Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft

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Mon 14 Jan 2013 18:31
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - joe0101

I have a Nissan Pathfinder with a broken crank shaft. The vehicle is a 57 plate with 51000 miles on the clock, auto box. I am the second owner having bought it three years ago. The vehicle has had all its services carried out by Nissan main dealers and the service book is stamped for each, together with the workshop check lists and receipts etc.

Nissan so far have not offered to help me with the cost of the repair which is going to run into several thousand pounds to get the vehicle back on the road. This attitude is based on the fact that the vehicle is out of warranty by two years despite having only done 51000 miles.

Am I being unreasonable in hoping that Nissan should contribute to the cost of the repair and if not what kind of assistance should I expect to receive.

I am hoping for a call tomorrow from Nissan Customer Care with news of what they may do for me, but so far all the many phone calls we have exchanges indicate that I am on my own with this.

Please comment. Regards Joe.

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Mon 14 Jan 2013 19:27
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - Duncan112

Have you any idea what instigated the failure? If it was caused by crack propagation from an inherant defect in the crankshaft then you should be covered under the Sale of Goods Act as the crankshaft was clearly unfit for purpose.

Sadly the next step is going to cost you money - you need to get an independant mettalurgical report on the mechanics of the failure - what started it, how long it had been going on for etc - all this can be achieved by visual examination of the two halves of the break.

I suspect that, at least initially Nissan will try to blame driving style (Usual get out)

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Mon 14 Jan 2013 19:42
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - Collos25

I agree with Duncan its going to be a long hard road if they do not agree its their fault.

If its just the crankshaft thats faulty and it has not taken anything else with it then it will not be as expensive as you think but it needs to dismantled to see all the problems.

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Mon 14 Jan 2013 19:48
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - Peter.N.

It might help if you tell them you are going to get the crankshaft examined. I have not heard of a crankshaft breaking since the days of three bearing types.

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Wed 16 Jan 2013 11:28
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - thunderbird

I have not heard of a crankshaft breaking since the days of three bearing types.

Crank on the wifes Volvo 240 estate broke many years ago. To be honest it had been to the moon and been used as a builders van before she bought it but we believe that the final straw was when she went off the road on some ice and went backwards through an open farm gate with no damage.

After that it always rattled when started from cold but as it warmed up it went quiet. Eventually got it checked and the crank was in 2 pieces. Total miracle it ran at all and even more amazing was the fact there was no other damage to the engine.

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Tue 15 Jan 2013 21:15
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - focussed

It is worth checking that the crankshaft pulley outer section has not become delaminated from the inner section and that the pulley retaining bolt is tight. This assembly makes up the crankshaft damper. If delamination occurs the crankshaft damper will not function and can be a likely cause of crankshaft failure.

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Tue 15 Jan 2013 22:20
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - galileo

It is worth checking that the crankshaft pulley outer section has not become delaminated from the inner section and that the pulley retaining bolt is tight. This assembly makes up the crankshaft damper. If delamination occurs the crankshaft damper will not function and can be a likely cause of crankshaft failure.

I heard that when the original Mini was built under licence (by Innocenti?) their engines had a solid crankshaft pulley instead of the torsional damper on UK models: the engines with solid pulleys were reputed to have a much shorter life as a result.

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Wed 16 Jan 2013 10:15
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - Quicksilver

I do not believe the original minis were that sophisticated. All of the ones I owned had solid simple crankshaft pulleys held on by a very large nut, (1.5” I think) and a tab washer. On the 1275 engine, (1360 in my case) this bolt and tab washer regularly came off!

The Italian built units probably had an even harder life in Milan, Palermo, Rome, Catania, Turin etc. than the UK ones?

Q.

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Wed 16 Jan 2013 11:10
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - skidpan

On all the engines I have seen where the front pulley acts as a crank damper the timing pulley is seperate and one piece. Only the outer pulley that drives the alternator, powers steering pump and air con pump is of the two part damper design.

That said on some modern engines the pulleys on the crank and cams are not keyed or doweled on, they simply rely on friction. If the bolt becomes loose its goodbye before you get chance to let the gaarge sort it.

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Wed 16 Jan 2013 17:01
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - galileo

The Morris 1100/1300 and the B series BMC units certainly had rubber damper fan/alternator pulleys, as did many other engines through the 1960's/70s.

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Wed 16 Jan 2013 19:31
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - injection doc

Foccussed is spot on, crank dampers are very important as are dual mass flywheels.

Some vehicles that have replacement solid flywheels are known to snap crankshafts due to the dual mass normally absorbing the torsional twist &vibration !!!

In fact for a while ford made a different crankshaft pulley to be fitted if it had a solid flywheel conversion kit fitted.

Are you sure its never picked up water in the engine ? have you checked the air filter for any water marks however faint ? seen many water logged engines snap cranks ! or bend rods

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Wed 16 Jan 2013 21:12
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - joe0101

Thanks to all the contributors. Have taken some advice on board and getting a metallurgist to have a look at the damage. Will try and rely on his report as to what to do next. So far Nissan Customer Services are not interested in helping me out in any way.

The Nissan dealer has a quote for the engine to be rebuilt and reinstalled by their workshop, but that stands very close to £7k. The dealership are not willing to say that the rebuilt engine will get me back on the road, and I keep pushing them for a what if other parts are damaged scenario with no favourable answers coming back.

Believe that as the costs rise I am best selling the vehicle to a salvage yard or for scrap on ebay.

Any comments welcome.

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Wed 16 Jan 2013 21:53
Nissan Pathfinder Aventura - Broken crank shaft - injection doc

I am never one to advocate seconhand engines but i think being as these Pathfinders are a littler on the rare side you may find a low mileage one in a scrap yard & take the car to an independant or nissan specialist rather than a dealer to fit. I think you will save a bundle.

just dont use one of these cheap engine specialist for a rebuild ! they suck you in and then milk it big time & the warranties have every wiggle out of scenario going !

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