Great Expectations

[dandy]

It all started with 4 weeks of research, followed by 2 weekends of test drives. Wow! I thought, an aluminum 32-valve engine backed by a true 5-speed tranny. Then throw in a really neat utility bed system, a side compartment so your tow straps and unmentionables don’t slither around your bed/interior, way cool indeed. A 350-watt sound system with subwoofer from the factory, tranny temp gauge, wide angle mirrors. Na couldn’t be. You mean 12.6-inch rotors all around, a gated shifter, and passenger seat folds down for my laptop. Stop it. Now you tell me the vdc works in 4wd just like a Mercedes g-wagon (I can see it in my wee little mind – front tire rises in the air over a gully and, BLAMO locks right up to send power elsewhere) all this for around 30k?? After driving all the ½ ton pickups this was the ticket. The power delivery was seamless almost like a luxury sport car, always in the right gear, no shocking rpm’s on downshifts. Now I knew for sure, Japanese build quality in a true ½ ton truck. No queer rattles, piston slap, creaks or moans would be in my future.

However, (in the voice of the espn basketball annalist) this would not be the case at all. At around 600 miles a valve train rattle occurred followed by the raucous little purge valve. On my 1st trip with my ultra conservative brother it rattled like a G-damned diesel. Man he said, “this thing sure makes some noise” Yep I told him hopefully it’d loose up a little. I sure as hell wouldn’t deal with that, it sounds like it’s metal on metal. Damn, he was right. Now a trip to the dealer “ they all rattle like that” the young man told me, so we fired up a couple and I couldn’t believe it! He was right. After checking out this little web site and finding the chevron cure it was almost gone. All right man I can deal with this no problem, and the radio, and that vdc not working like I envisioned it would. It’s all-good.

Weeks go by without a hiccup. Then when out to pack up for a bbq pop goes the door molding. I find out the left rear door is loose, WTF. Damn it the molding, now I’m pissed and checking all the doors. I find 3 moldings pulling off, the right rear window trim pulling away from the seal. I’m officially worried now. And my anxiety drives me to look harder and harder. Finding the overhead console cracked from a tip here, the rear end has a light whine on acceleration in 5th gear, low differential fluid is most certainly to blame, from another helpful post. Back to the dealer AGAIN he says he’s going to put me into a truck over the phone OK that won’t be so bad. Then at promptly 7:30 am he takes my truck for the repairs to the moldings, console and to check my rear. Then he calls enterprise rent a car to give me the new king of all trucks, the focus! And I have to lay down my visa to get the car although the bill still goes to the dealer. Wow so much for service. At 4pm I call to pick up my truck, “ I couldn’t get to it today I’ll have it done for sure tomorrow”. I can hear him telling me now I don’t hear the noise from the rear it’s just the tires. There goes the weekend camping trip.

If I could only heed my own advice stay the f away from 1st year vehicles. It seems to me that I fell for all the glitz and promise of the titan, only to find a great motor/tranny combo and not much else.

[37L1]

Had mine since December 14th. Not having any of your problems. Sorry for your disappointment with your ride.

37L1

[rrumaner]

I am confused. You post sounds as if you just took it in today and the dealer told you that he couldn't get to it today. However, your post on 6/6 from the thread started by you on 5/30 door moulding prob. from loose door states that you took it in and they took care of all your problems and you were satisfied. Which was it?

[bestatchess]

The other thread said parts ordered 6/6, so 6/24 dealer apparently has rec'd parts and truck is brought in for service, and dealer renegs on promised loaner truck. In the interim a whine in the differential is detected.

If his dealer is like mine, he wouldn't have the moulding, trim & console in stock, and that would need to be ordered. And 6/24 would be a pretty quick part response time, as my dealer always takes from 1 to 3 months.

All of his reported problems have been experienced and posted by others. California Titan had the loose door bolts and a fried differential. I had the identical window trim piece replaced. There are numerous prior posts about cracked consoles and low differential fluid levels. JetTech (f/k/a JetForeman & JetWrench) had the low diff fluid and resulting whining differential.

Nothing sinister here, I think.

[dandy]

Bestatchess is right on the money. It only gets worse. Today I leave early from work to get the truck, they replaced the console only it was the rear half that didn't have a problem. Then they came to the remarkable conclusion that the moldings don't come painted. They had my truck 2 days to replace a good part, and re-glue? the window trim back. I know that it's the dealer and not the truck but damn it! You mean to tell me that when you order moldings the factory senses what color they are? It's a long ride to the dealer ( insert baby crying noises) 2 hours round trip. Guy's I mean no harm and the only ill will I really have should be directed to the dealer not nissan. I'm slowly coming around

[dandy]

Shoot almost forgot: thanks 37L1

[rrumaner]

I understand and retract my previous implied allegation. I hope you get these issues straightened out soon and get back to enjoying driving the Titan.

[dandy]

No prob. rrumaner. I'm workin on it. Maybe a k+n fipk would help.

[37L1]

Originally Posted by dandy

No prob. rrumaner. I'm workin on it. Maybe a k+n fipk would help.

That's the spirit dandy!

Those things will get straightened out and then look out, here comes a dandy Titan!

37L1