Repair 7

Nissan introduced the first-ever compact pickup truck to the U.S. market in 1958, back when Nissans were still known as Datsuns. Nissan redesigned its pickup truck several times, giving it a complete makeover in 1986. While several trims of the vehicle were available, Nissan generally erred to its compact pickup simply as the Nissan Pickup until they discontinued production of it in 1997. The mid-sized Frontier replaced the Pickup in 1998, and Nissan introduced the full-size Titan pickup truck in 2004.

General Alignment Information

The Nissan offered its 1995 Pickup in a variety of two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive trims, but all two-wheel-drive trims had the same alignment specs, as did all four-wheel-drive trims. The caster, camber, toe and steering axis inclination (SAI) are all adjustable on the front end of all trims of the 1995 Nissan pickup. The caster is the angle of a vehicles steering pivot, as it is viewed from the side of the vehicle. The camber is the angle that the wheel tilts when viewed from the front of the vehicle. If it tilts out at the top, the camber is positive. If it tilts in at the top, it is negative. The toe is the measurement of a wheels angle in relation to the center line of the vehicle. On most vehicles, the front wheels are intended to point slightly toward each other. The SAI is the measurement of the angle of the steering pivot when viewed from the front of the vehicle. All measurements are given in degrees.

Alignment Specs for the 1995 2WD Pickup

The caster angle on the front end of the 1995 two-wheel-drive Nissan Pickup should fall between +0.37 degree and +0.5 degree, with a cross tolerance of +0.75 degree. The camber angle should fall between +0.42 degree and +0.50 degree, with a cross tolerance of +0.75 degree. The toe-in should be between +0.8 degree and +0.25 degree. The SAI can range from +0.5 degree to +9.1 degrees. The alignment was not adjustable on the rear end of two-wheel-drive trims of the 1995 Nissan Pickup because it came with a fixed rear axle.

Alignment Specs for the 1995 4WD Nissan Pickup

The caster angle on the front end of the 1995 four-wheel-drive Nissan Pickup should fall between +0.50 degree and +1.3 degrees, with a cross tolerance of +0.75 degree. The camber angle should fall between +0.50 degree and +0.67 degree, with a cross tolerance of +0.75 degree. The toe-in should be between +0.8 degree and +0.32 degree. The SAI can range from +0.5 degree to +8.1 degrees. As with the two-wheel-drive trims, the four-wheel-drive trims of the 1995 Nissan Pickup truck came with a fixed rear axle and the alignment was not adjustable on the rear end.

The 3.0-liter V-6 engine of the 1996 Nissan Maxima contains three oxygen sensors in the exhaust system. There are two upstream sensors in the front pipe just below the manifold flanges, and theres a third sensor down after the catalytic converter. Auto parts stores can determine which sensor has failed by reading the "check engine light" code the sensor has tripped. Most will perform this service for free in order to sell the parts to the customer.

Instructions

1

Apply the parking brake of the 1996 Nissan Maxima.

2

Hoist the front of the vehicle on one side with the car jack high enough to place a jack stand under the front frame rail. Repeat this for the other front side so the entire front axle of the car is elevated.

3

Put on the safety glasses. Locate the sensor being replaced by crawling under the vehicle. One sensor is located in the drivers side front pipe up near the manifold, another is in the shorter pipe (closer to the firewall) on the passengers side front pipe assembly, and the downstream sensor is located after the catalytic converter near the center of the undercarriage.

4

Disconnect the plug of the oxygen sensor from the plug of the harness.

5

Place the wire of the sensor through the opening of the 22-mm box-end wrench or in the slot of the O2 sensor tool. Place the wrench or tool onto the hex-head of the sensor.

6

Turn the wrench or tool (with a ratchet) to the left to remove it from the O2 sensor port. The sensors only have four to five threads, so once loosened, the sensor will quickly come out of the port.

7

Thread the replacement sensor into the port by hand. Tighten it with the wrench or tool and ratchet. Be caul not to overtighten the sensor. The threads are delicate and can be easily stripped. Tighten it snug only.

8

Connect the plug of the replacement sensor to the harness plug.

9

Collect the tools and other material from under the Maxima before lowering it to the ground.

Nissan Motors is an auto maker headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. The company has been in business since 1933 and exports vehicles all over the world. You might want to remove the Nissan emblem from your car as part of your own customizations, or if you are replacing a damaged emblem with a new one. Nissan emblems are not intended for removal and the job might require some persistence. Allow roughly 20 minutes to complete the task.

Instructions

1

Put on protective gloves and plug in the hair dryer.

2

Switch the hair dryer to its highest setting and turn it on. Point and hold it at the emblem for 10 to 15 minutes. The sustained heat will melt the glue behind the badge.

3

Turn the hair dryer off. Slide the fishing line behind the top of the badge and pull down, cutting the glue.

4

Switch the hair dryer back on and warm up the remaining glue. Scrape the rest of the glue off with your glove. If the glue cools it will be harder to remove. Apply extra heat if necessary.

5

Thoroughly wash the area when you are finished. No glue should be left behind.

Some Nissan models - particularly the ZD30 Nissan patrol, have had a history of serious engine problems over the years, including piston cracks, head cracks and cracked cylinders and engine blocks. Nissan has taken steps to rectify the issues in recent years. If you have a cracked cylinder, that means that the recess in which the piston slides back and forth has become damaged, resulting in the air/fuel mixture leaking out around the piston. If it is the cylinder that is cracked, rather than the piston, you may have to replace the entire engine block.

Diagnosis and Troubleshooting

A cracked cylinder will generally result in the loss of compression in that one cylinder. You may notice your engine "missing," running poorly and lacking in power. If your car runs at all, you would notice poor acceleration and poor performance on hills. However, there are a number of other issues that could cause this same problem. You may want to check your spark plugs for proper gapping and functioning. Also check your fuel injection system and your head gasket. Each of these items is much less expensive to repair, and would cause similar symptoms, so rule each of these out before replacing the cylinder.

Parts

If you determine that your engine problems are, in fact, the result of a cracked cylinder, and the crack is too severe to weld shut, you will need to replace the engine block itself. The cost of the engine depends on the year, make and model of your Nissan. Expect to pay between $1,800 and $2,000 for a fully remanufactured engine block. However, you may also be able to find a complete engine in the aftermarket for around a thousand to $1,500, depending on the make and model of your Nissan.

Labor

Generally, auto mechanic shops have a shop rate prominently posted in the customer service area. This is the hourly rate that the mechanic charges, generally in addition to the diagnostic fee, if any. The mechanic will give you an estimate based on the shop rate, times a multiplier from an industry guide called "The Mitchell Book" that lists how much time it typically takes to do a repair. Expect to pay between 8 and 10 hours of labor charges to do a full engine swap, depending on the make and model of your vehicle, assuming there are no other repairs to do.

Master Cylinder

It is possible that your mechanic is erring to your master cylinder. The master cylinder converts mechanical energy from your foot pressing down on the brake pedal into hydraulic energy, which is then distributed through the power steering system to your brakes, or to your clutch. You can get a new brake master cylinder for about $100-$120. For clutch master cylinders, expect to pay about $30 to $60 for the part. According to CarsDirect.com, the average cost of a brake master cylinder replacement is $200-$300, including labor.

The Nissan D21 was a series of pickup trucks manufactured in the United States from 1986 to 1997. The 1992 models use fuel injection, which requires an electric fuel pump to pressurize the fuel system. The fuel pump in the 1992 Nissan truck is installed within the fuel tank, so you must lower the fuel tank to access the fuel pump. The fuel pump in these vehicles is generally not serviceable, so a fuel pump repair consists of replacing the faulty fuel pump.

Instructions

1

Remove the fuse for the fuel pump in the fuse box located under the dashboard on the drivers side. Start the engine and allow it to run until it stalls. Crank the engine for five seconds to ensure the fuel system is empty. Replace the fuse for the fuel pump.

2

Disconnect the cable from the batterys negative terminal with a socket wrench. This will ensure that you cant start the engine accidentally while repairing the fuel pump. Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands. Detach the electrical connector for the fuel pump assembly. Place a hose into the fuel tank and siphon the fuel into container approved for gasoline.

3

Detach the filler tube from the fuel tank with a socket wrench. Detach the fuel lines from the fuel tank including the fuel outlet hose, fuel return hose and ventilation hose. Detach the electrical connector for the fuel gauge unit. Support the fuel tank with a jack and remove the mounting bolts for the fuel tank. Disconnect the fuel tank from the vehicle and lower it to the ground with the jack.

4

Disconnect the retaining bolts for the ring on the fuel pump with a socket wrench. Discard the O-ring for the fuel pump and pull the fuel pump out of the fuel tank. Cover the hole in the fuel tank with a shop towel to prevent contamination of the fuel tank.

5

Install a new fuel pump and O-ring by reversing steps two through four. Start the engine and check for fuel leaks.

The cooling system on the 1991 Nissan pickups come equipped with a thermostat that regulates the engines temperature. The thermostat is made up of a temperature-sensitive spring that moves the thermostat up and down in reaction to the temperature of the coolant. When the engine is running, the thermostat regulates the coolant flow from the radiator to the engine, allowing only the proper amount of coolant throughout the engine block. If the thermostat sticks, replace it as soon as possible.

Instructions

1

Park the 1991 Nissan pickup on a level surface. Set the parking brake and open the hood.

2

Locate the top radiator hose that runs from the top of the radiator to the engine block. Follow the top radiator hose from the radiator to the thermostat housing. The hose is attached to the thermostat housing tube. Slide the fluid catch pan underneath the engine in the general area of the thermostat housing.

3

Loosen the hose clamp by turning the adjustable screw head counterclockwise with a flat-head screwdriver. Pull the clamp about 6 inches up onto the radiator hose. Twist the hose back and forth with your hand until it loosens from the thermostat housing tube. Pull the hose straight off the tube.

4

Loosen and remove the two mounting bolts from the thermostat housing with a ratchet and a socket. Pull the thermostat housing off the engine block and place it on a clean rag.

5

Pull the thermostat straight up out of the engine block. Scrape any of the old gasket off the base of the thermostat housing and the engine block with a flat scraper. Wipe the thermostat housing base and the engine block clean with a clean rag.

6

Place the thermostat gasket over the bottom of the thermostat housing base and push the two housing bolts through the holes to hold the gasket in place. Insert the new thermostat into the top of the engine block with the spring facing downward. Lower the housing back over the engine block. Screw the two mounting bolts into the engine block until tight. Finish tightening the bolts with the ratchet and socket.

7

Push the top radiator hose back over the thermostat housing tube. Position the hose clamp over the hose and over the thermostat housing tube. Tighten the clamp with the screwdriver until the hose is tightly secured to the thermostat housing tube.

8

Remove the radiator cap and add coolant as needed until the radiator is full. Crank the engine and let it run until the engine is at operating temperature or until the coolant level drops inside of the radiator. This will show that the thermostat is working properly. Inspect the thermostat housing and the top radiator hose for any leaks while the engine is running. Add more coolant if needed to fill the radiator up with the engine running.

9

Turn the engine off and pull the fluid catch pan out from under the truck.

Nissan vehicles come equipped with an ECU, or Engine Control Unit, which is a computer that monitors all of the vehicles functions. When you see the Check Engine light illuminate on your instrument cluster, you should have the vehicle looked at by a qualified mechanic immediately. Once any repairs are made, then you can manually reset and turn off the engine light yourself right from your home garage. It requires no special tools and only a couple of minutes of your time.

Instructions

1

Get into the vehicle and put the key into the ignition. Turn the vehicle on but dont start the engine.

2

Press on the accelerator quickly five times in five seconds and release the pedal. Make sure you press the pedal all the way down to the floor of the vehicle. Wait for about 10 seconds.

3

Push the pedal all the way to the floor and hold it for 10 seconds or until the engine light flashes on and off. Release the pedal.

4

Repeat step 3.

5

Turn the ignition off and wait 3 minutes. Turn on the engine. The engine light should now be off.

The Nissan 3.3 engines exhaust manifold collects exhaust from each of the valves and sends it through the exhaust pipe. The exhaust manifold must be in good condition to avoid harmful fumes from entering the cabin. If the vehicles exhaust manifold has a crack in it, replace it as soon as possible.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative cable from the battery using a wrench to loosen the nut on the terminal. Remove the heat shields from around the manifold using a wrench. Disconnect the EGR tube from the valve.

2

Unplug the electrical wire from the heated oxygen sensor by pulling it off. Disconnect the front exhaust pipes using a wrench to loosen the bolts. Remove the bolts from the exhaust manifold using a socket, ratchet and extension.

3

Remove the exhaust manifold with the catalytic converter still attached. Remove the catalytic converter from the manifold using a wrench. Attach the converter to the new manifold and tighten the bolts with a wrench.

4

Install the manifold to the engine and tighten the fasteners with a socket, ratchet and extension. Connect the front exhaust pipes using a wrench to tighten the bolts. Plug the electrical wire into the heated oxygen sensor.

5

Connect the EGR tube. Install the heat shields around the manifold and tighten the fasteners with a wrench. Connect the negative battery cable and tighten the terminal nut with a wrench.

Nissan Extended Service, also known as Nissan Extended Warranty, is an extended warranty you can buy for your vehicle after your manufacturers warranty expires. It protects you when you need to repair your vehicle. When you need repairs, you pay the deductible (which depends on your plan) and any parts not covered by your plan, then Nissan pays the remaining amount directly to the repair facility. If you wish to cancel your Nissan Extended Service and are reimbursed for it, you can do so at your local Nissan dealership.

Instructions

1

Go to your local Nissan dealership.

2

Get a Cancellation Request form from the dealership.

3

Fill out the form, sign it and have your Nissan dealer sign it. Include the date and mileage on your car.

4

Mail the form to Nissan Extended Services North America, P.O. Box 685004, Franklin, TN, 37068-5004. Wait four to six weeks for the form to be processed; the refund will be sent to the address you provide on the form.

The blower motor resistor on a 2005 Nissan Armada is the component that allows the blower fan to operate at varying speeds dependent upon driver preference. It accomplishes this by electronically regulating the current to the blower motor in conjunction with the fan speed setting switch. A faulty or failing blower motor resister may only allow the fan to operate on one or two setting, or certain settings may not function. The blower motor resistor is located underneath the dashboard, inside the blower motor assembly on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Instructions

Removal

1

Open the passenger door and shine a work light into the passenger foot well area.

2

Pry out the push pin from the lower dash side finisher with a flat-head screwdriver. Pull up on the lower front kick plate until it pops loose. Remove the lower dash side finisher and the lower front kick plate as an assembly.

3

Disconnect the blower motor resistors electrical connector. It has multiple colored wires attached to it and is in the center section of the blower motor assembly.

4

Remove the two screws holding the blower motor resistor in place with a metric nut driver and remove the blower motor resistor.

Installation

5

Set the new blower motor resistor into position and reinstall its mounting screws with a metric nut driver.

6

Reconnect the blower motor resistors electrical connector.

7

Set the lower dash side finisher and lower front kick plate into position. Press down on the lower front kick plate until it snaps into place. Lift the lower dash side finisher into position and press the plastic push pin into its mounting hole until its fully seated.

8

Test the blower motor on all settings to confirm that it works properly.

A malfunctioning car alarm on your 1998 Nissan Altima can keep you and your neighbors up at night. If you are having problems with the alarm, you can disconnect the alarm system from the power supply to keep it from going off. Disconnecting the alarm from the power supply is not very hard. The power supply is your car battery and the alarm is wired into the negative terminal.

Instructions

1

Pop the hood to your Nissan Altima.

2

Locate the negative terminal labeled with a "-" mark.

3

Use a pair of channel locks or a socket wrench to loosen the negative terminal.

4

Pull the negative terminal off of the battery to disable the alarm.

You can display the OBD II codes from your 2002 Nissan Sentra on an OBD II pocket scanner. This pocket scanner can be purchased from any auto parts store. These trouble codes contain information about the vehicle to help you pinpoint an exact diagnosis about your Sentras repair and servicing needs. The On-Board Diagnostics computer stores these trouble codes and alerts you to them via warning and service lights that illuminate on your instrument panel. When sensors positioned throughout the vehicle detect any malfunction, they send these codes to the OBD computer.

Instructions

1

Plug the OBD II pocket scanner into the Diagnostic Link Connector (DLC) on the drivers side dash to the left of the steering column, rotating it until it fits properly. Dont force it to go in, or you may bend the pins.

2

Put the key into the ignition, and turn it to the "II" position, taking care not to start the engine. Wait while the OBD II pocket scanner powers on and retrieves the codes. It will display all of the alphanumeric trouble codes on the face of the scanner.

3

Write them down on a piece of paper.

4

Unplug the pocket scanner, and turn off the vehicle when you are finished.

The hard body Nissan pickups were built between 1986 and 1997. The 1995 Nissan Pickup comes equipped with two separate belts that operate all of the engine accessories. The first belt is a serpentine belt and the second belt is a v-belt. These belts operate the alternator, power steering pump, air conditioner compressor and the cooling fan at the same time. Over time the serpentine belt and the v-belt will fray and crack. Change the belt as soon as the fraying or cracking is evident to prevent the belts from breaking.

Instructions

Replacing the Serpentine Belt

1

Open the hood and make note of the serpentine belt routing diagram. This diagram holds the instructions for how the serpentine belt is routed around each pulley. Use this diagram to properly route the new belt around the pulleys.

2

locate the serpentine belt on the front of the engine. The serpentine belt is a single belt with ribs on the inside of the belt that travel inside of the pulleys. The serpentine belt is tightened by a spring loaded tensioner on the front left hand side of the engine. Use the bolt head that secures the pulley to the bottom of the tensioner to relieve the tension from the belt.

3

Position a metric socket and a breaker bar onto the tensioner pulley bolt. Turn the breaker bar counter-clockwise to release the tension from the belt. Slide the belt off of the tensioner pulley and release the breaker bar.

4

Pull the serpentine belt out of the other accessory pulleys and out of the engine bay. Route the new serpentine belt around the same pulleys as described by the belt routing diagram. Put the breaker bar and socket back onto the tensioner pulley bolt. Rotate the breaker bar counter-clockwise and slide the new belt around the tensioner pulley. Release the breaker bar and remove it from the engine bay.

Replacing the V-Belt

5

Locate the v-belt that is routed around the remaining accessory pulleys. The v-belt is tightened by an adjustment bracket on top of the alternator. Loosen the bolt in the middle of the adjustment bracket with a ratchet and a metric socket.

6

Loosen the top alternator mounting bolt with the ratchet and socket.

7

Turn the adjustment bolt at the end of the adjustment bracket counter-clockwise until the belt is loose. Pull the belt out of the accessory pulleys and out of the engine bay.

8

Route the new v-belt around the accessory pulleys. Tighten the belt by turning the adjustment bolt clockwise with the ratchet and socket. Check the tension of the belt by pushing inward on the belt with your hand. The belt should have no more than a half-inch of slack. Adjust the belt as needed to get a half-inch of tension in the belt. Tighten the bolt in the middle of the adjustment bracket and the top alternator mounting bolt with the ratchet and socket.

9

Crank the engine for fifteen to twenty seconds. Turn the engine off and inspect the belts. Make sure that the serpentine belt is properly inside of each pulley. Make sure that the v-belt is inside of each pulley and also recheck the tension of the v-belt with your hand. Close the hood.

The rear shocks on a Nissan Frontier XE are important for the riding conditions of the vehicle as well as its towing capabilities. Shocks are typically replaced every 60,000 miles or when the ride becomes soggy or bouncy. If the shocks show grease or oil rubs on the exterior of the control tube, its probably time to replace them with some new ones.

Instructions

1

Block the front wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling when lifted. Use the ratchet wrench and lug socket to break loose the lugs on both rear wheels. Raise the vehicle up using the hydraulic lift. Place the jack stands under structure points, then lower the lift until the weight of the vehicle is distributed equally among the jack stands and hydraulic lift.

2

Remove the lugs and place them into the wheel to ensure they arent misplaced. Push the wheels under the vehicle for extra security. Locate the the upper and lower shock bolts and spray them liberally with WD-40 to loosen the nuts.

3

Use the 1/2 in. ratchet and the correct sized deep socket to break loose the top shock arm nut. Remove the bottom shock arm nut entirely. Return to the top nut and attempt to remove the nut using just the ratchet. Use the vise grips to secure the shock if the nut spins endlessly. Pull the entire shock down and remove from the arm mounts. Installation is reverse of removal.

You can manually read the trouble codes set by the diagnostics computer in your 1994 Nissan Altima right from your garage, saving both time and money. The 1994 Nissan Altima has an "Onboard Diagnostics I" computer (OBD I) that retrieves and stores all trouble codes sent to it from sensors positioned throughout the vehicle. When these sensors detect any malfunction in the Altimas powertrain, they send trouble codes to the computer. The computer, in turn, illuminates the warning and service lights on the instrument cluster. You can retrieve these codes using an OBD I code scanner. You can purchase an OBD I scanner at any auto parts store.

Instructions

1

Locate the data link connector (DLC) port on the driver-side dashboard under the steering column. Its the same size and shape as the connector on the OBD I code scanner. Carefully plug the code scanner into this port.

2

Put the key into the Altimas ignition and turn it to the "on" position, but dont start the engine. Wait for the code scanner to power on.

3

Select the command "Read Codes" or something similar. Wait while the code scanner retrieves the codes. Write the codes it displays down on a piece of paper.

4

Look up the codes in the scanners manual to get an exact diagnosis. Unplug the scanner and have the vehicle repaired or serviced based on the information obtained from the codes.