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Most Common Nissan Vehicle Questions In Seattle, Tacoma, And Bellevue Washington
new 2018 nissan maxima for sale in kent kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

My friend was driving behind me recently and said she saw some fluid come out my 2018 Nissan Maxima's exhaust. I’m just wondering what this is and if I should be worried.

Thanks,
Amanda

Hi, Amanda!

This may or may not be a problem for your 2018 Nissan Maxima depending on what fluid is coming out of your exhaust.

More often than not, when you see fluid coming out of a vehicle’s pipe, it’s water. This is caused by condensation which has formed inside the exhaust system and is usually accompanied by thin white smoke: this is nothing to worry about.

If your car has been warmed up and running for a while but thick white smoke and water are coming out of the exhaust, it could be a more serious issue; this may indicate that you have a blown head gasket or a cracked engine block.

The fluid coming out of your exhaust could be gasoline, and this would indicate that there’s an incomplete burn in the combustion chamber. Essentially, the fuel/air mixture is not igniting properly and the excess is coming out of your pipe.

If you're experiencing the second or third issue listed above, you should call into our Service Department and let the Technicians have a look.

Thanks for your question, Amanda! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.
new 2018 nissan sentra for sale in kent kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

I’ve noticed my 2018 Nissan Sentra has a rough idle. My friend said that worn out spark plugs could be the problem: is he correct?

Thanks,
Andrew

Hi, Andrew!

If you have worn out spark plugs in your 2018 Nissan Sentra, they could cause a rough idle - I’ll explain why.

Spark plugs ignite the air and fuel mixture in your vehicle’s cylinders. When they are working properly, the combustion rate is constant and that keeps your car’s idle steady.

Once your plugs deteriorate, they can’t ignite the gas and air as efficiently or consistently. So, when this mixture combusts, it will cause your Sentra's idle to rise and fall.

Unfortunately, a rough idle can be caused by lots of different problems: a broken vacuum hose or a clogged filter could also produce this issue. There is really no way for me to give an accurate assessment of your vehicle without inspecting it.

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

Thanks for the question, Andrew! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.
new 2018 nissan rogue for sale in kent seattle washingtonHi Robert,

I recently accepted a new job offer which means that I'll be moving to a warmer climate. I’m wondering if leaving my 2018 Nissan Rogue under strong direct sunlight could damage it.

Thanks,
Tom

Hi, Tom!

It’s great to hear about your new job, but you’re right to be cautious about leaving your 2018 Nissan Rogue exposed to direct sunlight.

Ultraviolet radiation combined with extreme heat wreaks havoc on dashboards around the world. Over time this will cause the materials to split and crack, so watch out for it. 

Your car’s paintwork and exterior plastic parts will also fade at an increased rate when exposed to excessive sunlight. This is especially true if your vehicle is a dark color like black, blue, or red.

Another thing which suffers in severe heat is your Rogue’s upholstery. Nice leather seats can quickly age under direct sunlight as their natural oils dry out; this will cause them to stiffen and crack.

Bearing what I’ve said in mind, it is always best to try to park your car in a shaded spot.

Thanks for the question, Tom! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.
2017 nissan sentra for sale kent kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

I recently purchased a 2017 Nissan Sentra but noticed a flapping sound coming from the air conditioning unit. I only hear it when the system is on: do you have any idea what could be causing this?

Thanks,
Anna

Hi, Anna!

Congratulations on your latest purchase, the 2017 Nissan Sentra is a great vehicle. Hearing a flapping or slapping sound coming from the air conditioning unit is a common automotive issue and nothing to be concerned about.

The cause of this problem is almost certainly a worn out ventilation flap. Once this piece becomes loose, it starts to make a slapping sound whenever you use the air conditioning system.

Your A/C probably isn't as consistent or strong as it once was but, apart from this, it won't cause your vehicle any other problems. It's likely that you'll be more annoyed by the slapping noise than you are by the slightly reduced airflow.

My advice is to call into our Service Department at your earliest convenience and let the Technicians inspect your Sentra.

Thanks for the question, Anna! Don’t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.
new 2018 nissan kicks for sale in kent kirkland washingtonDear Robert,

I recently bought a new 2018 Nissan Kicks from your Kirkland dealership. It smells great and I’d like to know how to keep it that way.

Thanks,
Emily

Hi, Emily!

There are plenty of ways to keep your 2018 Nissan Kicks smelling delightful. The methods I’ll cover below will work much better than a store bought car air freshener.

One way to get a nice fragrance in your vehicle is to put a scented candle under one or both of the front seats. The best thing about this method is there are far more scents to choose from than a standard air freshener.

Another great piece of advice is to keep coffee beans in your vehicle. Apart from smelling wonderful, they can absorb unwanted odors: just make sure you change them every so often.

If you find your Kicks is starting to smell bad, try sprinkling some baking soda over the interior and leaving it overnight. Then, in the morning, vacuum it all up; this should remove any unwanted scents.

You might find that your seats start to retain an unpleasant smell, especially during summer. All you need to do is rub them down with some dryer sheets to return them to their original glory.

Thanks for the question, Emily! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.
new 2018 nissan titan xd for sale in issaquah kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

My father told me to warm up my 2018 Nissan Titan XD for around five minutes before I set off in the morning. Does this sound about right to you?

Thanks,
Emma

Hi, Emma!

The idea that you need to warm your car up for a few minutes during the winter is one of the biggest myths in is the automotive industry.

Older vehicles used carburetors to create the right mix of air and gasoline. They needed to be warmed up properly or the engine could stall: this is where the idea comes from.

Modern engines, like the one in your 2018 Nissan Titan XD, use fuel injectors which don't need to be warmed up to work properly.

Industry experts recommend leaving your car running for no longer than 30 seconds before driving in winter. This is long enough to heat the clumpy oil at the bottom of your engine and make it begin to flow freely.

The only exception would be if you are about to pull a heavy load during winter: in this case, you can let your truck warm up for around five minutes.

Thanks for the question, Emma! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you need anything else.
new nissan titan for sale in issaquah kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

I just bought a new 2018 Nissan Titan and was thinking about covering it until the weather improves. My father said this could damage my truck: is he correct?

Thanks,
Brian

Hi, Brian!

Congratulations on your new purchase, the 2018 Nissan Titan is a great vehicle to tackle winter in. The answer to your question isn’t a straightforward yes or no, let me explain.

Your father is right that a car cover could harm to your Titan. This is because they can trap moisture and cause rust to form on your truck: of course, that's the last thing you want for a new vehicle.

But, as I explained, this topic isn't that straightforward; there are some winter car covers which provide proper ventilation. These products act more like shields which sit above your vehicle, instead of hugging it.

If you can’t get a winter cover that provides proper ventilation, you should try to store your truck somewhere which will protect it from the elements. You don't need to have an air-conditioned garage, just make sure that it's a dry place.

Thank for the question, Brian! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you ever need anything else.

new 2018 nissan sentra for sale federal way kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

I’ve noticed my 2018 Nissan Sentra makes noise and pulls slightly when it's turning. I recently drove on some pretty bad roads, so there may be a problem with the suspension. Could this be the cause?

Thanks,
Dan

Hi, Dan!

I can't say what's wrong with your 2018 Nissan Sentra without inspecting it; but when a car squeaks and pulls while turning, it’s a strong indicator that there's an issue with the suspension.

When parts of a car's suspension system are damaged, the vehicle’s center of balance can change along with the angle of its tires. This would account for the pull you experience when turning your Sentra.

If your lower ball joint has been damaged it could creek when you turn the wheel. But hearing a knocking sound as the car's weight transfers mid-corner would indicate that you have an issue with your sway bar end link.

Either way, it sounds like you have a problem with your vehicle. I'd recommend that you call into our Service Department and let the Technicians inspect your car.

Thanks for the question, Dan! Don’t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you need anything else.
2018 nissan pathfinder for sale in federal way kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

Recently I’ve noticed that my 2018 Nissan Pathfinder's gas mileage has started to decrease. I have never changed the spark plugs and drive a lot for work: could this be causing the problem?

Thanks,
Tom

Hi, Tom!

If you tend to rack up a lot of miles in your 2018 Nissan Pathfinder and don’t change the spark plugs it could cause the fuel economy to go down. The fact of the matter is, these are consumable items which need to be replaced over time.

Spark plugs ignite the mixture of oxygen and petrol in your engine. Over time, their ability to complete this action gets worse: this leads to misfires.

When an engine misfires it means that the spark hasn’t properly combusted the oxygen and petrol mixture. So, although gas is going into your cylinder when you put the throttle down, it’s not all igniting.

Studies have shown that misfires can reduce a vehicle’s fuel efficiency by up to 30%. Why not call into our Service Department and get the Technicians to see if this is the issue with your Pathfinder?

Thanks for your question, Tom! Please don’t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you need anything else!
new nissan sentra for sale in federal way kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

I’d like to know a bit more about what’s happening mechanically with my 2018 Nissan Sentra. I can tell when the brake pads need to be replaced but what signs should I look out for when it comes to the rotors?

Thanks,
Tony

Hi, Tony!

It’s great to see someone who's proactive about car maintenance: your 2018 Nissan Sentra will thank you for it. Usually, rotors have a lifespan of somewhere between 30,000-50,000 miles.

One way to check is to take your wheel off and measure the thickness of the disc with a vernier caliper. Then compare the dimensions with the recommended guidelines in your owner’s manual. This will indicate if too much of the rotor has worn away.

There is another way to inspect your rotor without a vernier caliper or taking your wheel off. Run your finger up and down the disc, if you feel a sizable indent between the top and bottom it may need to be replaced.

If your car starts to shake when you apply the brakes, this could also be a sign that the discs are warped or have worn down too much.

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