Newbie with a problem - help. Please!

[johnno]

Good evening chaps and chappesses(?!) I hope all are well.

As the forum title suggests, please be gentle, I'm a (kinda) newbie to Terrano ownership

I bought and collected a 2004 LWB Terrano 3.0Td over the weekend, test drove it locally to the dealer and drove it 150 miles home no problem. She appears to be a nice example, 60k and a regularly stamped book. Got home, turned the engine off for about 5 mins, started her up again - oil light on. I've since done about 150 miles (100 or so towing a caravan) and there have been no problems. This morning, starting from cold - oil light on. Tow caravan 60 miles home, no oil light, no problem. The motors been started 2 or 3 times this evening sometimes light comes on, sometimes it doesn't.

My first instinct is that there's nothing wrong with the engine. No smoke, no loss of power, plenty oil.
I contacted the dealer who suggested a "faulty switch" which I expected to hear to be honest.

I suppose what I'm asking is, am I missing something obvious which would suggest something terminal? The other problem I have is that I have to go offshore on Wednesday so have very little time to investigate further and return the truck to the dealer should there be a problem.

Any replies hugely appreciated.

John.

 

[briggie]

i know it sounds silly , but have you actually checked the oil level ?

 

[R1cho]

sometimes my oil light stays on longer than it should, my oil levels are fine and i have never had any problems, does yours stay on or does it just stay on longer than it should then go off?

 

[johnno]

Cheers for the quick replies guys :thumb2 !

I have checked the oil several times, both when cold and at least half an hour after stopping engine. If anything, there may be slightly too much oil in there.

What happens is, that the light doesn't go off at all once started. But not every time! For example this morning, start from cold, light on. Short 5 min drive, stays on. Stop engine, leave half hour, start up, no light. Fine for journey home towing twin axle tin tent.

There appears to be no rhyme nor reason to when it stays on. Stayed on tonight after starting hot. Turn off, start immediately, no light :nenau .

what I have just noticed is that the oil hasn't been changed in a while, according to the service book. Would a change and filter replacement help?

Cheers,

John.

 

[R1cho]

how many miles since last change?

 

[jims-terrano]

I'm sure I've heard of this before on the 3Litre. Best let the garage take a look to be sure though as you've only just bought it. Welcome aboard.

Jim

 

[johnno]

Erm...... 15k since last change according to service book... :augie

Tomorrow will be mostly spent asking a couple of local 4x4 specialists if they can carry out a pressure check.

As a by the by, is the oil filter a paper cartridge type found on the housing to the nearside of the block? How easy to change and how much oil needed to replace?

The 3.0l is a completely new beast to me.

Cheers,

John.

p.s. cheers for the welcome, I may spend a lot of time on here....!

 

[R1cho]

only thing on mine with paper is the air filter but mines a 2.7 dunno about the 3.0

 

[solarman216]

change the switch, only a few £s (any motor factors will have one) if still the same return it to the people you got it from, if you go to a garage for a pressure test it will cost more than replacing the switch, but sounds to me like switch problem, if you have no rattling starting from cold all should be well, if you do have rattling from cold for the first few seconds I would be very suspicious, Rick

 

[lacroupade]

Erm...... 15k since last change according to service book... :augie

Tomorrow will be mostly spent asking a couple of local 4x4 specialists if they can carry out a pressure check.

As a by the by, is the oil filter a paper cartridge type found on the housing to the nearside of the block? How easy to change and how much oil needed to replace?

The 3.0l is a completely new beast to me.

Cheers,

John.

p.s. cheers for the welcome, I may spend a lot of time on here....!

Should be 6k intervals because of the turbo....and make sure you get a decent filter, don't skimp as the old Terrano notices and likes to get you back LOL.:thumb2

 

[johnno]

Quick update - the truck is currently with my friendly, local 4x4 specialist who's checking the pressure and changing the switch by the filter housing. Apparently, there's another pressure sensor on the opposite side of the block, but being more of a LR man, he doesn't have a lot of experience with Nissans' finest and isn't sure where it is exactly.

If I get the all clear from him, I'll be happy the engine isn't about to implode!
A new filter has been ordered and a change will be top of the list when i get home in a fortnights' time.

The next battle with the dealer will be for some re-compense for the list of advisories that came with the MOT which I was never shown......
But that's a whole new story...... :nenau

Cheers,

John.

 

[lacroupade]

Quick update - the truck is currently with my friendly, local 4x4 specialist who's checking the pressure and changing the switch by the filter housing. Apparently, there's another pressure sensor on the opposite side of the block, but being more of a LR man, he doesn't have a lot of experience with Nissans' finest and isn't sure where it is exactly.

If I get the all clear from him, I'll be happy the engine isn't about to implode!
A new filter has been ordered and a change will be top of the list when i get home in a fortnights' time.

The next battle with the dealer will be for some re-compense for the list of advisories that came with the MOT which I was never shown......
But that's a whole new story...... :nenau

Cheers,

John.

well remember that, whatever they try and say, the dealer has six months warranty obligation under the SoG Act. :thumb2

This oil light thing is a known 3.0 issue and not a big deal as I recall.

 

[rayf3262]

There are two oil pressure switches on the ZD30 engine,, one low pressure & one high pressure.

 

[johnno]

Is the one by the filter housing the low or high pressure one?
And could you give me the location of the other one to pass on to the garage please?

Once again, thanks all for the replies. Much appreciated :thumb2.
I can see me parting with a tenner sooner rather than later

Cheers,

John.

 

[apgphoto]

John,

I have just bought a 3.0 and it does exactly the same thing, as has been said is a known issue on these engines.

I was told its the sensor near the starter motor that is normally the one that plays up, I haven't checked the exact location as after a pressure check I wasn't too worried.

Paul

 

[johnno]

Just got the truck back with a pressure reading of 95psi which, according to the chap at the garage is "plenty pressure".
Does the collective knowledge here know what kind of pressure I should be expecting from the engine? The reading was taken from the sensor located by the oil filter housing.
I'm "kind of" reassured that the lump is in good health, but having the oil light on permanently doesn't help keep the faith .

Cheers,

John.