Hi there,
I have a 2005 Nissan Pulsar ST-L Auto with 150000kms. I bought it off an elderly couple at 120000kms and it has been serviced then up until now. After my last service, not even 2wks it starts having the following issues.
- Shake in idles' reverse & drive, Rattles/clanking when accelerating, Low Power.
It does not overheat, has NO check engine light and was running zippy as ever before, serviced with Penrite Oil, 95-98 octane, well looked after.
Mechanics all said: very low compression on cylinders 1&2 /4. Exhaust valves were fine, spark plugs fine, battery fine, fuel injectors fine. All recommended get a new engine of scrap yard.
What do I do? Is this normal? What can cause this and what can it be? Engine was great before! Can it be fixed?
It's certainly not normal. Anything can be fixed but you don't want to spend a fortune on the engine only to have the transmission go bad afterwards. (Does it have one of Nissan's terrible, failure-prone CVTs? In fact the symptoms you describe could well apply to CVT failure.)
You might want to get a second opinion for a problem this serious. Did your mechanic do a wet/dry compression test to determine if the problem is piston rings? If the engine is indeed worn out a good used replacement would be the way to go if you want to save the vehicle, but if it has a CVT I think I'd put the money to buying a different car.
I'm a bit unclear on whether you've been to multiple shops, for diagnosis (given that you used the plural noun, mechanics). If they all agree, at least there's a consensus. Alternatively, for a few dollars, you can test the wet and dry compression yourself:
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A salvage yard is a viable alternative, but any of these engines will be also old, and their quality will be unknown.
There are engine rebuilders, but their competency varies, greatly. You'll have to research these firms, in depth.
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My caveat is that there may well be other issues that emerge once this one is fixed (such as a clogged catalytic converter or a failing transmission). That possibility has to be factored in, as well. Why? Because this car wasn't driven much (90K miles in 17 years), and cars that sit develop problems with eroded seals, corrosion, etc. Old cars with low mileage might look great, but they are often a mess, under the well-kept skin.
Engine was great before! Can it be fixed?
The cost of rebuilding engines these days usually isn't worth it. They are essentially throw away items.
Thanks for the feedback guys!
Yes 4 mechanics said throw away engine. Should I sell the car as is $1000AUD, replace engine for $1500AUD & sell for 3,500-4,500AUD, or drive til dead.
Thank you
Thanks for the feedback guys!
Yes 4 mechanics said throw away engine. Should I sell the car as is $1000AUD, replace engine for $1500AUD & sell for 3,500-4,500AUD, or drive til dead.
Thank you
The engine is nearly dead already. If you can get $1000 for that car as-is I'd take the money and run rather than risking money on a repair that might or might not work out. (What if you spend $1500 on the used engine and you discover the transmission is dying as well?)