I'd dump it. Chances are they did a quickie on it and you were the sucker that came along and licked it up. Dump it.There's plenty of deals out there.

 

take your money back and get another X.. and then do the bypass mod.

 

Yeah, I probably would dump it if I knew they would allow it. I paid cash for it, but they don't exactly have a "return" policy. It's an exchange policy. Now, if they can't find any replacement I'm satisfied with, maybe they'd refund my money. However, I haven't gotten to that point with them yet. I haven't gone into bad cop mode yet.

 

you need to bring this up to the stealership. arm yourself with the knowledge you find on this site on the issue and remain calm but go in and explain everything. This is an issue..and you should dump the X if you can and get a new one....then yes..bypass the hell out of the rad....

 

X2...I had the same problem, took it back to the stealership (who didn't have the 30 day return policy) and they tried to soak me for $5,400 in repairs. Rook was kind enough to message me (along with a couple of others) while I was sittng in their waiting room, I left there and took it down the road to an independent who flushed the tranny twice, replaced the radiator ($700, instead of almost $6K), and my X has been fine ever since.

BUT...if I had the option, I would start fresh, and hold the dealer accountable.

Too bad, sounds like a cool Xterra...but there are lots of deals out there that will start off on the right foot.

Good luck to you, and use these boards to your advantage.

 

I wonder if the replacement radiators have resolved any problems of fluid mix?

 

The owner of the transmission shop told me that the replacement radiators don't have this problem. So, I won't have any more leaks of coolant into the tranny fluid and vice versa. However, he said that if the tranny fluid has EVER been contaminated with coolant, it really doesn't matter if you get a new radiator...you're gonna need a new transmission eventually.

According to him, after the water in the radiator coolant reaches 212 degrees (boiling point), it starts to melt the glue inside the transmission that holds all the parts together. Once this process starts, there's no reversing it. Even if you get your transmission fluid flushed, your transmission has been irreversibly damaged and will continue to worsen until system failure.

 

That's why it was traded in the first place. Owner sees tranny probs and trades it off.

 

Sadly for me, you're right.

I did some "detective" work today from the carfax. It's what the dealership should have done when the first owner traded it in for a new car, but they didn't. I saw on the carfax that he took the X to Aamco Transmissions and had it serviced there. As a buyer, I thought that was a good thing. But now that the crap has hit the fan, I went back and called that particular Aamco shop and gave them the VIN #; they told me they did see the X in May of this year and told the owner he needed a new transmission because of fluid contamination. However, according to their records, the first owner/jerk refused to service it at that time. (But the carfax says it was serviced :angry5 They even faxed me the service papers which indicate they informed him of the exact problem and that he refused service.

He promptly took it to the Honda dealership and traded it in for a new Pilot, hoping all the while, I'm sure, that the techs wouldn't notice the problem. They eventually did, which is why they secretly flushed the transmission fluid, replaced the radiator and coolant, and sold it to me for a sweet deal. :angry5:

You live and learn, right? It's just that sometimes the lesson costs 14,000 dollars. :violent3:

Anybody here ever tried to get their money back from a stealership?

 

Get all the paperwork pronto. Walk into the dealership and talk to the GM, not some sales dog. Explain the situation and present the evidence. Ask for your money back. Next step in my state that has a great consumer protection division would be to file a claim of deception. Then contact an attorney. You got em by the balls dude, nice work Magnum!

 

And then park in front of their crappy biz with a sign telling people what they did. Saturdays are the best days.

 

I love it! I'm the type of guy that would do that with no shame.

It just might come to that...

 

^ as horrible as it sounds...bill (bucksnort) is right. You have every right to park in front of the dealership or across the road if they dont "make it right". Xterras are awesome vehicles. I hope it all works out for you and you can get a nice new one. That is total BS....if you go in with the paperwork what can he really say without you filing something on their ass.....deception is right..

 

good luck and take some pics! i wanna see this. and so other people can use this for future reference if these stealerships won't cooperate and not being honest.

 

I will definitely take pictures of my one-man protest, if it comes to that!

 

Thanks for the advice, guys! I've been stewing in my own juices all day over it, and it's nice to get some perspective on the situation. I'll keep the thread updated as the events unfold.

I took the car outside about an hour ago and took a few pics of it. I don't know how much longer I'll have it, so I decided to document it. I detailed the X a few days ago, but the tires are dirty now.

 

Call the consumer affairs of the tv stations if you do and tell them why, when and where. If it's a slow newsday you'll get cameras. Been there,done it.

 

Relax and give it a chance! I also have an '05 Red Brawn SE and had the radiator problem over 120,000 miles ago.
I immediately took it into the dealership and they double flushed it and when I got home i did the by-pass since it was out of warranty..

They did replace the radiator with a new one at the time too which has had zero problems!

Relax.. get the by-pass done and you will be fine. Hopefully my X's credibility will standup since i have now over 220,000 miles on it with the original timing chain and rear end!

 

good job getting those records from aamco!!!!!!!!!!!!! you have them by the balls and you need to find a lemon law attorney in your area.... you have the documentation that shows they simply sold you a lemon car or a car that has documentation of transmission/radiator failure.... they should give you all of your money back... if they are looking for another xterra, they are simply looking at the dealer auctions... i would stay away from a 2005. also.... are they liable for pain and suffering?????

back when the S500 mercedes came out, lots of owners had some serious issues... i knew an owner that paid cash for his and his tranny went out at 7.000 miles.... he asked for his full re-fund.. they refused.... he got an artist to paint a lemon on both sides of the car and trunk and hood. then parked it on saturday at 5am.. in front of dealership.. at 8 15 they called him and asked him to come pick up his check.

 

Can any one varify for me that they have a external trans cooler from the factory in front of the radiator on the passenger side? I have one, but I am unsure if this was done to the 09+ models only. I was told by the salesman that all 09's came with tow package, stock (wired and cooled for towing), from the factory. Maybe this was Nissan's fix to the overheating trans issue?

 

Yes, that's where my air-atf cooler is and its not new to '09. Wiring for the tow pkg consists of a pig tail harness at the back, and 2 to 3 relays under the passenger front kick panel depending on whether you have an AT or MT. The wiring and tow bar are not standard options either. I believe the option was called "nevada tow pkg".

 

Well, I did a bit more legwork today. I used the service record from Aamco to learn the name of the previous owner (it was on the title, but I already changed that over...). I then used his name to find his phone number, and I called him this morning. I told him I had bought his old Xterra from Flow Honda, and I mentioned to him that I was having a couple issues with the transmission and that I was wondering if he ever flushed the transmission fluid. He said he hadn't, and that the transmission was totally fine when he traded it in (of course, that was a lie, since I know he took it to Aamco and refused major service). I let the little lie slide because it confirmed the assessment I got from the ASE transmission tech yesterday. The tech said the transmission fluid was pretty new and that it had been recently flushed. I told him that Flow never told me they flushed the transmission, and that on more than one occasion, I had asked them if there were any other repairs done by them other than a replacement of the radiator. They repeatedly said there were no other issues.

Anyway, now that I have heard from the original owner that he didn't change the fluid, I know that Flow did it on the down low in order to further mask the problem with the tranny. My suspicions from yesterday are confirmed, sadly.

I called Flow Honda today and spoke with the used car sales manager. I informed him of the problem and that I wanted them to make it right.

He wasn't really responsive until I told him I had proof that the transmission was diagnosed with this problem long before I bought it. I told him I had proof from Aamco Transmissions that they had pinpointed the problem IN MAY of this year and recommended internal service. I also told him that the ASE certified transmission tech had informed me that the transmission fluid was new, and that no one had informed me of any transmission flush at the dealership.

Once he heard that I could prove they sold me a faulty transmission without disclosure, he came clean. He admitted that the service dept had flushed the transmission fluid. I asked him why this wasn't on any of the service records they gave me at purchase. He replied that the tranny flush was on a "different" record. He told me that his techs thought that a transmission flush would solve the problem. I then informed him that his techs were full of it, because I've now heard from more than one mechanic that a flush won't fix the issue.

Anyway, he offered to replace the transmission. Since they're in NC and I'm in VA, I'm having them pay for it to be done in my hometown. So I'm calling around and getting quotes on a rebuilt transmission. In fact, right now I'm sitting in the waiting room at Aamco while they do a free diagnostic on the tranny in order to give me an estimate.

I ain't giving up. If this transmission replacement offer falls through, I'm traveling down there to camp out in front of the dealership until they relent. They thought they could sell me a lemon, but they didn't know I'd squirt it in their eye. irate:

 

^ hell yeah man! badass...glad to hear it! you may have a future in detective work...hahaha! well...once this is all squared away...MOD TIME!

 

Ha! I felt a little like Columbo..."one more thing, ma'am"

I'll definitely be starting some mods once this gets settled. I've already got a tow hitch and a bull bar ready to install. I can't afford the shrockworks bumper yet, so the bull bar will do until then.

Next up is some new tires! These are like racing slicks.

 

This is almost as good as "The Rockford Files". Ataboy

 

Nice job, and way to keep after it ... I'd say you got a good resolution, presuming that Flow sicks good to their word of replacing your tranny.

 

Excelent legwork man! I hope they do the responsible thing and cover a tranny. It will be comforting to have a different shop do the tranny as well, so that you can rest easier that they wont be cutting corners the whole time.

Keep us posted! :happy1:

 

Keep us posted! :happy1:

Will do!

 

Well, it's at Aamco having the old transmission rebuilt. And because of my constant badgering and "detective" work, the dealership is footing the entire bill! I got that in writing, in case they forget their promise when the $3000+ bill comes due. I'm not going to pay a penny out of my pocket.

The downside is that I'll be waiting indefinitely if Aamco does a total rebuild. As most of you already know, there's a computer housed in the transmission, and to the best of my knowledge, it's only manufactured by Nissan (no aftermarket versions yet).

According to the owner/operator of this Aamco shop, when the transmission has been damaged by water (as is the case with all of these Nissan radiator/tranny fluid swap problems), the computer in the tranny will usually be damaged as well. They can rebuild the entire transmission, but if they're gonna replace that computer, it has to come from Nissan directly. The bad news? That computer is on national backorder, and there's no indication of how long it will take to fill the order.

In other words, I may be dead in the water for weeks or months. :dontknow:

My question for you guys is should I get them to rebuild everything but the computer and get it back to me so I can have something to drive? When the computer finally comes in, I'll take it back in and have that replaced. The tech at Aamco said they don't even have to drop the tranny to replace the computer housed in it. Either way, the dealership will take care of it, so I'm not paying any extra. I just don't want to be X-less (it is my only mode of transportation except my bicycle) for an indefinite period of time. Plus, I'm moving to Kentucky next week, so I've got to get there somehow. (Any X owners near Louisville?)

Can that computer ruin all the new work they do on my tranny if I don't get it immediately replaced? If not, I think I'll have them rebuild it, sans the computer, then take it back to the shop when the comp arrives.

Overall, it's a good situation because I'm getting a rebuilt transmission at no cost to me. ccasion5:

 

bumped for the update:
Update 8/21:
OK! I got the Xterra back from Aamco today. I had to move to Louisville KY with a friend's car, but I drove back to Virginia today to pick up the X with the new transmission. I'm driving back in the morning.

Anybody else live in the Louisville area? Thanks for all the advice guys...everything worked out well with the dealership paying for the new transmission.

 

Awesome, glad it all worked out.

If you go wheeling anytime soon I recommend you take those side steps off.