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Most Common Nissan Vehicle Questions In Seattle, Tacoma, And Bellevue Washington
new 2018 nissan versa for sale in seattle washingtonDear Robert,

My 2018 Nissan Versa has been overheating recently. I’ve checked the coolant-to-water ratio and it’s fine and I haven’t been able to find any leaks. What would you recommend looking at next?

Thanks,
Kevin

 
Hi, Kevin!

If your 2018 Nissan Versa is overheating, you’ve already taken the first two steps to find out what’s causing it.

If there's enough coolant in the engine, it's likely that something is stopping it from circulating. So I think you should check your hoses, as they could be blocked.

Dirt and road sediment can get into your coolant hoses which stops the flow of liquid around the engine.

To tackle this situation yourself, you’ll need to flush the system and refill the coolant tank. If this doesn’t solve the issue, the problem could be linked to your radiator or a broken water pump.

Don't worry if the above task is outside of your mechanical ability. You can always call down to our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look at your Versa.

Thanks for the question, Kevin! Please don’t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you ever need anything else.

new 2019 nissan rogue for sale in seattle washingtonDear Robert,

My father has advised that I upgrade the spark plugs in my 2019 Nissan Rogue. He said to go with either single or double platinum units: could you explain the difference?

Thanks,
Kim

Hi, Kim!

There’s no right or wrong decision here. But upgrading the spark plugs in your 2019 Nissan Rogue to single or double platinum ones will provide some benefits.

To start with, you should understand that standard spark plugs are usually copper on the inside with a nickel-alloy coating around the electrode. These tend to last for about 20,000 miles before performance levels drop.

Single platinum spark plugs: These units use a platinum center electrode which is harder than the regular nickel-alloy coating. They usually last for up to 100,000 miles.

Double platinum spark plugs: These units use platinum for both the center and ground electrodes. They also last for up to 100,000 miles but offer greater performance benefits than the single version.

Whether or not you should change your spark plugs depends on what you want from your Rogue. If you plan on racking up a lot of miles, it makes sense to get components that have a longer lifespan.

Thanks for your question, Kim! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.

new 2018 nissan kicks for sale in seattle washingtonDear Robert,

My 2018 Nissan Kicks’ headlights have been flickering lately. I was told this is due to a problem with the alternator: what do you think?

Thanks,
Martin

 
Hi, Martin!

There are a number of reasons your 2018 Nissan Kicks’ headlights would start flickering. A malfunctioning alternator could be to blame, and I’ll explain why.

Your alternator takes energy from the vehicle's crankshaft and turns it into electricity which is then stored in the car’s battery.

So, when your engine is running, the alternator helps to power all the electrical systems in your Kicks.

If your alternator begins to fail, it won’t send power your headlamps effectively. This will cause your lights to flicker, pulsate, or just be dim. The problem is often worse when your engine is idling and seems to get better once you start driving. 

An issue with your battery or voltage regulator could also cause your vehicle’s lights to flicker. The best thing for you to do is call down to our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look.

Thanks for the question, Martin! Please don’t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you ever need anything else.

new 2018 nissan titan for sale in seattle washingtonHi Robert,

My 2018 Nissan Titan's gearbox has been quite harsh recently and it’s tough to shift gears. I’ve heard that low transmission fluid could cause this: what do you think?

Thanks,
James

Hi, James!

It does sound like your 2018 Nissan Titan’s transmission has a problem. There are a number of issues which could cause this, but having low fluid in your gearbox is the most common culprit.

If your transmission fluid is low it won’t produce enough hydraulic pressure to engage the gears. This would explain the shifting problem you're experiencing.

Low transmission fluid could also cause your gearbox to overheat so it’s a problem you shouldn’t let linger.

You can check your truck's fluid levels via the dipstick in the engine compartment: your transmission is a closed system so it should never be low.

If your fluid is low, it could indicate that your vehicle has a leak somewhere. In this instance, you should call down to our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look.

Thanks for the question, James! Please don’t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you ever need anything else.

new 2019 nissan sentra for sale in seattle washingtonDear Robert,

I hit a curb at a pretty high speed in my 2019 Nissan Sentra the other day. Now I’m worried that one of the rims might be bent: what signs should I look for?

Thanks,
Dave

Hi, Dave!

There are a few telltale signs that you have a bent rim. Below are some potential issues to look out of with your 2019 Nissan Sentra.

A number of things could cause a vibration to come through your steering wheel but, if you notice this issue right after you hit the curb, it's probably down to a bent rim. With this, you'll find that your Sentra’s handling is less responsive and you may even hear a thumping sound while driving.

If you feel vibrations come through the seat, it could indicate that one of the rear rims is damaged.

The tire around a damaged rim may start to leak air so this is something to be mindful of. If this starts to happen, you need to fix the problem ASAP as it could eventually lead to a blowout.

Thanks for your question, Dave! Don’t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you ever need anything else.

new 2018 nissan titan for sale in sammamish washingtonHi Robert,

My 2018 Nissan Titan has been making a whining noise when I try to start it. The engine eventually turns over, so I’m not sure if it’s something to be concerned about: what do you think?

Thanks,
Brian

Hi, Brian!

It sounds like your 2018 Nissan Titan’s starter motor is beginning to fail and, unfortunately, this is something to be concerned about.

Two gears must mesh together for your engine to turn over: one is at the end of your starter motor and the other is connected to the drivetrain's flywheel.

When you turn the key, these two gears should spin together and start your Titan’s engine. It appears that the components are not properly or consistently moving: this produces a whining noise.

This is an issue that will only get worse and result in your engine completely failing to turn over. You should take your truck to our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look at it. Unfortunately, you may need to get a new starter motor.

Thanks for the question, Brian. Don’t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you ever need anything else.

new 2018 nissan kicks for sale in sammamish washingtonDear Robert,

I’ve recently noticed that my 2018 Nissan Kicks’ gas mileage has decreased for no obvious reason. My friend said it could be due to a problem with its oxygen sensor: what do you think?

Thanks,
Maggie

 
Hi, Maggie!

If you’re seeing your 2018 Nissan Kicks’ gas mileage drop inexplicably, it could indeed be due to a problem with your oxygen sensor.

The oxygen sensor is located in your vehicle’s exhaust and reads the percentage of O2 the car is expelling.

The sensor will detect if your engine is running lean or rich and send a message to the car’s ECU to adjust the fuel/oxygen mixture accordingly.

Of course, if the oxygen sensor isn't working properly it may pick up false readings and get your ECU to send an unnecessary amount of fuel to the engine: this would result in your gas mileage dropping.

A faulty oxygen sensor tends to get worse over time and can raise your car’s fuel consumption by up to 20%. This is an issue you should fix now before it costs you more money at the pumps.

My advice is to call down to our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look at your Kicks.

Thanks for the question, Maggie. Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.

new 2019 nissan rogue for sale in sammamish washingtonHi Robert,

I do a lot of driving in my 2019 Nissan Rogue so try to look out for any maintenance issues. I’ve noticed that it’s using about a quart of oil every 500 miles and been told this is down to a problem with the valve guides: is this correct?

Thanks,
Andy

Hi, Andy!

It’s not unusual for high mileage cars to use a quart of oil between every 1,000-5,000 miles. But if your 2019 Nissan Rogue is using this amount every 500 miles, that is excessive. This could be the result of worn valve guides or too much distance between them.

If the valve guide seals are cracked, missing, worn, broken, or have been improperly installed the engine will also consume too much oil.

The problems mentioned above will cause your Rogue's powerplant to suck oil down the guides between the cylinders.

This issue could also be the result of broken piston rings or wear in the cylinders. So the best thing for you to do is call down to our Service Department and let the Technicians inspect your car.

Thanks for the question, Andy. Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.

new 2018 nissan pathfinder for sale in sammamish washingtonDear Robert,

My 2018 Nissan Pathfinder has started overheating. I've heard this could be down to a problem with the thermostat: what do you think?

Thanks,
Andrew

Hi, Andrew!

I’m sorry to hear about the problem with your 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. A number of things could cause an engine to overheat, one of them is a malfunctioning thermostat.

Your thermostat monitors your engine’s temperature and opens a valve to circulate coolant when it’s necessary: this process usually happens at around 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

If your car’s thermostat is broken, it may not open the valve when necessary. This deprives the engine of its much-needed coolant and ultimately results in the drivetrain overheating.

If your car overheats it can lead to catastrophic engine failure, as components seize together due to the extreme heat. A broken thermostat isn’t the only problem that might cause this, having air in the coolant line or a lack of oil could also be to blame.

You should call down to our Service Department and let the Technicians inspect your Pathfinder.

Thanks for the question, Andrew! Don’t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you ever need anything else.

new 2019 nissan sentra for sale in sammamish washingtonDear Robert,

It sometimes smells like rotten eggs in my 2019 Nissan Sentra while I’m driving. I've heard that this could be down to an issue with the catalytic converter: what do you think?

Thanks,
Joe

Hi, Joe!

Although there are a few things which could cause your 2019 Nissan Sentra to start smelling like rotten eggs, the most common reason is a problem with the catalytic converter.

The compound which makes the rotten egg smell is called hydrogen sulfide. This is a product of the small amount of sulfur found in gasoline.

The catalytic converter’s job is to transform the compound mentioned above into sulfur dioxide which is odorless.

When a catalytic converter breaks or its filters become blocked, it can’t transform the sulfur into an odorless form. Although this is the most common cause, the smell of rotten eggs could be the result of an engine that’s running too hot or a problem with your car’s fuel pressure regulator.

My advice is to call down to our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look at your Sentra.

Thanks for the question, Joe! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.

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