wish me luck...took my 05 frontier in for service

mattv · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:29 PM

Welllll I've had my 05 frontier for 53K miles and it's been relatively trouble free...the odd squeak here and there which i eventually sorted out, but nothing more than that. Until now...

A few weeks/months ago, i started noticing a loud "clunk" when shifting from park to drive or park to reverse. It's gotten progressively worse. More recently, i've noticed an odd, worrysome rattle when the tack is between 2000 and 2250 RPM's (give or take). The truck sounds almost like a diesel motor, and the volume and pitch of the rattle changes slightly as i go through that area on the tach.

I dropped the truck off at the dealership earlier this morning and haven't heard back. Hopefully the 60K warranty on engine/powertrain will cover any necessary repairs....and hopefully i'm not without a vehicle for too long.

I'll be sure to report back for everyone hear to read and hopefully aid in self-diagnosis for your future (or current) problems.

FewMo · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:40 PM

good luck with that buddy

NismoGoose · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:43 PM

ya good luck the dealership is why im temped to drive my truck into the building an say keep it

mattv · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 06:35 PM

Dealer called me back.....

they're going to pull a driveshaft off a new truck to see if that fixes the "clunk" and they'll let me know tomorrow if that's the problem. From what i've read here on the forums, the clunk problem is (occasionally) much more than a driveshaft.

As for the rattle around 2100 RPM's, they said it's valve fluttering. They said they had a truck in a few days ago doing the same thing. They also said it's NOT a warranty item, since they didn't "replace" anything. I'll have to pay $89 or so for the diagnostics and service.

Anybody else had problems with valve flutter and warranty service?

NISM05 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 06:54 PM

mine is going to the dealership tomorrow for that... I just got my truck back today after they replaced the rear drive shaft and the crazy rattle sound is still there...

so... I'm in the same boat. NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. but i can hear it the worst as soon as i take off from a stop and gets louder while staying on the gas.

oh.. and I've had the vent control valve replaced in my truck already...

that isn't warranty work so I paid for it... sh!t still rattles... I'm going in tomorrow.

i have 52,200 miles on my 05

Mainerunr · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattv

Dealer called me back.....

they're going to pull a driveshaft off a new truck to see if that fixes the "clunk" and they'll let me know tomorrow if that's the problem. From what i've read here on the forums, the clunk problem is (occasionally) much more than a driveshaft.

As for the rattle around 2100 RPM's, they said it's valve fluttering. They said they had a truck in a few days ago doing the same thing. They also said it's NOT a warranty item, since they didn't "replace" anything. I'll have to pay $89 or so for the diagnostics and service.

Anybody else had problems with valve flutter and warranty service?

there's a TSB for a rattle around 2100rpm iirc...they should take care of it.

mattv · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 12:59 PM

@ Mainerunr !!

thanks man, glad to hear that for sure. I'll bring it up and press them on it.

dealership says "just because it's a service bulletin that doesn't mean it's covered under warranty"

Service rep says it's an adjustment, and it's not covered since parts are not replaced. He said they did one of these jobs a few months ago and tried to submit it to warranty and it got kicked back. He says he ate the charges and that's the last one he'll eat.

There are a few TSB's that are directly related to top-end/valve noise....

-------------------
NTB06-079 -

1996-2007 NISSAN MODELS WITH ENGINES: VQ35, QR25, QG18, GA16, VQ40, VK56, MR18, MR20; DTC FOR VARIABLE VALVE TIMING CONTROL FUNCTION

The MIL is on with any of the following DTCs stored:

P0011, P0014, P0021, P0024, P1110, P1135,
NOTE: The engine may also have Camshaft Sprocket rattle noise and/or other engine noise.

---------------

NTB06-063a -

2005-2006 NISSAN FRONTIER; TICKING (SPARK KNOCK-LIKE) NOISE FROM ENGINE DURING ACCELERATION
An applied vehicle, when accelerating at 1/8 to 1/2 throttle opening, has a ticking noise coming from the engine area that sounds like spark knock,
AND
You confirm the noise is not spark knock related,

---------------

NTB05-015b

2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, FRONTIER; RATTLE NOISE FROM VIAS POWER VALVE ACTUATOR / INTAKE MANIFOLD COLLECTOR
There is a rattle noise coming from the Variable Induction Air Control System (VIAS) Power Valve Actuator /
Intake Manifold Collector at engine speeds around 2,200 RPM.

Mainerunr · #8 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 01:46 PM

That bottom one is the one I was referring to.

Not sure why they would release a TSB if it's not covered because no parts are replaced (yet it would be covered if parts were replaced?). Sounds to me like the dealer wants to double-dip.

mattv · #9 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 01:49 PM

yes, it sounds shady for sure...

what's even stranger is that the TSB says the vehicle must sit for 2+ hours to cure/dry....and the service rep told me yesterday that the repairs were done but the truck needed to sit for a few hours. Interesting....

Dezrt4x4 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 01:59 PM

I had the last one done when I had approx 3000 or so miles. It's a warranty item so no parts needed other than glue. Print out the TSB, and bring it with you.