Refreshing a First Generation Nissan Titan
The first generation (A60) Nissan Titan was produced for model years 2004-2015. As these trucks become older and the long-awaited second gen hits the market, many pickup truck buyers are interested in in grabbing a used—or well-worn—1st gen Titan.
With normal care, most owners can expect their 1st gen Titan to run for 200-250K miles or more
without work to motor or transmission internals. Because the VK motor and 5spd automatic transmission on the Titans are so reliable (compared to the competition), used Titans will be a great buy for those of us who require peace-of-mind from their now "old" pick-em-up truck.
For buyers new to used Nissan Titans,
below is a primer on refreshing the Gen 1 Titan to make the most out of a
new-to-you purchase.
PRICE
Expect to pay between
$8K-$15K for any
mostly stock 1st gen Titan, in any area, with between 100-200K miles. The early first gen trucks are already reaching the bottom of their depreciation curve, and price differences from mileage in the 100-200K realm are minor.
Instead of value based on mileage, the value of the 1st Gen Titans is based upon the amelioration of several common issues.
Here are all the common fixes.
MAJOR ITEM 1
Exhaust Manifolds
Your new-to-you first-gen Titan (all years) will either come with cracked exhaust manifolds, soon-to-crack exhaust manifolds, OR replacement headers. There's no two ways about it. Cracked manifold symptoms include ticking sounds at the block plus decreased acceleration. The truck will feel like it is one cylinder down on power.
DO NOT DRIVE WITH CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLDS
Unhealthy exhaust manifolds are about the only way to kill a Titan motor. The weird back pressure will bust up the ceramic inside the primary cats and then suck the particles back into the cylinders, scarring the walls.
BEST FIX
You want JBA longtube replacement headers (even in California). There are other header brands, but these are the best-proven bang-for-the-buck.
WHY?
Nissan OEM replacement headers are the same design as your cracked ones. They will crack again. Additionally, some Nissan dealerships want UP TO $2K PER SIDE to fix cracked exhaust manifolds. By-the-book time is 8 hours, with all the tools, and a lift. Do you have a lift?
CAN I DO THIS MYSELF?
Yes if you are patient, have the raccoon-like ability to see with your hands, and own every swivel-extension socket known to man. It's easier on a 2wd. Comparable swearing to spark plug changes on F-body Camaros. Not as tedious (or scary) as fixing blown-out plugs in the Ford 5.4 Triton.
COST?
$500-$600
Cajun B-pipes has you hooked up,
right here. These guys are the O.G.s of the Titan community
and are the one and only call you need to make. Best price and service. Hella-nice dudes.
WHAT IF I DON'T DO THIS MYSELF?
Including JBA headers, misc parts, and labor, I paid $1500 for a local Z shop to fix my exhaust. That's for only a cat-forward fix with no tune. You might pay more or less.
WHAT ABOUT EMISSIONS?
With JBAs, the Titan's secondary cats become the primaries. The primary cats come off with the OEM manifold, and the primary O2 sensor harness is lengthened to plug into the secondary cat 02 bung.
If your truck is otherwise running correctly, you will not throw codes and will pass emissions A OK.
WHAT IF I DON'T WANT HEADERS?
Tough sh1t. Seriously, you do not want OEM replacement manifolds. They will crack again.
EXTRA CREDIT FIX
While you're on the phone with Cajun, order some catted or non-catted B-pipes, a y-pipe, and an ultra-quiet resonator. Then have
Seymore UpRev tune your truck. Hold on for bat**** power.
DOUBLE EXTRA CREDIT FIX
Find some unicorn
NISMO headers on eBay. They usually sell for about
$1K (or more). Same-ish power bump, but they sound cooler and are...well...rare. They look sweet too.
*Note, if under 80K miles/8 years, the dealer will replace your manifolds for free, even if your truck is beyond the factory warranty.
MAJOR ITEM 2
Brakes
You do not want 04-06 front brakes. Nissan recalled
most of the early-year trucks because the undersized front rotors warped. You can still buy replacement parts for the smaller diameter brakes (which also ran in '07), but the best fix is an easy brake upgrade from Frozen Rotors to the 08+ size calipers and rotors
COST?
~$1200
Frozen Rotors makes a kit that includes everything for an 08+ upgrade. Every single part for all four corners, including new caliper bolts (single use on a Titan) and SS brake lines (front) is in the box.
I paid $250 for the Z shop to install this. You can do it yourself no problem, if you like that sort of thing.
08+ trucks can otherwise assume brakes to be general maintenance items.
MAJOR ITEM 3
Differentials
If you're seeing a pattern here, is that Nissan gave the Titan a monster motor & transmission at the expense of tiny brakes (fixed 08+), crappy exhaust manifolds, and weak-ish differentials (last two, all years).
FIX
The first thing you need to do is buy
Cajun's $37 axle vent mod kit. This takes 20 minutes to install...if you're a drunk, illiterate 4-year-old with a Swiss army knife.
DO THIS FIX ON EVERY TITAN, EVER.
Titans are known for popping rear axle seals on the reg. BEFORE you get seepage on the wheels (you'll notice), add in the vent-mod to both keep out dirt and allow better breathing/lower pressure inside the axle tube.
WHAT IF MY SEALS ARE LEAKING?
You might need new seals or a new rear end. Nissan did so many seal fixes, at the first sign of leakage (under warranty), they just started replacing the whole rear end unit. Lucky for you.
This is not a DIY job unless you have a special axle tube puller/bearing press.
COST TO FIX
Expect to drop $1200 - $2200
per axle depending on the symptoms.
EXTRA CREDIT FIX
While you are mucking around back there, add in a
high-capcity, extra-cooling differential cover.
DOUBLE EXTRA CREDIT FIX
Detroit truetrac (~$600 on your own, ~$1200 installed*) gives you an LSD for snow-crawling, 4-wheeling, burnouts, and major sideways drift action. Go lay down some 11s.
*If you install the Truetrac just for fun, be sure to replace your bearings and axle seals anyway. That will increase your cost ~200-$600.
WHAT ABOUT THE FRONT DIFF?
Do not plow snow with the Titan. If you must plow, do not plow in reverse. If you must plow snow, in reverse, in a Titan, have an extra $2K laying around.
Also, you missed a spot.
MINOR ITEMS
Radiator
Some, but not all of us, have experienced radiator cracking, particularly at the bottom where the plastic fittings enter the unit.
EASY FIX
Replacement radiator, takes 1-4 hours to change out, depending on your mechanical skill.
COST
$200-$600 + new coolant.
EXTRA CREDIT FIX
Any radiator with an external transmission cooler bypass.
Great thread about it; further cools your tranny fluid and otherwise protects your transmission from any radiator failure.
Related: replace those OEM hose clamps with some worm-style clamps. Will prevent some future headaches.
MINOR ITEM
RECALLS
This author's most recent Titan was overdue for five recalls. Call up a dealer and give 'em your VIN #. Easy peasy.
Common recalls include the
IPDM /ECU relay (lots of guys carry a
spare relay, also more
here,
here, and
here), the
fuel sending unit (improper gas gauge reading), and
airbag door harness (KC trucks, mostly).
COST
Time spent at the dealer. Nothing out of pocket.
MINOR ITEM
Suspension
After 100K miles, the original shocks on your Titan are shot. Truth be told, rolling off the lot, the OEM shocks kind of sucked.
FIX
Get some Bilstein 5100s. Bonus, they are adjustable up front if you want the leveled look.
COST
~$400
ALT FIX
Bilsteins 5100s are popular for a reason. They ride great at a great price. That said, they sometimes are on worldwide backorder (for all truck make and models).
Other Bilstein shocks, including the 4600 front / 5125 rear are a good fix if you intend on adding a heavy bumper or have frequent heavy payloads.
Icons are another sweet choice for the rear.
There are also
numerous other options for lifting, lowering, or pre-runner applications.
MINOR ITEM
Rusty Exhaust Hanger
A small # owners have had a wiring harness melted at the rear of the truck when the rear-most exhaust hanger rusted out. This is less a Titan issue as opposed to a maintenance/common sense issue, but the location of the body wiring harness on the frame makes it vulnerable.
FIX
Go look under your truck.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER RUST?
Even in the rust-belt and heavy-winter states, Titans are not known for rust issues.
MINOR ITEM
Shackles
Some/many 04'-07' trucks had the rear leaf springs punch through the bed when the rear leaf spring shackle failed. A simple design amendment was introduced in 08' to prevent this un-needed excitement.
FIX
~30-$100
Find someone here going the pre-runner route or otherwise lifting or lowering. Otherwise, aftermarket
shackles are easily available.
CAN I DO THIS MYSELF?
Yes, it's wicked easy to swap these out.
