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Nissan Truck Repair Questions and Answers

Answer: Were the chain tensioner and guides were replaced? Your symptoms indicate that they were not.

Question: 1995 Nissan pick-up mileage: 80,000. On the engine timing chain, how much slack, if any should there be? I have over 1/2 inch flexing/movement when I touch the timing chain with a screwdriver through the oil fill cap at the front of the engine. It flops around nicely. Would that also cause an intermittent loud engine knock / tapping?

Answer: Without seeing your truck we would suspect that the chain may be stretched and ready for replacement or a tensioner or guide may be broken allowing the extra movement in the chain.

Question: 1991 Nissan Pick up Truck mileage: 70,000. On my way home today my transmission started to slip and within 1/2 mile, I had lost all power. The engine sounds fine, but the vehicle acted like it was in neutral. I coasted home and found transmission oil all over the ground. Does this mean my transmission has been totally ruined or is there a chance that something minor such as a hose etc. has gone bad? As you can tell, I'm no expert on cars.

Answer: There is a chance your transmission is not damaged. Refill the transmission with fluid and then determine where the fluid is leaking and repair the leak. Test-drive the truck and check for proper operation. If you are lucky, this will solve your problem. If not, you are in for a transmission overhaul.

Question: 1991 Nissan King Cab   Mileage: 94,000 The truck is in cream puff shape. G sounds, (22 year old daughter tapped a bumper in front of her last Monday-left small dent on the trucks front bumper). Last night when I picked her up for work, as I pulled into the parking lot a loud grinding howl sound started from the power steering, home is only a mile away, once we got home popped the hood, fluid was half gone, this morning carport is full of power steering fluid.... We have rented a car, knowing it will need to be towed where ever we take it, since this car belong to a mother and two daughters (17-22), I would like to go in with a little ideal of what is going on.....I think either a hose or the pump is shot .....But the puzzle is there was no prior warning or leaking, just all of a sudden last night it screamed and dropped the fluid...I am in Austin Texas, do you know of a good trustworthy place; here to take it, and any idea the probability of what it is.... This is distressing to say the least...help in Austin ladies in distress.........

Answer: Sounds like a high-pressure power steering hose has failed. We cannot make any recommendations in your area. You should check with friends and neighbors to find a mechanic you can trust.

Question: 1989 Nissan, 4x4, Kcab, 5-speed  mileage: 160,000. Dear Bob and Ken: ...........I know enough to know, I don't know enough...........Cuz generally I know about that kind of stuff............So I'll go to the people who really do know...........And ask them to help a Jeneral Joe. Cool site. Too bad they all (many sites I have visited) missed class that day. A few questions you may be in the know about. Then I will do my Snagglepuss impression. Just discovered water in "Air Nissan's" oil. Cracked block, head gasket, warped head, and Baskin Robins came to mind seeing the ice cream.. Mechanically inclined and fully equipped by Mr. Craftsman, "Air's" 160,000 miles puts him ahead of the dog (euthanised last week) and will be cared for until the crash and burn). How do I do what I need to do? I will gladly pay you next Tuesday.... For advice upon the matter today.... -Wimpy- Exit stage left... -Snagglepuss-

Answer: Water in the oil is probably from a head gasket blown, remove the head and discover the unknown. Have the head resurfaced and check for cracks too, put it back together to make it good as new. We'll take a hamburger please!

Question:  1986 Nissan 720 4X4 pickup Z24 I mileage: 250,000.  The problem started with the idle speed fluctuating from about 1000 to 2000 rpm when the vehicle was sitting at an idle. This fluctuation was fairly rapid (about every 5-10 seconds).  Then after a couple of hundred miles, the idle speed stayed at 2000-2400 rpm.  Now when accelerating, the engine surges terribly and is getting bad fuel mileage.  When the surge occurs a small amount of black smoke puffs out of the exhaust pipe.  There is also some kind of relay under the hood, over the right fender beside the battery making a rapid irregular clicking noise.  Could this be related?  I think the problem is in the emission control system but I'm definitely in over my head.   Can you help?  Thanks a lot!

Answer:  We would replace the O� sensor.

Question:  1998 Nissan 4x4 Hardbody  mileage: 120,000.  I just bought this truck as a project, and I have every thing working great with the exception of the driver's headlight.  It works on high, but not on low.  I've replaced the bulb and fuses with a known good ones.  It has 12 vdc while unplugged, but with a load, nothing...  I've looked in the Haynes manual for a diagram, but there is not an accurate one for that year.  Any Ideas?  Any help would be appreciated.

Answer:  With an electrical load on the headlight system, start checking the wiring with a 12-volt test light.  Trace the wiring from the headlight until you find the 12-volt source (switch).  Somewhere in between, there is a bad connection that is causing lose of power to the headlight.

Question:  1990 Nissan pickup truck mileage: 135,000.  Have over heating problem, replaced water pump, radiator, thermostat, and rebuild head, flush engine.  Over heating while driving and while idle.

Answer:  If you were losing coolant this would cause the overheating.   If the coolant level stays full, then, perhaps your fan clutch is not working properly.

Question:  1989 Nissan Hardbody 2WD  mileage: 267,000.  Help me Bob and Ken!  I am having a TERRIBLE gas mileage problem.  In the last 8 months, my fuel economy has dropped from 16 mpg to 12 mpg!  I have spent over $600 having the problem diagnosed to no avail.  Repairs that were made include Adjust throttle linkage, Scoped and set engine, throttle body gasket repair, timing adjusted, tune-up, new plugs, new O2 sensor, new catalytic converter, vacuum lines tested, emissions tested, and exhaust system check and fuel injector cleaning.  After putting the truck on 2 different diagnostic computers, at 2 different places, 2 different mechanics have stated the engine was in great shape to have so many miles.   I know that with so many miles that I'm not going to get the same gas mileage as I did when I bought it (24 mpg), BUT 12 MPG IS CRAZY!  Please see what you guys can come up with.

Answer:  Several things should be checked; fuel pressure, fuel pressure regulator and compression.  If you have not had the computer scanned, you should do it now having all five modes checked.

Question:  1987 Nissan Hard body 4x4 3.0 mileage: 244,000.  I am a mechanic and this has 4 others baffled.  I can go out in the morning and start the truck and it runs great.  When I go into gear and drive it dies.  I loses spark and dumps fuel at the same time.  Now you have to wait about 2 hrs to start it again.  It has a new distributor, coil, and cap/rotor.  I did the tap test on the computer.  If you crank it for a while it will finally spark.  So can you help...thanks.

Answer:  Scan the computer for trouble codes.  Check for faulty sensors.  With an Ohmmeter, check the ground connections to the computer.  You may also have a bad computer.

Question:  1995 Nissan  truck 4 WD 5 speed  mileage: 131,000.  Engine always starts, runs fine when cold. Sometimes runs ok when hot.   Sometimes when hot, engine misfires slightly, sometimes when hot, engine dies, just like the ignition key was turned off for a few seconds, then on.  When hot, with air condition on, it will stall at stop signs and red lights.  Check engine light comes on when this happens.  Also, exhaust has a bad smell sometimes.  I have replaced fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires, coil wire, distributor cap, rotor, and do regular oil and filter changes. Is it possible that the computer or ignition module is acting up when hot?

Answer:    You might try replacing the oxygen sensor; if that does not help, scan the computer and check for fault codes.

Question:  1996 Nissan 2x4 pickup  mileage: 49,000.  There's a vibration/rattle coming from under/behind the steering column, around the pedals only after reaching speeds of 60 mph.  Above 60 mph, the vibration increases in frequency and volume.   Releasing the accelerator causes this noise to stop but the noise starts as soon as you press the accelerator again.  The noise also stops when turning on the air conditioner.   Advice has been from the u-joint to the tachometer cable, but a Nissan dealer told me that the Nissan truck does not have a tachometer cable, that it is electrical.  Any advice as to where to start looking for the problem would be appreciated.

Answer:   Check the tension of the fan belts, as one may be loose.

Question: 1994 Nissan  mileage: 65,000.  Where is the thermostat located on this particular truck?  (Have changed before on Ford Bronco).

Answer:  It is located in the housing on the engine.  The top radiator hose is attaches to it.

Question:  1992 Nissan pickup  mileage: 175,000.  I am replacing the timing chain.  Was able to remove alternator & bracket, hydraulic pump & bracket, fan.  Not sure about removing & replacing distributor.  Want to know what other parts that need to be removed besides the main pulley, and how to remove them.

Answer:  A Mitchell or Chilton auto repair manual will have diagrams showing timing chain replacement.  The manuals also give step-by-step instructions.  Click here to find out more

Question:  1985 Nissan,  pickup. While changing my spark plug wires, I accidentally knocked off the wires on the distributor cap and do not have a wire diagram to replace them. Although it is a 4 cyl., it has 8 wires. Can you help me find the right sequence?

Answer:  The distributor rotates counter clockwise. There is a reference to intake side and exhaust side: 2i for cylinder #2 intake side and 2e for exhaust side. Starting from the top and going counter clockwise: 2i, 4e 1i, 2e, 3i, 1e, 4i, and 3e.

Question:  1987 Nissan truck,  150,000 miles. My truck has 8 plugs and 2 coils. One coil works the other one will not. I switched the coils and the coil that does not work, works on the circuit that the coil does work. Therefore, I am sure that the coil is good. In addition, when the gas pedal is pressed all the way, the coil that usually works stops and the engine dies. I checked the coil wire with a tester to make sure that it was not firing and when the gas pedal was pressed all the way down it stopped firing. Could it be a relay or a switch that is causing the problem?

Answer:  Your truck’s ignition system should "fire" both coils during normal operating conditions. On full acceleration, it "cuts" one coil out. All this is controlled by the PCM (computer). You could possibly have faulty wiring also.

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