Bad Design

elking · 10-04-2006, 12:18 PM

I like to share with you the trip from hell. Last sunday I was coming down a steep dirt road in Kern county with my 05 4x4 LE. The truck tires rolled over a piece of a dried tree branch about 1.5 inches in diameter and about 1.5 feet long. I heard the wood crack under the tire but the truck died immediately after that in middle of nowhere and would not start. After careful examination of underneath and to my amazement, I discovered that a piece of wood splinter has severed the main electrical harness that runs along the chassy on the passenger side. IMO this is a serious flaw to have the main lifeline of the truck exposed like this. To make the story short I had to get a tow truck at the cost of $650 and 10 hours later we pulled in the Nissan dealership in Bakersfield. Had to rent a motel, and a car and spent the night. Monday the mechanic said I need a new harness at the cost of $1080 and it will take five days to get the part from back east. This is a very poor design by nissan and makes me real mad. My truck is still in the shop.
I put this out so that everyone is aware of this serious flaw and may be we can come up with an easy fix for it.

TCW · 10-04-2006, 12:23 PM

That's not too cool. Sorry to hear about that. I'm definitely going to check mine out and see if there is a preventive fix.

Vegas04 · 10-04-2006, 01:37 PM

wow, talk about one-in-a-million!!!!!

TitanBlue · 10-04-2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas04

wow, talk about one-in-a-million!!!!!

3 years at about 80k a year production=1 in quarter million.

Pretty close.

In all seriousness, this is worth looking at and protecting. Thanks for sharing elking.

rrtitan · 10-04-2006, 04:02 PM

Would it be that wiring harness that passes along the outside of the frame? I just saw that yesterday as I was snooping around. It is a little scary because there are a lot of wires in there. See attached pics.

The pictures show how it leads along the frame from the rear and into the large block connector which sits behind the right front wheel. It then leads up behind the front wheel fender and into the engine or dash area of the cab. The block connector is fairly protected except for where it leads towards the back out of the block connector.

FireCapt103 · 10-04-2006, 04:24 PM

Wow, that is some horrid luck. Sorry to hear of your accident.

Justintoxicated · 10-04-2006, 04:25 PM

Now I'm going to have to go under my truck and take a look, I have the OR package and I have never noticed this before. Is it possible that the skidplate on my truck covers it up?

Haasguy · 10-04-2006, 07:41 PM

No, the OR skidplate doesn't cover it if. If you look under your truck with you head right at the front of the passenger door you'll see this. I've noticed this while changing my oil and have always thought it was kind of scary being stuck out there like that.

Burly · 10-04-2006, 09:26 PM

Maybe if a cover was made like the ones for the oil filter on the offroad skidplate. A cover that can be easily put on and taken off. Just an idea.

pi3yeargrad · 10-04-2006, 09:50 PM

thats a total crock... are u gonna be responsible for all that cost???

elking · 10-04-2006, 10:16 PM

This is this real bad guys. If you look inside the rear tire well you would also see the harness snaking through. How can an off road truck have exposed wiring like this. This whole thing is gonna cost me 2 g's and I'm pissed. The wires could have been easily routed inside the channel or on top of it.
One option that I thought is to get some black garden hose and slit it in the middle and cut it in sections and slip it over the wire for better protection but this realy sucks. I have lost confidence in this truck!!!

pi3yeargrad · 10-04-2006, 10:29 PM

u should still be covered under warranty though no??

Yellomantis · 10-04-2006, 10:34 PM

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk, looks like I have another project on my hands. And I'm not even done with the last one!

BRACEYOSELF777 · 10-04-2006, 11:02 PM

That Sucks!!!!!!!

miketan · 10-05-2006, 04:41 AM

That's a bunch of crap. If I were you, I'd fix it myself just to get it home first. All you have to do is splice the wires back together again. Right?

I don't think you should have to pay one single dime for this Contact the service manager and if that doesn't work, contact Nissan corporate. I think the dealer may be sticking it to you because you're stuck out in the boonies so to speak. After all, Nissan advertises this truck as off-road capable which can go into those type of situations. A little splinter of wood severing the main harness is a major design flaw and they should pick up the bill for this repair. Not you.

Goodluck!