Radiator/Transmission Failure

[StraightandTrue]

Hey guys,

I have an automatic 2007 Navara RX ute. I've done about 125,000kms with it. I use the car to drive to work, as well as tow my horse float on the weekend. It's all standard, no modifications apart from the tub liner, electric braking unit and tow bar. I've had it serviced at regular intervals and for a 4WD it's had a pretty cushy life. I don't do any off road driving with it apart from the occasional dirt country road, it's garaged at night, and I never tow anything heavier than 2 tonne with it.

I was having trouble with the gearbox "clunking" when it changed gears. I took it to a mechanic who recommended doing an automatic transmission service - which I did. It was running better after that, but it was still a little sticky changing gears. Then it started to get hot whenever I towed with it. It was drinking a lot of water, but when my mechanic pressure tested the radiator all seemed well. I had it serviced and it was running better than ever, then all of a sudden it wouldn't start. We changed the starter motor - still wouldn't start. We managed to limp it down to the workshop and the mechanic had a better look at it. He found water in the transmission and all the evidence points to a fault with the radiator allowing water to leak into the transmission. The long and short of it is that I'm going to need a new radiator and a new transmission. The car is 18 months out of warranty and it's going to cost me more than $4500 to fix the problem.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced similar problems with their Navara and if so what was the outcome? Did you go reconditioned parts or second hand? Any recommendations or cautions? I'm based on the Northern Beaches in Sydney NSW.

 

[KraftyPg]

Never had those issues with mine, but welcome to the forums anyway.

 

[the_bluester]

I have heard of it in the navara and pathfinder but you are the first person I have actually seen post up as having had it happen to them.

Not uncommon in falcons.

 

[FatBoy89]

Had a few zd30 patrols do it and one petrol pathfinder. That's all I've ever seen.
Should have been detectable when the first trans flush was done though?

 

[StraightandTrue]

The mechanic who did the automatic transmission service said the fluid was really dirty, but apart from that he didn't say anything about a problem with the radiator. I know nothing about cars so I'm completely reliant on mechanics to diagnose potential problems. Not sure if the mechanic was aware of the radiator problem when he did the automatic transmission service or if he was just plain clueless, but I'm devastated that my 4yr old car is now undriveable.

 

[FatBoy89]

The mechanic who did the automatic transmission service said the fluid was really dirty, but apart from that he didn't say anything about a problem with the radiator. I know nothing about cars so I'm completely reliant on mechanics to diagnose potential problems. Not sure if the mechanic was aware of the radiator problem when he did the automatic transmission service or if he was just plain clueless, but I'm devastated that my 4yr old car is now undriveable.

He should of been able to tell that it was mixed with water as the two don't combine (oil/water)

 

[tanz]

The fault most likely wasn't there when he did the auto service, as the water in the oil would have been noticable (even my apprentice can pick the milkiness).

Unfortunately it's an all too common fault not just restricted to Navara's, but all automatic vehicles with an oil cooler in the radiator. I'd check with a transmission specialist to see if the auto can be salvaged (repairs are almost always cheaper than replacement), and they'll recommend fitting an external cooler, and bypass the radiator completely. Or at least that's what they advise up here in the tropics.

 

[StraightandTrue]

Attn: All navara owners!!!

I posted my concerns on Nissan's Facebook page and another Nissan owner brought this website to my attention. Seems like the Nissan Frontiers (which is what they call the Navara in the States) have the exact same issue with the radiator leaking coolant into the transmission.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/nissan_frontier.html?page=3

There are a LOT of people on this website who are in the exact same situation as I am. Nissan has issued a recall in *some* parts of the States, extending the warranty for the radiator/transmission to 7 years instead of 3 years, but unfortunately for me they haven't issued one globally. For most of the people affected by this problem, their only option is to pay big bucks to fix the problem themselves as Nissan isn't lifting a finger.

So anyone owning a 2007 or later model Navara please do yourselves a favour and have your transmission fluid tested for coolant contamination ESPECIALLY if your car is still under warranty. Better yet, replace your radiator and/or have an external cooler fitted to your transmission. I'm up for a huge repair bill and my car is only 4.5years old. Don't make the same mistake I did by thinking that regular servicing will save you from mechanical failure... cos it doesnt! Nissan won't help you once your warranty runs out unless you pay hundreds of dollars for them to test your radiator, and even if they run the tests and find a fault there's no guarantee they'll assist you. I've decided to cut my losses and fix the problem myself because Nissan are making it too expensive to continue investigating.

 

[Dave]

Nissan suck at times.

Good luck with it mate.