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Most Common Nissan Vehicle Questions In Seattle, Tacoma, And Bellevue Washington
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 sentra for sale in issaquah kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

I'll be spending a few months in Europe this year for business. Do you think I should get a trickle charger to make sure my 2018 Nissan Sentra’s battery doesn't go flat? If so, how would I set it up?

Thanks,
Christopher

Hi, Christopher!

If your battery isn't going to be used for a few months it will start to discharge. With this in mind, it would be a good idea to fit a trickle charger to your 2018 Nissan Sentra while you’re away.

The best type to go for is one with a built in regulator. This will match your battery’s discharge rate, ensuring the power always stays at a constant level.

Attaching a trickle charger is an easy process. First, you need to make sure that your vehicle is parked in a well-ventilated location which is free from rain. Then you should turn your Sentra’s ignition off and remove the key.

Make sure the amperage and voltage levels on the trickle charger are set to match your vehicle’s battery before you connect anything.

A trickle charger has two alligator clips, you need to connect the positive one to the matching battery terminal. Then, clasp the negative to a bare piece of metal: the car’s frame is a good option. Finally, you can plug the unit into a regular power outlet and switch it on.

Thanks for the question, Christopher. Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again if you need anything else.
new 2018 nissan frontier for sale in issaquah kirkland washingtonDear Robert,

I was thinking about doing some light off-roading in my 2018 Nissan Frontier. My friend said slightly deflating the tires would help: is this true and, if so, what PSI should they be?

Thanks,
Toby

Hi, Toby!

Hitting some tough trails is a fantastic pastime and the 2018 Nissan Frontier is a great truck to get you started. In this instance, your friend is right: lowering your PSI will aid you when off-roading.

If you’re driving over loose sand, rocks, or mud you want as much of the tire’s surface area to touch the ground as possible. So lowering your PSI will actually give your Frontier more traction.

You’ll also notice that the ride will feel less stiff as you drive over obstacles, thus making life easier for everyone in the cabin. Although letting some air out of your tires won’t make them impenetrable, they will be more resistant to punctures.

Finding the right pressure for your Frontier will take some trial and error. Most stock tires are rated at around 35 PSI +/-: 15-20 PSI is a good starting point for off-roading.

Don’t deflate your rubber too much as this could cause it to come off the wheel.

Thanks for the question, Toby. Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington 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 2018 nissan kicks for sale in issaquah kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

Over the holidays my brother and I had a debate about what reduces my 2018 Nissan Kicks' gas mileage more: driving with the windows down or using the air conditioning system. Can you put an end to this dispute?

Thanks,
Liam

Hi, Liam!

This is one of the age-old automotive debates and, for a long time, there was no concrete evidence to support either side. Thankfully some research has been conducted which will end this dispute and help you get the most out of your 2018 Nissan Kicks.

The air conditioning system in a vehicle is essentially powered by the engine. So, when it’s on, the car’s drivetrain needs to use more fuel.

Driving with one or multiple windows down increases a vehicle’s drag. Since this slows a car down, more fuel is required to make it run at the same speed.

General Motors and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) conducted tests in 2004 to get to the bottom of this debate. Using a wind tunnel, they determined it was more fuel efficient to drive with your windows down than use an air conditioning system: this is true for both SUVs and sedans.

Thanks for the question, Liam! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you have any more automotive disputes that need to be settled. 
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 rogue for sale in federal way kirkland washingtonHi Robert,

There has been a lot of snow in my town this winter; I’m wondering how best to drive my 2018 Nissan Rogue in these conditions.

Thanks,
Sofia

Hi, Sofia!

Driving over snow isn’t a pleasant experience, especially if it’s something you’re not used to. However, the tips below should help you and your 2018 Nissan Rogue get through the wintry weather safely.

The number one thing to remember is that you need to do things slower than usual: this goes for speeding up, decelerating, and turning. It takes longer to get to your destination when it's snowing, so try not to be in a hurry.

If it's possible, slow down by easing off the throttle instead of using your brakes. When you do need to use them, make sure that you apply steady, firm pressure to the pedal.

It’s best to use momentum to drive up hills instead of sheer power, as this could lead to your tires losing grip. You should also never stop on an incline because it can be very hard to find traction once you want to start moving again.

Thanks for your question, Sofia! Contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington if you ever need anything else, and stay safe.
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!
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