02 Pathy- drive shaft issues. Pics included

LiquidLunch · Nov 30th, 2006, 09:14 PM

Sorry if this is drawn out, but here is my story:

I developed a vibration on my Pathy back in July. Vibration started around 40 mph and continued up to 80 mph. I had 57,000 miles at the time. I couldn't really tell if the vibration was up front or from the rear. I took it to a local Nissan dealership here in Chicago. They said I needed the front wheel bearing repacked and all 4 tires balanced. Total cost was $250.

Did not fix my issue.

Took it back a few weeks later with 58,000 miles at the time. Still had the same vibration. The dealer had it for two days. Saif they put it on a lift and got going to 45 mph. They told me it looked like the rear tires were "oval shaped." Said I needed 2 new rear tires. Since I had gotten new tires a few months prior, I took the car back and had the tire shop replace the rear tires under warranty.

Still did not fix my issue.

So I was out of town most of the next month and a half. Still have the same vibration. Now I am at 60,500 miles and my drivetrain warranty has expired. I take my car to a trans shop. They balance the driveshaft and put a new rear U-joint on my car. Get it up on a dyno and they can see that the driveshaft is vibrating. There is a rubber seal near the rear of the shaft that is dry rotted. The whole shaft needs to be replaced. I told them not to do the work. Since the car was under warranty when the problem started, I would see if Nissan will cover it under warranty.

I take the truck back to the dealer yesterday. The dealer calls me a few hours later and says that "someone cut a piece of the driveshaft off and welded weights to it." Confused by what they are saying, I journey to the dealer for a peek. They say that the piece that was missing was a sleeve that covers the rubber seal. I had to inform them that the weights on the shaft are from when the trans shop balanced the shaft. There is another Pathy on a lift so I go look under it and sure enough, this alleged "cut off/ missing sleeve"
is not on that Pathy either! Sounds like a load of shit to me. As me and the service advisor are walking away, he informs me that these parts are not covered under my 3 yr/ 36k warranty. I kindly let him know that the drivetrain warranty is 5yrs/ 60k miles. Dejected and disgusted, I take my car and leave. They were kind enough not to charge me and felt the need to shake my hand as I left.

So here is my issue. I have had some time to think this one over. The questions I have are:

-does this look like a normal drive shaft? Any parts missing?
-were the weight wleded in the right spot?
-why is the dealer trying so hard not to help me out?

The pics below show the driveshaft with the two circular weights welded onto the shaft. Thet are circular and have holed in the middle of them. The worn out seal is just to the right of the weights.

Any thoughts or suggestions on how to resolve this? I dont want to shell out money for a new driveshaft when it should have been covered under my 5 yr/ 60k drivetrain warranty.

All help is appreciated.

NPath · Nov 30th, 2006, 10:12 PM

At first, I was thinking the other end of the drive shaft has worn needle bearings, but I'd expect them to check both ends.

Looking at the drive shaft, everything looks normal to me, other than what looks like seal rot. Looks like to me, rubber seal rotting under the hollow tube.

Weights look normal to me, as they look the same on my CJ7 when I got it rebalanced due to suspension lift and bigger tires.

It's too bad they can't swap another drive shaft in and see if the vibration is gone or not.

If Nissan won't deal with it, after trying at another dealership or more, next best solution, I think, is take it to the shop the transmission shop and get them to either rebalance it, don't work replace it.

Xeno · Dec 1st, 2006, 11:36 AM

Did you keep your receipts for the work that was done? It seems they did not know what the problem was/is and try to trow it off on none warranty items. Bearings/tires/etc...

As for the drive shaft looks normal. New U-joint and recent balance. As for that seal? That looks like a seal for the drive shaft protector tube???

Vibration could be 1 or more of many things. I would have checked all of what the dealer probably checked/replaced(in your case). I might do an on vehicle tire balance. This would balance out any tire/wheel/rotor/hub problems. Or you can have a friend drive it at the speeds you indicated and could be in another car watching & checking out all the wheels.

I don't know, but that should get you started on the right track.

Burdabit · Dec 1st, 2006, 06:11 PM

I can't help with the mechanical aspects of your question but maybe can help with the warranty aspects. Since you live in a major metropolitan area, there must be loads of good and trustworthy mechanics. Cartalk lists mechanics that their readers/listeners have had that they would go back to here:

Car Talk

Once you get an answer to your question from a mechanic that you believe knows what they're talking about, have them do a work order and take it back to your dealer. I agree that if you first raised these issues while under warranty the dealer has an obligation to address the problem on their dime. If they don't, in my experience Nissan has a very effective procedure for addressing greivances laid out in the manual. I used it once and was very satisfied. I also have an 02.

LiquidLunch · Dec 7th, 2006, 10:01 PM

So here is the latest in my driveshaft saga:

I called the Nissan dealer yesterday and explained to them that the wieghts welded onto the driveshaft were from the trans shop balancing the driveshaft. I also informed the dealer that the U joint they installed was done to confirm the vibration was not being caused by the driveshaft. The service advisor said he would discuss this with his manager and call me back.

I get a mservice advisor yesterday that since the trans shop put a non OEM U joint on the car, that Nissan would not cover the driveshaft under warranty.

I called back and told the service advisor that the u joint is a separate part from the driveshaft and am only looking for the driveshaft to be covered under warranrty. He puts his manager on the phone and he proceeds to tell me that when he sends the driveshaft back to Nissan it will have the non OEM U joint attached to it and therefore Nissan will not warranty the part.

After a 20 minute discussion with the manager, we went nowhere. I still don't get his arguement- the U joint is a separate part from the driveshaft. It doesnt affect the warranty on the driveshaft, only the warranty of the U joint. Are you saying if my engine blew under warranty that if I changed the spark plugs, the engine warranty is voided because I used a non OEM spark plug?

He advised me to call Nissan direct and speak with them. So now I am going to be contacted by the regional warranty guy to discuss the problem.

Key points here:

-the only reason my truck went to a trans shop and subsequently they put on the U joint
was due to the Nissan tech misdiagnosing my car TWICE.

-why would they want to refuse to warranty a driveshaft since a non OEM U joint was
installed. Nissan themselves list the part as a completely separate part in their drivetrain
description. See this link --> Four Wheel Drive

Any further suggestions?

-

boogyman · Dec 8th, 2006, 07:06 AM

Are there any other dealers you could go to in the area that aren't owned by the same people. I would get another dealer to look at it and explain what is wrong. Since your current dealer is giving you the run around.

Zilverado · Dec 8th, 2006, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiquidLunch

...-why would they want to refuse to warranty a driveshaft since a non OEM U joint was installed...

Not trying AT ALL to be a smart **s here, but you ask "why would they want to...? To save money - that's why!

Not that warrantees don't come in handy to have stuff fixed, but warrantees are typically written to cover manufacturer's more often than consumers. It's like any other insurance policy. Yes, it certainly can help someone in a bad spot, but the more claims that they (the manufacturer) can discredit and deny, the less cost to them - - and in the end, that's what it's all about.

I hope I don't come across as a "conspiracy guy" here, but that's just the way I see it. Warrantees (and insurance) are not free, and someone has to pay...

Having said that, I agree with Boogyman, if you have somewhere else to take it, do that. You may find a more sympathetic ear.

Good luck Buddy and keep us informed.

LiquidLunch · Dec 11th, 2006, 11:16 PM

Well, here is the latest....

I spoke with the local warranty rep from Nissan. He said that the dealer is correct and that since I chose to have the driveshaft balanced by a trans shop of my own choice and also chose to use and aftermarket U joint, I have thus voided the warranty on my driveshaft.

I informed him that had I not been misdiagnosed by a Nissan dealer twice, I would have never had to go to the trans shop in the first place to provide me with an explanation of what was wrong. I also restated my belief that I am not looking for the U joint to be replaced- only the driveshaft.

The conversation really went nowhere and I ended up asking him: "is the end result of the conversation going ro be me getting a new driveshaft under warranty like it should be?" He stated no. I acknowledged that he was only doing his job, but informed him that Nissan has lost a customer and will be selling my Pathfinder and will not be buying another Nissan. He didn't have a response.

So here is the end result:

- I have become so dissatisfied with Nissan products that I will be selling the ol Pathy. As much as I love it, it has 60k miles and is time for a new friend.

-Mid City Nissan in Chicago is a bunch of crooks. They put some hack on the job of fixing my truck. After multiple failures and having another shop diagnose the problem, they decide not to honor my warranty to cover their ass.

I test drove a 2004 BMW 540 today and loved it. I am a big BMW M5 fan Have been for years. Cant bring myself to shell out the money, so the 540 is the next best option. I think I have learned a lesson throughout all this- Pick and choose your dealer you associate yourself carefully. Find a trustworthy mechanic and stick with them. Good luck.

boogyman · Dec 12th, 2006, 07:01 AM

Sorry things came to an end this way. The supposedly qualified tech's at the dealer don't have the experience or help to properly diagnose problems in most vehicles. The technology is dumbing down the mechanic to a tech. If it's not on the computer they don't have a clue. Not to many mechanics around anymore.

I hope you don't have any problems with the 540. It's a sweet car, but can get very expensive to repair if something goes wrong. I'm guessing it's an off lease vehicle by the year of it. Good luck.

6T9_CHGR · Dec 12th, 2006, 09:04 AM

My seal on the driveshaft looks the same way. I do not have a crusing vibration but I do have a vibration under hard acceleration.
Of course my '03 has 65k on it now

What was the price on a new shaft?

Burdabit · Dec 12th, 2006, 09:28 PM

My recollection of the process is that it doesn't end with the Nissan rep. When I had my problem they weren't much help either but the next step is arbitration and that's where things really begin to happen. Check your manual/warranty book to see if that's an option. The arbs are independent of Nissan and you don't need a lawyer. I went to arb on mine but I settled after talking to the person who represented Nissan. I was happy with the outcome and won't buy any vehicle unless it has a similar provision as part of the warranty.