dirt child Newbie

Joined: Apr 18 2013
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1
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Location: U.S. - California
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Posted: Apr 23 2013 at 9:32pm | IP Logged
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Hi All -
(copied from Newbie Section)
http://www.nissanfrontier.org/forum_posts.asp?
TID=5599&TPN=1
New to your group, and have read a bunch before joining.
I wasnt able to find certain topics and so they are in
this post. I apologize for the long post - anxiety about
my truck has me numb and brain dead - - -
I have been the happiest of happy truck owners in my Blue
XE 4x4 Frontier/KingCab - my long awaited dream vehicle,
for the last 12 years.
due to scholastic endeavors and distractions, i let the
radiator go and thus so did my head gasket 40k ago -
boo!!! no comments please - uhg..
We, and I mean WE, are up to 181,000 together! but no
longer happy - it sounds from other posts that it could
be the gasket again perhaps, or maybe the water pump,
there is air in the cooling system, over heating, vapors
out the back, etc - she's a mess and very unhappy....
or should i say I am a mess and very unhappy about it!
i have read a few posts with similar symptoms and
conclusions included a new gasket/engine.
I have read many posts and studied the symptomology and
the lists of parts to replace (new engine this time...)
while ripping the ole girl apart...
i have read that the previous truck to the frontier was
pretty bullet proof, and that frontiers are not so much,
they can be harder to work on than a Toyota and from
experience, they sure are a lot more expensive to work
on!! I have done simple maintenance on past vehicles, but
not this one, so Trading out for a simpler vehicle was a
consideration.... thoughts? comments?
I am going to get a look over by a good local shop with
an excellent reputation and do my homework on the
incidentals involved in putting in a new engine.
It looks like I will keep her after all since making the
switch to a less demanding vehicle would cost me 3x what
it would cost to fix her. I am riding my Moto through the
summer and hope to give her a thorough and comprehensive
lift by the end of the dry season!
Recommendations? Thoughts? Comments?
I know she's a bit of a boutique truck, still, I can't
help but have my doubts about going for another 200k on
her.
Comments/ thoughts???
How are other 2000 Frontiers doing out there??
How are others dealing with the aluminum/iron/head gasket
issue? Do we just keep getting new engines? Do we get
religious about oil changes? What else is necessary?
(granted a better eye on things and more regular
maintenance...)
What about the automatic transmission on a 2000? i did
some 4-wheeling, but no towing. I have carried
motorcycles here and there. and a butt load of sand for a
couple weeks once. Has anyone had a trani go yet? cost?
incidentals?
I'm all ears and will also continue to search for the
data i'll need to navigate this with my eyes open - and
to be better equipped to have an old truck in my life!!
Thank you - e/dirt
...and then - Thank you Don!!
3.3 V-6, and it's a 2001 !!! Strangely have never been
able to keep the year straight - I must be getting old!
It was built in Sept 2000.
It was a new style truck back then with a light back half
that could hydroplane like nobody's business! Lotso
fun!!!
I didn't even test drive it. Just tracked one down the
summer of 2001?or2? and signed the contract. Got in it
and drove away, hella happy!! Never regretted it!!
First ugly over-heat was ugly bad - head could have
warped - was sent out and inspected - I was told it had
not. Also replaced Exhaust manifolds at the same time.
I now go to a straight up happy go lucky mechanic who
asks, do EYE want to keep it!? (which I do if it isn't
going to bite me in the arse) and lectures me to do my
homework!
I bring it in Friday for a diagnostic. !!! I cannot
wait!
Thank You Frontier lovers -
E/dirt
__________________ emc
2000-ONE! (2001) Frontier
1990 Honda NT650
Project: 1982 Yamaha XT200
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