blown rod bearing
 

so I spun a bearing and took it back to the dealer. Luckily it's still under the factory power train warranty. However, the service tech is talking about a short block replacement. I'm no genius on engines, but when you burn a bearing and get metal debris in the oil doesn't it go throughout the entire engine and get into every moving part? Any advice on how to handle this?

Wouldn't the oil filters job not allow that to happen?

Not necessarily .......... but it is usually a safe bet.

It all depends upon what caused the spun main bearing - which is almost universally a consequence of low oil pressure and given the requirement for oil-pressure based control for the magic-camshaft system, I'd be suspicious about the potential for cam-based damage as well.

What I'd be interested in is the cause of low oil-pressure as that might indicate damage elsewhere in the engine, and if that is a cylinder head, a short engine assembly will not cut the mustard - better arguing for a long-engine assembly.

Any idea's on source of low oil-pressure ??

I asked what would have caused the spun bearing but the service adviser didn't give me any specific cause. I didn't have any dummy lights come on before I heard the knocking, and It didn't start with any great fanfare. Just pulled out of a parking lot and heard a funny rattling and knocking sound.

I don't drive it really hard other than the occasional freeway launch.

I've had all my regular maintenance (oil changes etc.) done at this dealer.

Sorry man , glad it's covered. They replaced my whole motor when mine went , was yours cyl 3? Like mine

That's weird. Is your car modified or tuned?

How common are engine failures in these cars? And how many miles do they last? Just wondering if I should leave my car as is and just beat the hell out of it and enjoy the warranty, or keep modding and worry about if it will still be covered under warranty or not?

Beat it.

Is it possible that he said short block replacement but really meant replace the entire engine? Or was it very clear that it was going to be short block only?

I have always been under the impression that Nissan will not open up a VQ, and that they will replace the entire engine. I would be surprised to hear that they find it more cost effective to pay the labor on a rebuild rather than just giving you new cylinder heads and timing covers with an engine off the assembly line. Especially considering the possibility that the tech will screw up and have to do it again.

There have been a few people on here who had short blocks replaced, and not long blocks. Bet it depends on what the tech has to say and then what the dealership tells the mothercompany.

that would suck. i would not be happy about having a dealer tech assembled engine.

I would demand a new motor not a rebuid!

Yea, most of them now are parts replacers, not mechanics. :icon14:

service tech says Nissan only wants to do short block replacement. I argued with him for a few minutes and then called Nissan consumer affairs to protest further. I'm supposed to get a call from a consumer affairs specialist tomorrow. We'll see what happens.

only mod is cat back exhaust.

cylinder one failed

Just curious, whats your dealer say the oil change time frame is and they used their oil?

Yep, they stopped doing long block replacements for the most part. I tell you, I wouldn't take a short block, and I might not take a long block... I'd FIGHT for a $10k crate motor. I don't want Americans doing Japanese jobs. (Yeah, I'm REALLY racist when it comes to cars and their mother country)

I am not quite sure how I would react to Nissan essentially telling me that, due to a quality control issue on their part, while every other buyer of a 370z gets an engine built by multi-million dollar machines in a controlled environment, I will now be getting an engine built by a UTI graduate in the back corner of a dealership. I certainly hope they plan on putting a fresh extended warranty on that engine.

edit: no offense to UTI grads. :) I know a UTI grad who is a Mercedes master tech and he's doing better than I am!

That's what I'm saying (more the machine part, not UTI)


You don't get an extended warranty unless you are like me, an àsshole and complain to corporate. OP, if you're awake at 7PM PST, and have 30 min to talk to get the most out of corporate, shoot me a PM with your phone number. I will guide you

all oil changes were done at that dealership using the recommended oil every 3000 miles or so.

what year is your model and how many miles.

Also any oil burning? This is the first engine I've owned (all with the same break in) that's burned oil. And from what I've read its pretty common. If you were doing every 3k oil changes it is possible to be low and hurt it. I wonder if the dealer ever checked or took note.

long block replacement has been authorized. The service adviser at the dealership really pushed for it, so that was a big help.

I had to call consumer affairs and escalate the situation in order for the service adviser to be able to get the regional master tech to recommend the long block replacement. It's a big circus and a few hoops to jump through but it has been resolved.

just saw your message. I did get it resolved although I did get some push back from the Nissan consumer affairs specialist. By the time I got off the phone with him the service adviser at the dealership took the matter into his own hands and got the recommendation from the regional master tech.

thank you for offering to help!