiting for it to arrive. I can pull ahead if I try but the brake seems to pulse slowly and definitely drags. If I try to accelerate, I can feel and see the rpm's higher than usual as it struggles. It smells pretty bad when I try to drive in this condition. I tried restarting the car, reversing a little, turning vdc off, nada. 2003 SE AWD, approx 42,000 miles. more later.
5-3-2007:
Dealer replaced worn brake pads after not noticing anything else wrong, called me today to say they then tried moving the vehicle and horrible noises, etc. Said the transfer case "exploded" and have one on order scheduled for Monday. Voted in the poll.

 

Another transfer case

11k on the odo... heard a slight thump, like somthing stuck in the tire. I was a few blocks from home, so when I got there, I checked, and nothing in the tires. Left home to take it to the dealer, drove about six blocks, and the slight thump turned into a loud thump, thump, thump. I was going down a hill, with no where to pull over. Got about 1 1/2 block further, and it felt like the car was shaking appart. Pulled over, smoke billowing out the back, and fluid everywhere. I have it towed to the dealership, and call them on Saturday morning for a loaner car... they tell me they have to get it up in the air and make sure it was covered under warranty. They call me a few hours later, and tell me what I already told them, that the transfer case was cracked in half. The service writer proceded to tell me that they were just going to replace the case... I told him that would not be advisable, and to replace the whole thing as a unit. He looked at me like I was retarded... So I go to get the loaner vehicle, and the same guy starts telling me that it was my fault that it happened.... he said I must of been driving with the AWD switch on. I spent the next minute telling him how the Murano AWD system works, and that it was impossible that I had anything to do with it braking. He gave me the... its your fault, but we will cover it under warranty so you should be greatfull speech. I promptly put him in his place. They say it should be done in a week or so... they gave me a crappy Subaru Forester to drive...

H

 

Transfer case noise

Had my transfer case replaced, i was experienceing a slight knocking noise when coasting around 30mph, it was very slight. after turning my rotors, replacing wheel bearings and a axel shaft carrier bearing, they fixed the problem by replacing the transfer case. 2 1/2 weeks in the shop. all covered under warrenty. I never experienced any leaks. i have noticed improved smoothness with the torque converter (or so it seems) ingaging and disingaging and it coast more freely under 30mph, where before it wanted to deaccelerate very quickley. suppose the transfercase was binding up makeing the cvt work less smooth.

O3 Mo super blk SL AWD
54,000 miles

 

Transfer cas issue

guys,

brand new to the Murano ownership...

bought a 63k mile 03 SL AWD from a used car dealer in NY. drove it back to Ohio and notice a noise from what turned out to be the transfer case. Nissan USA wouldnt do anything as its 3k miles (5%) over the drivetrain warranty. Seller won't do anything = $4k bill.

Nissan dealer called me to say that the diff needs replacing too = additional $2k...

Has anyone had any luck with attorneys trying to fight this kind of design fault issue, or trying to get the seller to take the car back/pay for the repairs?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am unbelievably frustrated right now!

Thanks
James

 

muranouk-

Welcome to the forum and sorry about the MO.

I am assuming you started hearing the noise on the ride back from the New York used car dealer, is that correct? If so, I would contact the dealer and insinuate that he was aware of the bad transfer case and illegally did not disclose the problem, and that you will pursue legal action if he does not take the car back. It's worth a shot.

Did you have an type of xx-day warranty from the dealer?

-njjoe

 

Contact the Fraud Deprtment of the NY MVD

The thief knew what was going on. Damn Never Never buy anything from a used car lot they are the scum of the earth.

 

Re: Contact the Fraud Deprtment of the NY MVD

Never Never buy anything from a used car lot they are the scum of the earth.

A-hem ... holier than thou.

I am affiliated with MANY a used car lot owner - and the folks I know in these positions/doing this business are not scum, have families, and are trying to make a living. What else might strike you odd is they are all HONEST!!!!

Why don't you take a chill pill and get back to us later, quit the stereotype crapola.

 

Transfer Case Problem

The transfer case on our 2003 Nissan Murano SE broke two weekends ago. Mileage is at 117,000 km and out of warranty. Cost to replace transfer case, module, switch and axle seal leak was just over $5000.

We just purchased this vehicle in April when our lease was due. Up until now, we had no other major problems. We loved the car and we thought Nissan was a reputable name. We also take care of our vehicles and there were no warning signs to any problems.

I now have concerns with the quality of the vehicle after reading other stories here and in speaking with the dealership. Also concerned that there could be a transmission problem as I've heard a few stories about this being a problem too.

We haven't received an explanation yet from Nissan as to why this happened but I will be getting answers next week and hopefully some compensation as I don't see this type of problem as reasonable. I've heard Nissan is difficult to deal with though.

Even though we loved the car, this experience has left us feeling completely ripped off. If we don't receive any help from Nissan, we won't be purchasing another Nissan product ever.

Any advice on dealing with Nissan would be much appreciated

 

My advice Sherri - don't believe everything you read on the Internet. I wouldn't take a bunch of "negative" posts to get the true picture. There's millions of other non-reported "positive" experiences! We have about 61,000 miles on ours, the car's been great. Wife loves it - the first one saved her life (hit a tree head on at 45 MPH). TC did spring a leak, but the extended warranty covered a $2500 bill. I would look at your budget - are you better off buying new or getting the current one fixed? In the latter situation, you retain a fine automobile.

 

Re: Re: Contact the Fraud Deprtment of the NY MVD

A-hem ... holier than thou.

I am affiliated with MANY a used car lot owner - and the folks I know in these positions/doing this business are not scum, have families, and are trying to make a living. What else might strike you odd is they are all HONEST!!!!

Why don't you take a chill pill and get back to us later, quit the stereotype crapola.

Jim sorry I offended you and I admit my comment was unwarranted in it's scope. I understand that many people have families and are working to support them. That is true of both folks that deal with the public in fair and un-fair manners. Having a family to support does not make them good folks or bad and is probably not germane to the situation.

So I apologize for making the broad statement that insinuated they are ALL cheaters and taking unfair advantaggge of the buyer.

I do feel that the automotive sales industry is generally deserving in having reputations for not generally being folks that supply fair treatment. Just look at the many complaints on this forum about dealer service to get a flavor of problems they have in being over charged, having damage done to their vehicle when it is in for service and not having their problems adddressed or being told they have fixed things that were not even looked at. I think those things are unfair and that is many time they are simply lied to and those things are a form of dishonestly. If ALL the folks were stright forward in their dealing we would not have had the government have to pass laws requiring written estimates, Informing of costs before works is done and lemon laws. Those and many other laws were required beacuse there wer dihonest practice occuring. I am extremenly glad your circle of aquiantices are ALL HONEST that sayd volumes for you as being hones and maybe even selective in who you associate with. I was unfair in making my statement so as to include such folks , I am sorry for the offense.

I also feel that I personally would not deal with the used car department of any dealership, I only buy a used car from an individual, This is my personal position as a result of having been, In my opinion, taken advantage of by used car people not informing me of problems with vehicles.

So for the third time I apologize for the breath of the comment I should have said that Some of the used car personnel I have dealt with were, In my opinion, the Scum of the earth and I personally, would never buy form used car lots.

 

Don - thanks for the comeback - let's move on here...

 

I just had my left front axle seal (off the transmission) replaced under warranty this morning - it had been leaking CVT oil.

This brings up an interesting idea - is it possible that the CVT/transfer case failures are not the result of poor mechanical parts, but rather the result of fluid starvation as the result of leaky seals? We all know that the CVT and transfer would likely self destruct if they run dry, and so far we've seen cases of bad axle seals from both sides - the left side comes off the transmission, and the right side comes off the transfer case. It need not manifest in puddle of oil on the floor either, since a slow leak would burn off around the hot exhaust system.

How many of us here has had a CVT/transfer failure *WITHOUT* any signs of prior leakage/burning smell?

 

I'm pretty sure mine was. I saw it after they ripped it out, and they also told me the bearings self destructed.

 

AWD switch left on...

I did not know that the AWD switch did not reset itself on the '03 MO and my transfer case went out at 40 some K miles. Was replaced under 100K warranty.

 

Mine cracked because I had the nerve to actually drive it like an AWD...

Sure was a lot of fun in the snow!

 

85K and i just looked at the transfer case- no leak. the car has been in california for 4.5 of its 5 years and likely rarely engaged the AWD.

i dont have any experience with transverse mounted engines using AWD. not even sure whats inside the transfer case.

james

 

i dont have any experience with transverse mounted engines using AWD. not even sure whats inside the transfer case.

james

James-

The transfer case is basically a dual-gear right-angle drive. No viscous-fluid couplings. No slipper clutches. There's nothing special about it.

-njjoe

 

May I go back to a sore subject just for a moment...

I have a '77 Cherokee plow Jeep that I took to a Jeep dealership as I knew I had a cracked transfer case. They examined the vehicle and came at me with a $4200.00 bill including such things as $800.00 for a steering column box gasket replacement, and more for brake work. I told them the Jeep wasn't worth it and went to a 4 wheel drive place. The owner there laughed at the gasket that he said would take minutes to replace and mine didn't need replacing! His entire bill for brakes and transfer case was $1600.00. The dealership has a giant garage and only a few mechanics working there anymore. I think that you can screw some people once and they won't come back or in my case I was smart enough to get a second opinion. Word gets around and I did have it out with their garage manager who defended their mechanics...LOL!!! Yes, that's why they had at one time probably 20 mechanics working there and now just a few.

As far as used car dealers, I have known several over the years and the ones I knew were far above board and have great businesses with mechanics on duty to service the cars they sell before and after sale. The one place is so busy that it takes tree weeks to get in!!! The local Nissan garage used to be like that and now you can get an appointment for the next day or two!!! Not to say they were dishonest at all as I always found them great to deal with but I think that the economy is just killing them right now.

Those that put the thumb screws on you generally will eventually, thank G-d, go out of business!!!!

Reminds me of eating in New York!!! Get a bad meal and they burn the place down and a new restaurant is there first thing in the morning!!! LOL!!!:4:

 

Hi to all,

I just did my routine oil/filter change at 35688K miles of my '04 SE AWD and noticed an oil leak staining the bottom part of the cvt. I am sure it was not there since my last oil change 4 months ago. I touched part of it with my finger and its definitely oil and dirt. Much like the pix jaak posted. Checked the cvt fluid level and its at max so far. Now, I dont know if the leak is coming from the cvt or the transfer case or axle seal- if that makes sense. There has been no burning oil smell detected - leak too slow to notice probably. I will have this checked by nissan early this morning and give you an update. This should be covered by the drivetrain warranty right? Cause I'm 8 months over the 3 year warranty period with no extended warrranty to fall back. Just crossing my fingers with this nissan dealers here in vegas.(just moved 5 months ago) I dont know the quality of their work--atleast there are 4 dealers here in the valley. So far the car is running like it should with no noticable decline in performance. I hope its just a seal replacement job done right the first time. I have a pix but not sure how to post it. Later.

nitely

 

angle---creeping in from the front of car--driver side

 

closer look - mark on left is my finger confirming the wet oil with dirt