The GU 3.0TD's

Submitted: Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 15:42

ThreadID: 28776 Views:3161 Replies:7 FollowUps:10

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Member - Andrew(WA)

I just thought I'd post this bit of info because it MAY be of some benefit to someone, one day.

I know my local Nissan bloke pretty well. Well enough to know he doesn't bull$hit me and doesn't need to anyway.

We had a lengthy discussion recenlty about the series I and II motors (I have a III) and these engine stories.

To cut a long story short, he had only seen a couple go BANG in all his years as a dealer/servicer (he is hands on) and the diagnoses reason for failure (they believe)was an issue with an injector stuffing up causing the pot to run too lean resulting in ***boom*** and/or the computer malfuctioning causing the engine to run lean and the pot getting the most fuel went BANG 1st.

HE SAID THE BIGGEST TIP HE CAN GIVE IS "IF YOU NOTICE A DOWNTURN IN ECONOMY FOR NO REASON, GET TO A DEALER ASAP AND TELL THEM. IT MAY SAVE YOU SOME BIG DRAMAS RATHER THAN WAITING FOR YOUR NEXT SERVICE INTERVAL.

These issues...he says...were addressed in later models but he admits Nissan don't really keep them informed of all the 'little'!!! things. He says the way it works is if he has a question or problem with a clients car, he asks Nissan about the problem and Nissan give him in return, any number of possibilities to remedy the issue. This is one of the reasons we get so many different accounts for known early problems.

Bottom line was this...I have just did my 80,000k service. I told the guy I was concerned about the engine reliablity issue and we discussed trading in my car on new Pathy or something similar....HE TALKED ME OUT IT.....THE DEALER. His opinion of the Patrol 3.0tdi and patrols in general was they are one of the best and strongest he deals with and he sees alot.

I'm not a mechanic and have no idea what causes these 2000/2001 models to give up so please don't argue with me... just thought the 'running rich' issue may mean something to some people and could be a good 'warning' indicator to look out for.

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Reply By: Nav 8 - Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 16:11

Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 16:11

I think you may have gotten a little confused in para 4 Andrew,I think you meant the cylinder runs too rich causing a meld down of the piston. A diesel is opposite to a petrol in that regard and I would say your Nissan serviceman is right on the money,,good advice.
Nav (Retired diesel mech) no more black oil,,

AnswerID: 143335

Follow Up By: Member - Andrew(WA) - Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 16:29

Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 16:29

Yep...sorry

You know what I mean anyway....

cheers

FollowupID: 396837

Reply By: Notso - Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 16:41

Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 16:41

That might be why mine is still going strong at 165,000. Had 4 new injectors put in around march 2002. They found all 4 of em were faulty.

New computer as well around same time.

AnswerID: 143337

Reply By: ACDC - Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 17:23

Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 17:23

Sounds good but i don't agree,it's not that simple.
The problem relates to what controls the fuel and the boost and it appears in most cases the air flow sensor is at fault sending the wrong signal to the computer.
As i have said previously most vehicles start over boosting and blowing off intercooler hoses before they expire.
We have never had to replace injectors or computers in a 3.0l yet personally i think there a great vehicle and yes i would buy one!

AnswerID: 143343

Follow Up By: Notso - Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 20:50

Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 20:50

Yep, Nissan has so far replaced an airflow sensor, three computers, rebuilt the gearbox once because it stripped the spline on top gear and once because the Nissan dealer in Perth rebuilt it with the wrong spec bits.

replaced a Crank angle Sensor. Most recently the fault code suggesting that the computer needed replaceing started coming up again but the local Nissan Mechanic suggested that all the earth connections should be cleaned. Since trhen no more problems with the computer at least.

It's done 165,000 now and I waver between replacing it or hanging on for the ride.??

FollowupID: 396866

Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 21:22

Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 21:22

Funny about gearboxes and the like. The one I had to get worked on was a Rangie manual at about 65k but you don't often hear about those. they do happen and there aren't as many of them about to hear of. It blew the bearings on the input shaft but they replaced the top gear sprockets as well just to be on the safe side. My expense too of course :-(

You could ask me if I had electrical problems with an ML Mercedes too. Many of them did. After a car wash one day it would not stop beeping until it went to a dealer for a few days for them to 'try' to trace problems. It happened again too and one other day it kept stalling trying to pull a trailer. grrrrrr :-( again..... Then of course weeks of air bag controller problems.

The GU goes well. I just cause it problems.......

FollowupID: 396870

Follow Up By: AJB - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 00:17

Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 00:17

Well ACDC if you wanna buy one you can but mine. Everything is good except the engine. Nissan won't cover it an at the moment it is about $9000 and counting for repairs. 3 pistons cracked and the head cracked in 4 places. The reco bloke reckons he can repair 3 of them but not the 4th. The car did not get hot, showed no signs of imminent self destruction (re post 28145) and there it is. Worth nothing and needing heaps to get it going. And the nissan line about engine problems, "Its all heresay"
What do I do now. I am annoyed, disheartened and would tell everyone to avoid the company alltogether. I will never but another of their products after the treatmentof a known faulty product that they produsced.

FollowupID: 396893

Follow Up By: AJB - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 00:29

Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 00:29

Sorry about the typos. The keyboard gets a hammering when I talk about that vehicle and that company.

FollowupID: 396894

Follow Up By: brd - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 16:39

Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 16:39

Yes, I think the air flow sensor does have problems...particularly with dusty conditions. Mine did a lot of dusty work regularly. I blow out the air filter each trip, but the filters Nissan or after market allowed some fines in, or at least enough to cout the wire on the air flow sensor. This did cause incorrect readings and power loss.

I suppose I would have been better off with a cyclone filter, or at least a snorkel.

FollowupID: 396977

Reply By: sajiie - Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 21:39

Sunday, Dec 11, 2005 at 21:39

Hi guys,

I live on the central coast and work in sydney. Saw a 3td pulled over today on my way home just passed the hawksbury bridge in the 90 zone , not sure what was wrong but nrma was there could have been anything . Maybe someone on here owns it . My 2002 has 85000 on it. One thing i have noticed is she doesn't like the hot weather too much in terms of performance, she struggles a bit, but i know she's only a deisel so i drive it like one and i am happy.

AnswerID: 143386

Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 07:53

Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 07:53

Yes,, i would tend to agree with the hot weather comment...
Yesterday when it was 38 degrees i noticed mine lacking power,,, and before anyone says turn the a/cond off,,, i have it on all the time...

FollowupID: 396911

Reply By: bob - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 09:07

Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 09:07

Hi
Funny about the hot weather. The other day (36-38deg) the wife was heading nth out of the harbour tunnel and noticed lack of power. Came good though and that was it. (2001 model 136000km)

Bob

AnswerID: 143420

Reply By: Trev88 - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 10:59

Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 10:59

Hi all

Mate of mine just had his 2002 3ltd serviced 120k on the clock blowing off the turbo hoses. Has been since he had it from 85k Nissan have had a number of goes at fixing it.

Guess what it looj=ks like they did fix it. They replaced the controller, not only does it now drive 100% better it also uses half the fuel it did before it was fixed. The part cost him over $200 plus labour but he should recoup it in a month or so just on fuel.

Regards

Trev

AnswerID: 143433

Follow Up By: Leroy - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:11

Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:11

by controller do you mean MAF sensor? Fairly common for them to fail but fortunately an easy fix!

Leroy

FollowupID: 396940

Reply By: Leroy - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:00

Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:00

When at the dealer the other day getting my 3.0l patrol serviced I noticed another there minus engine. It was an early 3.0l with high hundreds on the clock and apparently had a hard life with a turbo replaced while under warranty. It cost the owner $15k for a change over engine. Gasp!!!

I had a chat to the mech and he says that nissan tell them squat about the problems they've had with the 3.0l. He told me about another 3.0 that went pop and said they drove it early in the piece and said it went like the clappers and after it blew they replaced the engine and turbo, ecu, loom and said it went like the rest of the patrols he'd driven. He assumes it was an over boosting issue because it perfomed so well. He also said the oil sensor that sits in the block under the turbo is an oil switch and wondered why they bothered! He didn't think there were lube issues either!!

Will we ever get to the bottom of this isssu??

Leroy

AnswerID: 143434