Hey Jolie,

Check out this thread: http://www.titantalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21002&page=1&pp=15

BTW, It is post #9 before it is disclosed that the rear differential is actually the problem.

 

I tow a trailer that is very similar to yours. I pulled it all over the eastern US last summer. The Titan can definetly handle it . You definetly have an issue to be looked into.

 

If the tranny is overheating, I think you need to downshift, don't let it go to OD.

 

Yeah, i'll have to agree with bestatchess, your not supposed to tow in overdrive, unless on level ground. The Torque Converter can't lock up which causes the tranny temp to climb. Hope you didn't do any damage.

 

It wouldn't go into O/D at all unless we were going downhill, it was overheating the tranny while running 3000 rpms, definatly not in O/D, in overdrive it revs about 1800 going 60 mph. We had the tow mode switch on. We tow trailers all the time, so this isn't a new thing to us, but the way this truck was acting was very strange. With our Dodge Ram we only lock O/D out if we are towing our big trailer loaded (i.e. 12k lbs), if its empty we let the truck go into O/D and have no trouble.

What has me baffled is we towed a 7000 lb travel trailer 1000 miles last summer, same area with our other Titan and it NEVER had a problem. We used the tow mode and the transmission was in O/D most of the time. It didn't overheat the tranny or even act like there was anything behind it.

This new Titan acts like it has 20,000 lbs behind it, absolutely no power at all. Going up a hill hubby would have to put his foot into it just to do 50 mph, we aren't talking big hills either. I thought something was up with it the other day when I was bringing it home, the tranny was hunting badly and the truck acted different, not nearly as powerful as it was.

 

Sorry to hear about the problems, seems like you had problem after problem, in Alaska the diff shouldn't heat up like that.

 

Hmmmmm, sounds like you have a problem for sure. It definitly shouldn't be acting like that. I hate to say it but looks like your going back to the dealer.
Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

Bummer. Hate to see it. Guess it's time for the crappy dance?

Good luck Jolie, hope it's nothing major and that it gets handled quickly and properly.

 

The outside temp was 25-35 degrees and I bet that diff was at least 150-200 degrees when hubby touched it, he picked up a handful of snow after touching it and threw it at the diff, it made a hissing sound and melted instantly. He said you could fry an egg on that diff. Like he said the tranny heating up shouldn't heat the diff up like that. Everything was fine after going up that hill and something slipping and popping, truck was great after that. We got home and the diff wasn't nearly as hot as it had been. Although we did hear a loud clunk when we slowed to pull into the driveway.

Best way I can describe what the truck felt like was something was dragging or hanging up, but I do know that engine was working way too hard for the load we had behind it. The camper is an ultralite with a UVW of 4486, that should not be too much camper for this truck.

Probably time to write the letter to Nissan and see if we can get a replacement (that drives my hubby crazy, he wants me to get a Ford when this is over, lol, I want another Titan!). We've only had this truck for 4 months today and 5500 miles.

I'm headed into town in a bit to get groceries, going to drive the Titan and see what it does. I've had a Dodge blow a tranny and leave me on the side of the road, hopefully I don't get left by the Titan.

On another note, the guys at the RV dealer were drooling over my truck, acted like a bunch of boys, it was funny. The guy who set up the hitch and everything didn't want to get out of the truck, he kept saying "well, its got a full tank of gas I'll be back in a long time". He was looking waaayyyy too comfy in my truck, lol.

 

BTW, here's a picture of the rig all hooked up.

http://www.members.aol.com/akangl/Titancamper1.jpg

 

Wow, nice looking rig Jolie. We are thinking about trading in our old Nomad in a couple of years for somthing a little larger. I realy like the looks of the Wilderness.
Again, good luck on your truck, we'll have our fingers crossed for ya.
Daryl

 

That is a sweet looking ride, but you already know that don't you.

 

That is a sweet looking ride, but you already know that don't you.

HEHEHE, yes I do. I love that truck and the camper is just icing on the cake!!

I was cracking up at everyone drooling over that truck. The delivery guy took it back into the shop to adjust a couple things in the camper and when he came back out I had walked over with the salesman to check on it. The delivery guy was pulling the truck back across and told me to hop in and he'd give me a ride. When I declined he pouted, so I said ok I"ll ride. He laughed and said the truck looked even better with a pretty woman in the pass seat, lol. He liked the Titan very much, said it was one of the nicest he'd seen and really didn't want to give it back. :cheers:

 

It wouldn't go into O/D at all unless we were going downhill, it was overheating the tranny while running 3000 rpms, definatly not in O/D, in overdrive it revs about 1800 going 60 mph. We had the tow mode switch on. We tow trailers all the time, so this isn't a new thing to us, but the way this truck was acting was very strange. With our Dodge Ram we only lock O/D out if we are towing our big trailer loaded (i.e. 12k lbs), if its empty we let the truck go into O/D and have no trouble.

What has me baffled is we towed a 7000 lb travel trailer 1000 miles last summer, same area with our other Titan and it NEVER had a problem. We used the tow mode and the transmission was in O/D most of the time. It didn't overheat the tranny or even act like there was anything behind it.

This new Titan acts like it has 20,000 lbs behind it, absolutely no power at all. Going up a hill hubby would have to put his foot into it just to do 50 mph, we aren't talking big hills either. I thought something was up with it the other day when I was bringing it home, the tranny was hunting badly and the truck acted different, not nearly as powerful as it was.

I see a few things happening here. Probably from your first trip you probably fried the tranny and since you haven't towed anything lately it doesn't put much stress on it. And now when you tried it again with OD on, the tranny temsp of course would go high. You must NO MATTER WHAT run in 4th gear if you have over 1500 lb. It makes your fluids run faster in the tranny, it increases pressure, it keeps the torque convertor from locking which creates heat. If your hubby was basically flooring it going up a hill your tranny was slipping like mad and you were burning it up.

 

I see a few things happening here. Probably from your first trip you probably fried the tranny and since you haven't towed anything lately it doesn't put much stress on it. And now when you tried it again with OD on, the tranny temsp of course would go high. You must NO MATTER WHAT run in 4th gear if you have over 1500 lb. It makes your fluids run faster in the tranny, it increases pressure, it keeps the torque convertor from locking which creates heat. If your hubby was basically flooring it going up a hill your tranny was slipping like mad and you were burning it up.

He wasn't flooring it, just had to step into it to keep the speed up. That was in 3 and 4th gear. The tranny never slipped or acted funny other than not going back into O/D and the temp gauge showing it heating up. Even when we locked out O/D the tranny did the same.

Before yesterday we had NEVER towed with this Titan, the trip down was towing a 2000 lb popup camper and the truck was acting up, the trip back was towing the travel trailer. The other Titan we towed with all the time, for 15k miles and never had it act like this. Only reason it was replaced was due to engine issues among other things.

 

I can't help thinking that your service department is your own worse enemy. Didn't you just get it back after them working on the Transfer case?
Or was it the front Diff? Damn the list is so long between the two trucks.

 

I can't help thinking that your service department is your own worse enemy. Didn't you just get it back after them working on the Transfer case?
Or was it the front Diff? Damn the list is so long between the two trucks.

They replaced the front diff 3 days before our trip to Anchorage. I drove the truck to town and back today (approx 200 miles), the transmission heated up more than it normally does and the rear end got pretty hot once again (not as hot as last night though). Its still fussing and hunting for a gear. Also I noticed a howling noise between 60-70 mph. Its also sucking down fuel at an alarming rate. Still fun as anything to drive, I just wish it would behave.

 

They replaced the front diff 3 days before our trip to Anchorage. I drove the truck to town and back today (approx 200 miles), the transmission heated up more than it normally does and the rear end got pretty hot once again (not as hot as last night though). Its still fussing and hunting for a gear. Also I noticed a howling noise between 60-70 mph. Its also sucking down fuel at an alarming rate. Still fun as anything to drive, I just wish it would behave.

My guess is that the rear differential is failing. And its causing friction. In return is causing the tranny to work much harder, and the engine. So it might not be a tranny issue, sounds like the rear end is failing. I suggest take it to the dealer asap.

 

Yup, if it is howling, it is probably time to get a new differential on order.

 

Oh man! Sorry to hear about your problems. My only advice is not to tow in Overdrive but it sounds like you've done this before and would know if things were normal. Let us know what happens. I thank my lucky stars my Titan has been good to me. Good luck.

 

I think you have a rear diff issue, causing a drag on the trans, once the tranny got hot, it sounds like the "Torque Management" programing started to back off enging power to try and save the trans.
I personally tow in 5th, but I have a feel as to (as others do also)when it's time to drop down to 4th to get the converter to lock up.

 

akangl, sorry to hear your still having problems I would agree with loufish. It seems like it's the rear end that is making everything work harder than it has too. The feedback I got from my service tech when I was having my tranny issue (a long time ago) is that the "programing" is designed to protect the tranny from destroying itself. Sounds like some of the programing is intervening for some reason. Time to see the dealer again unfortunately.

 

I think I'm just going to move into the backroom at the dealer, seems to be the only way I can see my truck. This is all so heartbreaking, I may push for a buyback at this point, truck is 4 months old and already has 23 business days out of service. Alaska lemon law allows for 30 business days in the first year of ownership.

That and they busted the plastic on the rear bumper, didn't notice it until after I got it home, will have to &itch about that too. Going to take the truck in tomorrow and they better not tell me its my imagination either! Hubby checked the rear end of his Dodge when he got home from hauling a 5000 lb load in the bed and he said it was warm but no where near how the Titan gets.

Hate to say it, but I have a feeling I'm going to be forced to leave the Titan club and return to one of the big 3. I would take a replacement Titan, but hubby says NO WAY! :crying:

 

Hate to say it, but I have a feeling I'm going to be forced to leave the Titan club and return to one of the big 3. I would take a replacement Titan, but hubby says NO WAY! :crying:

Jolie I hate to say it but I sure couldn't blame either of you. I'm just sorry for all the troubles that you guys have gone through.
By the way, you can still be a TitanTalk member even if you don't own a Titan. It's good to have people from all over, makes reading a whole lot more interesting.
Good luck to ya.
Daryl

 

I have that whine/howl. Rut-roh. But it could be any number of things...t-case, differential..who knows at this point.

Sorry about all your problems, hope they get you set right soon!

And dont leave just 'cause you don't own a Titan, that's just plain silly! :jester: