Bought an 03 2.5L Altima new. Shortly after purchase there was recall related to the precat causing, to put it mildly, engine related issues. At the time, some SpecV owners especially with the 2.5L had to have engines replaced under warranty. The precat would come apart sending parts into the engine essentially grenading the engine at some point. Also, the main reason I did a UOA 2 years ago posted here.
Nissan's fix for others with the 02-03 2.5L was to change the oil and iirc put a shield over the exhaust manifold precat. It was NO permanent fix, it was a band aid. In other words, it was a joke, and the jokes now on me.
So a couple weeks ago (~81k), I got a CEL/SES light which didn't really concern me at the time because I had had one before when the throttle actuator control had to be replaced under good will warranty. Put my trusty code reader/obd scanner on and 0420 showed, cat. sys. efficiency below threshold bank 1. So I thought, bad cat/cats, or bad O2 sensors, not terrible. That was until I pulled the dipstick and saw the oil level, half way down in the safe zone. This vehicle had never used/burned oil, and was at the max mark recently when I checked. So, I was very sure what was happening.
I pm'ed another Altima owner who suggested I at least visit the selling dealer to confirm. Being fairly tight with the parts manager and needing a hood rod retainer clip (cheap plastic) off I went. When I told him the code, the meaning, and oil use, his response was this "I hate to have to be the one to tell you this....", he needed to go no further though he did. Also related the story to the other parts person, who cast a wry smile. Part manager checked with head shop manager who had them check computer to see if there was any Nissan recourse, of course there are none. I tried.
I thought because of I took excellent care (new pads recently) of the vehicle even doing a UOA, that despite what I had read, I'd have no precat/engine issues. Wrong answer! If you own an 02-03 Nissan with 2.5L it will get you.
As I wasn't going to throw away more good money after bad, I now have a new vehicle. And as I had planned to sell the Altima outright at some point, it's at quite an expense to me. But, I'll share the more pleasant the new vehicle discussion at some later point on another thread. Want to also thank Char Baby and demarpaint who responded to my pm questions with excellent answers and advice.
As for Nissan, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Sayonara.
Nissan's fix for others with the 02-03 2.5L was to change the oil and iirc put a shield over the exhaust manifold precat. It was NO permanent fix, it was a band aid. In other words, it was a joke, and the jokes now on me.
So a couple weeks ago (~81k), I got a CEL/SES light which didn't really concern me at the time because I had had one before when the throttle actuator control had to be replaced under good will warranty. Put my trusty code reader/obd scanner on and 0420 showed, cat. sys. efficiency below threshold bank 1. So I thought, bad cat/cats, or bad O2 sensors, not terrible. That was until I pulled the dipstick and saw the oil level, half way down in the safe zone. This vehicle had never used/burned oil, and was at the max mark recently when I checked. So, I was very sure what was happening.
I pm'ed another Altima owner who suggested I at least visit the selling dealer to confirm. Being fairly tight with the parts manager and needing a hood rod retainer clip (cheap plastic) off I went. When I told him the code, the meaning, and oil use, his response was this "I hate to have to be the one to tell you this....", he needed to go no further though he did. Also related the story to the other parts person, who cast a wry smile. Part manager checked with head shop manager who had them check computer to see if there was any Nissan recourse, of course there are none. I tried.
I thought because of I took excellent care (new pads recently) of the vehicle even doing a UOA, that despite what I had read, I'd have no precat/engine issues. Wrong answer! If you own an 02-03 Nissan with 2.5L it will get you.
As I wasn't going to throw away more good money after bad, I now have a new vehicle. And as I had planned to sell the Altima outright at some point, it's at quite an expense to me. But, I'll share the more pleasant the new vehicle discussion at some later point on another thread. Want to also thank Char Baby and demarpaint who responded to my pm questions with excellent answers and advice.
As for Nissan, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Sayonara.
