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

Auburn Drivers: Should You Get a 2WD or 4WD 2018 Nissan Pathfinder?
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(Posted on Nov 17, 2018 at 07:59AM by Robert Bacon)

Hi Robert,

Iâ€™m considering buying the new 2018 Nissan Pathfinder but I canâ€™t decide whether to get the 2WD or 4WD model. Could you tell me about the pros of each system?

Thanks,
Anna
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Hi, Anna!

Both variants of the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder are absolutely fantastic - but they do offer noticeably different benefits.

While 2WD vehicles might struggle to get down their driveways in heavy snow, 4WD cars will be able to make steady progress. So, if you expect to encounter conditions like these or go off-road relatively often, a 4x4 will give you the most benefit.

If off-roading isnâ€™t your thing and you're lucky enough to have nice weather all year round, thereâ€™s really no need to get a 4WD vehicle. A 2WD car is lighter and, generally, gets more mpg than its 4x4 counterpart.

A 2WD system is also less complicated than a 4WD. So, if something does go wrong with a 4x4, it could cost more to get fixed. The right choice for you will depend on the weather and terrain you're likely to encounter.

Thanks for the question, Anna! If you want to try out the two models for yourself, contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington and book a test drive.

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Car Maintenance Questions

Auburn: Could Worn Out Spark Plugs Cause Your 2017 Nissan Versa To Shake?
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(Posted on Nov 15, 2018 at 10:01AM by Robert Bacon)

Hi Robert,

My 2017 Nissan VersaÂ has started shaking recently. It happens when the engine is idling and while driving. Iâ€™ve never changed the spark plugs, something my father has always been religious about doing. Could this be the cause?

Thanks,
Daniel

Hi, Daniel!

Your father sounds like a wise man. Having good spark plugs is essential to keeping your engine happy and healthy. And, yes, if you donâ€™t change them regularly enough, it could cause your car to shake.

Controlled miniature explosions are, essentially, what keeps a car running. When your spark plugs wear out, itâ€™s harder for the air-fuel mixture to ignite in your Versaâ€™s cylinders. Ultimately, this leads to misfires and a shaky, rough sounding engine.

If this is the cause of your problem, it would be a good idea to get it fixed as soon as you can. The vibrations brought about by your misfires make the components around them wear out at a faster rate, including at your engineâ€™s mount. This means you could end up paying for a lot more than a set of spark plugs.

The solution is straightforward: get new spark plugs, install them, and throw away the old ones.

Thanks for the question, Daniel! If you have any other issues, please donâ€™t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again.

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Fuel Economy Questions

Auburn Drivers: Should You Use Premium or Regular Gas in Your 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport?
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(Posted on Nov 15, 2018 at 10:01AM by Robert Bacon)

Hi Robert,

I just picked up a new 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport and want to take care of it. Normally, I would use regular gas but Iâ€™m considering making the switch to premium. What difference would this make to my car?

Thanks,
Ben

Hi, Ben!

Congratulations on the new purchase. The 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport is a great machine. This vehicleâ€™s engine is actually designed to run on regular gas so itâ€™s really not necessary to use premium.

In the old days, premium gas had a lot of additives and detergents which made your vehicle run more smoothly. But, due to government regulationsÂ aimed at cutting emissions, even regular fuel is high quality now.Â

Old engines also used to have a hard time dealing with varying octane ratings. They would run better on the high levels found in premium gas. But modern control systems can compensate for this by adjusting the ignition timing, so no damage is caused.

Since high-octane fuel can be compressed and heated to a greater degree without self-igniting, it can generate more power: so it does have its uses. But, generally, only performance engines get a lot of benefit from this.

The bottom line is: your Rogue Sport will run just fine on regular gas. And, while premium may shave half a second off its 0-60 mph time, it's not worth the extra cost at the pumps.

Thanks for contacting Kirkland Nissan, Ben!

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Car Maintenance Questions

Does Low Tire Pressure Cause Your 2017 Nissan Sentra To Pull in Auburn, Washington?
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(Posted on Nov 12, 2018 at 10:00AM by Robert Bacon)

Dear Robert,

Iâ€™ve noticed that my 2017 Nissan Sentra has started to pull to the right when driving. My brother said it could be due to its tires. But I donâ€™t understand how this would happen. Could it be the cause?

Thanks,
Lee

Hi, Lee!

Unfortunately, without inspecting your Sentra, I canâ€™t say for sure whatâ€™s causing it to pull. But your brother could be right. Under-inflated tires have increased resistance to roll - so, if just one has low pressure, your car will drift to the side it's on.

The problem mentioned above is amplified by the fact that an under-inflated tire creates a height differential. This results in the wheel alignment shifting, thus pulling the vehicle that way even more so.

The first thing to do is check the air levels in all of your tires; thereâ€™s a pressure gauge at most gas stations. It will be evident pretty quickly if this is the cause of your problem as one will read noticeably lower than the rest.

If you want our technicians to investigate the issue further, just call into our Service Department at Kirkland Nissan, Washington.

Thanks for the question, Lee! Contact us again if you need anything else.

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Driving Questions

Whatâ€™s Causing Your 2019 Nissan Altima To Understeer in Auburn, Washington?
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(Posted on Nov 10, 2018 at 10:00AM by Robert Bacon)

new 2019 nissan altima for sale auburn washington

Hi, Robert

I recently upgraded to the 2019 Nissan Altima. Yesterday, while taking a corner, the car just kept going straight when I turned the wheel. Thankfully, it regained traction and everything was fine. Do you have any idea what caused this?

Thanks,
Andrew

Hi, Andrew!

This sounds like a classic case of understeering to me. It happens when you push the front tires on your Altima beyond their limits of grip.

Front wheel drive cars are more likely to suffer from understeering. This is because these tires must deal with the combination of turning, braking, and accelerating. So, if you overburden them, it will cause you to lose traction and keep traveling in a straight line.

To prevent this from happening again, try to get all your braking done before you turn the steering wheel. Also, only ease on the throttle after youâ€™ve passed the middle of the corner. This will stop you from overworking your tires.

Lastly, understeering is very uncommon when traveling at moderate speeds. So, keep an eye on how fast youâ€™re going and slow down if necessary.Â And, above all else, drive smoothly. Sharp and aggressive motions make your tires work harder.

Thanks for your question, Andrew! Donâ€™t hesitate to contact Kirkland Nissan, Washington again with any other queries.Â

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