Michel54

My 98 Quest jerks[like someone taps your car with theres] when I am stopped at a stop sign or light. I have 60,000 miles on it and had the tune up at 58,000 miles. They were suppose to find out why it was doing this but they didn't, they found alot of other things wrong with it. Cost me $1,800. Can anyone tell me what is wrong, I have started using high grade gas and it still does the same thing. Thank you.

Michel54

I finally found out what was wrong. It was the spark plug wires they should have been changed when Nissan changed the plugs. They said it was jolting. I had to pay for the wires but not the labor since it was there mistake. They couldn't understand why I was so upset. I told them they changed everything else why not the wires $1,800 worth of repaires and they not only didn't change the wires they told me my battery was bad and they forgot to tell me the alternator was also bad . Nissans repair cost me $1,800 then I had to have someone else do the battery and alternator.

Alpha Male

Sometimes if you're stopped at a light and your AC is on, the car can jerk forward a bit too when the cooling fans kick in! It happens to my Maxima, and I always keep my foot on the brake pedal a bit harder, but I'm glad they fixed your problem. Frankly, I'm surprised those Nissan Yazaki wires went so fast.

konnikov1

I have 95 Quest (it is the same model as yours) with 113K miles on it. What did they do to your car for $1800?

I do change plugs every 30K. Dealership would charge $100 or so. I have original wires. Actually, everything on my car is the original except for a few things that I changed:

water pump and thermostat
timing belt
drive belts
fuel pump
engine mounts
CV boots (I had to replace half shaft cause I was running with a broken boot for a while before I found it out)

Of couse, I had to change brake pads, oil, transmission fluid, oil filter, spark plugs, bulbs. Also radiator is leaking, so I may need to change it. Also it needs new valve cover gasket and a new exhaust gasket or a new manifold.

Michel54

They did the 60,000 mile tune up, back breaks, water pump, timeing belt, spark plugs, belts , battery cables, and other things. I had to go some place else for the battery because it was under warrenty[ Nissan told me about the battery] they forgot to tell me I needed a new alternator which the battery people told me. Put it this way I picked up my car Thursday night after work had to go to Auto Zone for the Battery and they told me about the alternator which my nephew changed on Sunday for me. Nissan messed up with the alternator not knowing that it was bad they could have fixed it also while it was there. I really don't know if I will go back to Nissan for any repairs, out of 3 Nissans cars that we have owned this Quest is the only thing that has given us trouble and the service has not been that great either.

konnikov1

I feel for you, but don't get too upset. It is a good car, and you have good chances to put another hundred thousand on it.

Try to find another dealership or mechanic if you do not like this one. Also Missan often offer FREE 100 point inspection. Go for it! They provide a written estimate.

You did overpay a little, but not a fortune. The trick here is to get a list of needed repairs but not doing them on the spot but rather allow yourself some time for shopping around.

You could do 60,000 mile at any place. Dealership charge about $500, but what you need to do for that car at 30, 60, 90K is: change the spark plugs, oil and filer, fuel filer, coolant and transmission fluid, and air filer if it is dirty. That is it. You may need to adjust idle speed / timing. Normally people who do the smog check will tell you that. The rest they charge for the inspections that you can get for free as I said.

It is a good idea to change the drive belts at 60K. Should be about $150 at the dealership. The belts themselves are about $50. Your nephew could do the job - replacement of the alternator involves the belts anyway. The trick is not to overtighten them - it is very easy to destroy the crankshaft on this car.

The fact that they had to replace the battery cables sounds suspicious. Pay attention to the new ones. They're supposed to last much longer.

Also rear breaks should live 90K easily.

The water pump on that car lasts about 90K. Mine started leaking at 87K cause I was using water instead of coolant/water mix. It is not a bad idea to buy some additives to the coolant that lubricate the pump or at least to keep your coolant fresh and clean. New pump should have cost you $550 or so including labor. The timing belt is supposed to be changed at 105K, but it is smart to change the timing belt when you change the pump. That's why I changed mine at 87K. Also change the thermostat when you change the pump!

Good luck. Take good care of the car and it will last. Don't forget to change the fuel pump at 100K or so. Should cost you $400 or so including labor.

Michel54

I forgot they had to change the engine mounts also. They told me that when they do this and the timing belt they have to change the water pump also so I let them, nothing was wrong with the water pump. I was told by another dealer that the idle can't be tuned up on this car. They don't even check the fluids to see if they need to be refilled which happen to my daughter, no fluids in the car at all. They are mad this isn't the first time this dealer messed they up. My daughter is going to try to get another car I told her to go to Saturn because I had go service there before I had this quest.