Hey KC-Canuck - I have the exact same thing happening with my '05 LE. I've posted about it here: http://www.clubfrontier.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=5837. Maybe it's a Canadian thing (I was born and raised in Nova Scotia)...

I do have a theory though as to why this is going on - have you changed the oil in your truck and replaced the oil filter with a non-OEM one? I'm wondering if there is something in the OEM oil filter that helps keep the pressure up...

 

No, i've always used oem filters. I just brought it in for the second time yesterday. They told me too much oil can cause this sort of problem but they checked it and it was ok.

It seems to be worse when the a.c. is on when I have the dial set to defrost. I've also noticed something else which makes no sense. When the rough idle occurs I then turn on the side mirror heater button and the engine smooths right out!

They phoned nissan tech and they suggested a few things (details unknown) but the problem still persists which they admit. They will be contacting nissan again monday for further ideas.

I'll keep ya posted.

 

You are feeling your truck not compensating for electrical load. When your compressor or fan kick in, the motor does not idle up and so it "lugs" a bit. It is normal. Some have bumped idle up by 50rpm to combat the issue.

If you think about your own statment:

It seems to be worse when the a.c. is on when I have the dial set to defrost.

Also, a FYI, while in defrost mode, your ac compressor will cycle until you turn off your truck.

 

Well, so much for that theory... That's really weird about the mirror heater though -- I've never been able to find a way to smooth the idle out. I'll be watching for your update.

 

idle

I have taken my 07 frontier in 4 times for this issue. It started at 5,000 miles. They talked about a new motor, then narrowed it down to the running boards. So i will pop those off and see what they think. The dealer said if they raise the idle it won't pass emissions. I let you know....

 

Mine has done it since new, I believe it is a normal thing for our trucks. It don't really bother me.

 

Mine does this also, I think it's normal operation. I think it's the low RPM after warm-up that is programmed into the ECM. This idle speed can be changed by most programmers such as the Superchips cortex.

I have seen many people post on the board that they go with something like 675rpm or so for their idle and it absolute fixes the problem.

It is a bit annoying... there's a lot of annoying crap about this truck to get use to haha..

 

Yeah my rough idle is really bugging the heck out of me. I have a 6sp. I debated geting a corted or Bullydog, but the problem would still be there when I go to sell it down the road if I did that. Nissan won't bump up the rpm for me unless I pay them or I get Nissan Corporate to tell them its ok.

 

I think this is fairly common, unfortunately.
Mine did it pretty frequently, no rhyme or reason it seemed.
I bumped my idle from the stock 625rpm to 675rpm and that took care of the issue.
I used the Superchips Cortex to raise my idle and I'm 6 speed fyi.

 

Mine rough idles for about 2 secs. then it goes back to normal. And it doesnt do it all the time either so the dealer didnt find anything wrong. Until it drops idle to stall, it'll be just one of those things I'll live with

 

My '09 SE has idled rough since new and it drives me insane. The dealer told me it was the a/c compressor going on and off. It vibrates enough for me to consider it a serious flaw in the vehicle. That and the really bad gas mileage suck otherwise it is a great truck.

 

yes My new truck does it also

 

Mine does this too and has sense I bought it at 10,000 miles. Just learned to live with it.

 

What can we do to get Nissan to bump up the idle 50 rpm to fix this under warranty? Every time I ask them they tell me it doesn't have liquid filled motor mounts, so its going to do this (load of crap...) and I have to get nissan to tell them its ok to do.

I don't think complaint reports to the NHTSA would help since its not safety related. Is there someone with emails we can ALL write and email to and bug?

 

I emailed Nissan about this problem, asking them to start a TSB on it, and 48 hours later I got an email saying they had forwarded it to another department and documented it (got that just today). I think the more of us that email them about it, the more of a chance there will actually be a TSB on it so all dealers know of the issue and how to correct it.

Anyone else that has this problem, go to NissanUSA.com - Contact
Be sure to enter your VIN so they know you actually own a Frontier and describe the rough idle in the message section and how others have found a dealer that will bump it up some which fixed the problem. TSB so all dealers know! (my dealer said it was a breakin thing and it should go away after 1k miles... c'mon)

 

Pay the dealer, they will increase the idle.

 

i had it.... i used the superchips tuner to bump the idle up 50rpm and it went away

 

Guys, get some throttle body cleaner and clean those throttle bodies out. I haven't had any issues with my Frontier, but I've owned an older Desert Runner (V6), a Tacoma (2.7L), and a Tundra (4.7L), and each and every one of those suckers developed rough idle over time. Each time, I'd take the air cleaner hose off the throttle body, spray some cleaner in there, CAREFULLY wipe what I could reach with a lint free rag, and WALLA! SMOOTH idle for another year or so.


Takes about 10 minutes and requires relatively NO wrenching skills. Make sure you get the air tube back on the body tight. Don't put TOO MUCH of the spray chemical up the nose of the throttle body.

Forgot to mention cleaning the MAF sensor once in a while. USE ONLY MAF SENSOR CLEANER and be VERY CAREFUL not to touch that sensor with your fingers or drop that sucker. This also helps

 

While what you describe might assist with a rough idle, it has little to do with the situation described in this thread. Most new 2nd gen owners complain that the truck "surges or rough idles" when the AC compressor kicks in or the electric fan kicks in. The engine set at the factory idle spec doesn't compensate for the additional load at idle. bumping the idle up by 50rpm will resolve the issue.

To a new owner, it is a rough idle. To someone who has had the truck for awhile, it is normal. There are some who can't stand it thus the recommendation to increase the idle setting. This requires the dealer or a tuner. Most new owners have no tuner which is why the dealer has been recommended.

 

Mine does the same thing too. 05 w/ 65k miles. So there is no way to bump up the idle 50rpm w/o getting chipped? The dealer can't/won't do it?

 

You can ask your dealer.
Some on here have had success getting the dealer to do it and others report the dealer claims "it's out of spec" and won't do it.

 

i have a 2010 se cc 4x4. i dont have a rough idle at all with the ac on or off i realy cant tell its running sometimes. when i first got it, it did idle a little rough but i thought nothing of it sence my 08 tacoma had a rough idle. i found a procedure on a titan forum called the ecu throttle learning reset or something like that. so i did that and the idle is smooth. and my transmission doesnt shift hard from 2nd to 3rd anymore, but i am holding my breath on that one.

 

mine did this until i advanced the timing 2 degrees. I also had terrible MPGs and the truck was just sluggish. Nissan has this sensor adjustment for just this reason.

 

What is this sensor adjustment your speaking of? Something to do w/ raising the idle speed? I've seem to come across this vibration w/ my 05 LE lately. Never noticed it before 40,000 miles though, so it doesn't really seem like it would all of a sudden be an issue w/ the A/C compressor.

 

It's a timing adjustment done from the ECU. You need a handheld tuner, uprev cipher, a Nissan Consult 2, or Snap On verus to do it.

 

Rough idle when I get going after 15 min or so, shudders, rough idle, engine light flickering

 

I've got the same problem. Just now dropped my truck off at the dealership.

 

2009 SE crew cab