Game of consequences

I was interested in your response to a reader suffering a Turbo trouble with a Nissan X-Trail. The turbo and intercooler on my 2005 X-Trail were replaced by our local main dealer in December 2007 at 42,000 miles. I had missed a recommended service interval and was forced to pay for the replacement parts and labour. At MOT in August 2008 a leak in the intercooler was identified and the car was returned to the dealer in early September last year at 55,000 miles for a check-up and service. Apart from cleaning off the oil, no repairs or diagnosis were made. The oil has continued to leak and, on inspection at the same dealer a week ago at 62,000 miles, we are now informed that the turbo and intercooler both need replacement. Nissan Customer Services has offered to replace the turbo (as a warranty item) but claims that the intercooler is a consequential fault and I can expect a bill for £365 pounds to replace it. My view is that the car was returned with an independently identified fault in the intercooler within a year of the intercooler's replacement. It should have been identified and replaced then at no cost to me. Am I being unreasonable?

Asked on 4 April 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
I would say that the second turbo failure is consequential of the oil from the first turbo oil seal failure not being thoroughly cleaned out of the intercooler and eventually blocking it leaving the replacement turbo to overheat. Most dealers do not have the faintest idea that they have to clean out or replace the intercooler when replacing a turbo.
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