We bought our 2018 Nissan NV3500 for our family of 9 used with 55,000 miles and the remaining factory warranty in 2021. For the past 3 years we have intermittently been dealing with a check engine light for the P0015 camshaft B position timing over-retarded error code. Symptoms are when accelerating between 3-4000 RPM the engine gets “stuck” in that rpm range and jerks until you let off the gas and it shifts down. Otherwise driving is normal. Warranty has expired and both Nissan and other mechanics can’t figure it out. Solenoids have been changed and the light will still go on/off at times for the same error. We took it to another mechanic that found chunks of metal, old silicone, and old o-rings in the oil pan and they recommended replacing the engine (no used available) and associated parts like water pump, hoses etc for $19,000. KBB is around $25,000. My gut tells me this is stupid and to just salvage it. Thoughts?
We took it to another mechanic that found chunks of metal, old silicone, and old o-rings in the oil pan
Did they show you that debris? If you really had metal chunks in the oil pan the engine is almost certainly toast, but I would expect much more severe symptoms.
No didn’t see it, told me over the phone after they had it for a week. Prior to looking under oil pan, they mentioned manually getting an oil pump psi reading at idle of 5 psi
@bkurilla The oil pressure reading should be easy enough to confirm by connecting a mechanical gauge to the engine.
Unable to…van is still at shop. Hesitant to throw $19K in not knowing if that was the exact cause of the error code issue. Ugh
Unable to…van is still at shop. Hesitant to throw $19K in not knowing if that was the exact cause of the error code issue. Ugh
I'd be hesitant as well. From what you're being told you basically have catastrophic engine failure but you haven't said anything about the engine knocking or burning oil which is what I would expect if metal chunks and debris from inside the engine were falling into the oil pan and oil pressure was almost nil. Searching online for problems with this model it doesn't appear that engine failure is at all common. Unless that thing has been serious abused, needing a new engine at 55,000 miles sounds ludicrous. It doesn't pass the smell test.
For something this serious and expensive you really need another opinion from a mechanic willing and able to do a thorough diagnosis. (Unfortunately those seem to be few and far between.) The P0015 code has a number of potential causes, none of which in and of themselves indicate the need for a new engine.
https://www.carparts.com/blog/p0015-code-exhaust-b-camshaft-position-timing-over-retarded-bank-1/