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Most Common Nissan Vehicle Questions In Seattle, Tacoma, And Bellevue Washington
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.

new 2018 nissan maxima for sale in renton washington
Dear Robert,

My 2018 Nissan Maxima has been sputtering when I accelerate and I’m not sure how serious the problem is. I’ve heard it could be down to dirty fuel injectors: what do you think?

Thanks,
Emma

Hi, Emma!

If your 2018 Nissan Maxima is sputtering when you accelerate, it’s certainly something you should investigate. The only exception is if it’s caused by nearly running out of fuel, as this would be normal.

Fuel injectors spray gasoline into your vehicle’s cylinders which is then mixed with air and ignited. Over time, the nozzles can become dirty and clogged.

Dirty fuel injectors can’t provide the correct amount of gasoline which causes your Maxima to sputter when you put your foot down. Ultimately this results in slow acceleration and a loss of power.

The problem is, this type of issue can be caused by anything from a leak in the exhaust manifold to a failing catalytic converter. You should take your vehicle to our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look.

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

new 2019 nissan rogue for sale in renton washingtonDear Robert,

I recently bought a new 2019 Nissan Rogue and noticed that it makes a ticking noise after I switch the engine off. I’ve heard this from other vehicles before and want to make sure it’s nothing to worry about.

Thanks,
James

Hi, James!

Your 2019 Nissan Rogue is almost certainly fine, but there is a chance the ticking sound could be due to a problem.

The most common cause of this so
und coming from a vehicle is due to a heating/cooling cycle, and this isn’t anything to worry about.

Combustion and friction cause some of your Rogue's components to get very hot. Once you turn the engine off, these parts cool down to the ambient temperature: as this happens, a ticking noise is produced. For example, your car’s exhaust could go from over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit down to 30 degrees, causing the material to expand and then contract.

This sound can also come from loose components in the engine bay or be the result of low oil pressure. If you're worried that this is the case, you should inspect your drivetrain or bring the car to our Service Department.

Thanks for the question, James! Please contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.

new 2018 nissan titan for sale in renton washingtonHi Robert,

My 2018 Nissan Titan’s engine has been shaking recently and it's getting worse. This happened to a friend's car before and was due to damaged hoses: could I be having the same problem?

Thanks,
Dean

Hi, Dean!

There are many things that could cause your 2018 Nissan Titan’s engine to shake. But the issue might be the result of loose, disconnected, or broken hoses.

The hoses connected to your truck’s drivetrain expel by-product gases from the engine. If any of them become loose, worn out, or disconnected the whole unit will start to shake.

A problem like this could lead to things such as misfires, stalling, and a loss of power. If the problem gets worse, it may cause the engine to shut down entirely.

A wide variety of issues could lead to your vehicle’s engine shaking, such as a worn-out timing belt or broken engine mounts. So, I can't say with certainty what the problem is with your truck.

The Technicians at our Service Department will easily be able to diagnose the problem with your Titan: my advice is to call over to them.

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

new 2018 nissan kicks for sale in renton washingtonHi Robert,

I recently drove my new 2018 Nissan Kicks after a snowstorm and noticed it shaking on the highway. This really unnerved me but my friend said it just happens sometimes due to a buildup of ice: is this true?

Thanks,
Carly

Hi, Carly!

It’s certainly true that a snowstorm could cause your 2018 Nissan Kicks to shake but, luckily, it doesn’t produce any long-term damage.

Ice and snow can build up in a car’s spokes during a storm which leads to the wheels becoming unbalanced. This causes the vehicle to shake while driving.

The sensation can be anything from a minor shake to making you think your wheels are going to come off. The problem gets worse at higher speeds, so it makes sense that you would notice it on the highway.

Once the ice melts off your wheels the problem will go away. If the feeling is really unnerving you, use a snow brush to clean between your car’s spokes and this should solve the issue.

Thanks for your question, Carly! Take it easy on the roads and don’t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you need anything else.

new 2019 nissan sentra for sale in renton washingtonDear Robert,

I noticed some black smoke coming from my 2019 Nissan Sentra’s exhaust yesterday and heard what sounded like a popping noise. My friend said this could be down to a dirty air filter: is he right?

Thanks,
Mathew

Hi, Mathew!

There are a number of things that could cause black smoke to come from your 2019 Nissan Sentra’s exhaust. But your friend is correct that a dirty air filter may be the culprit.

Your air filter ensures that the right amount of oxygen reaches the engine. When it gets too dirty not enough air is let in.

If your Sentra’s engine isn’t getting enough oxygen, it might not burn off fuel at an adequate rate. This could result in some gasoline running through the car’s system which would cause black smoke.

As the unburnt fuel runs through your vehicle’s system it becomes super-heated, this results in the popping sounds you have been hearing.

When you waste fuel like this your car’s mpg will drop and it’s also bad for the environment. I think you should call down to our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look.

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

new 2018 nissan rogue for sale in redmond washingtonDear Robert,

One of the tires on my 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport is showing an alternating pattern of hills and valleys. Is this something to worry about and what causes it?

Thanks,
Debra

Hi, Debra!

It sounds like one of your 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport's tires is cupping. Usually, this is a cause for concern, and I’ll explain why.

Cupping is often caused by worn out or damaged suspension components. This could be anything from your struts to shock absorbers.

A bad shock absorber is the most common culprit. Since this problem causes your tire to bounce as you drive, it comes down harder on some spots more than others. This results in the hills and valleys you see on the rubber.

Sometimes this problem can be the result of a wheel that is out of balance. Although, if this is the case, the hill and valley effect won’t be as pronounced.

Either way, something isn’t working as it should on your Rogue Sport. You should visit our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look.

Thanks for the question, Debra! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you need anything else.
new 2019 nissan leaf for sale in redmond washingtonHi Robert,

I’m interested in buying a new 2019 Nissan LEAF. My friend has one and loves it but says he barely ever uses the brake pedal: how is this possible?

Thanks,
Barry

Hi, Barry!

The 2019 Nissan LEAF is a fantastic car, and I'm not surprised your friend loves it. What he is referring to is the e-pedal: I’ll explain how it works.

Almost all electric vehicles use regenerative braking to slow down: this also recharges the battery. The next step for this technology is the e-pedal.

When you accelerate, the e-pedal drives the car forward like a standard vehicle. But, once pressure is released, it engages the motor in reverse and can even apply the brakes to slow down the car.

You can slow the LEAF down, bring it to a halt, and even hold the vehicle on an incline without ever touching the brake pedal. This system should be all you need to use for about 90% of urban driving.

There is an actual brake pedal but, unlike a regular one, it should mainly be used emergencies or times when you need to slow down very quickly.

Thanks for the question, Barry! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you need anything else.
new 2018 nissan titan for sale in redmond washingtonHi Robert,

Yesterday I noticed that my 2018 Nissan Titan is slightly lower on the left side. My Friend said this could be caused by a problem with the struts, is he correct?

Thanks,
Garry

Hi, Garry!

There are a few reasons your 2018 Nissan Titan could be slightly lower on one side, including problems with its struts.

The struts suspend the body of your truck over the wheels and transfer its weight to them. They also contain the shock absorbers which soak up impacts from the road and ensure your Titan rides smoothly.

The shock absorbers rely on coil springs to function properly: this means that there are three main components all working together.

If any of one of these components become stuck, it can result in one side of the vehicle being higher or lower than the other.

I can’t say that this is the problem with your truck without inspecting it. My advice is to call down to our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look.

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