Posted: Jul 14 2006 at 7:07am | IP Logged

Titan owners should check their engine for knocking noise when first started in the AM after sitting all night. If you stand outside the truck and reach in and turn the key, you might start hearing an engine knock until oil pressure builds up.

I have had the problem since my Titan was new and I have talked online to other owners that have the same problem. The dealer has been side stepping the problem for a year now and the Nissan rep just added an additive to the oil. That's like trying to doctor up the noise.

They admit to the knock, but don't seem to want to deal with it. It's not something that any Titan owner would want when the vehicle is out of warranty. I would be very interested in other coments on the problem.

Thanks,

Bill

Posted: Aug 01 2006 at 1:40pm | IP Logged

Have you tried to take it to a different Nissan Dealer.  If you have another dealership not to far away I would give that a try.

Posted: Aug 01 2006 at 2:34pm | IP Logged

Hi,

I would love to take it to another dealer, but the same factory rep from Nissan will show up and I'll be right back where I started. The factory rep serves the entire area surrounding Vero Beach ,Fl.

They must be trying to hide something, because the mechanic at the local dealer has told me that most of the Titans have the same knock when started cold.

Bill

Posted: Aug 15 2006 at 12:59pm | IP Logged

My 2006 has 11000 Km on it and started the "Cold Start" knock around 8000.  I am about to take the truck to the dealer for advice.  To me, it sounds like noisy lifters.  Lifters can loose oil pressure when the engine hasn't been running for a day or so.  I had a 93 Mazda MX6 and at 70 thousand Km (same engine configuration, 4 valves per cylinder, double OH cams)  it use to do the same thing when cold.  2 dealers told me it was normal, one said they could fix it. They all said it was due to the lifters lossing pressure overnight, but as soon as the engine was started, the lifters would pressure up and the noise goes away.

  The dealer installed new lifters, cams, reseated valves, nearly rebuilding the top of the engine and the noise was still there.  I switched to synthetic oil, no change.  I later moved from East coast Canda to the West Coast and for some reason the cold start lifter noise stopped!

I believe the Titan has the same problem and from what I've read on the Net, the dealers won't do anything.  My last truck was a 98 Isuzu, again with the same multi-valved, dbl OH cams and it never made any noise on cold starts.  So I belive the problem can be fixed its just that Nissan won't spend the money to do so.

Other than that, I love the truck.  Although I can't get anywhere near the mileage they say I should get and I drive like an old lady!

Posted: Aug 25 2006 at 8:13am | IP Logged

Hi Titanmandan,

I understand what you are saying about the lifter noise. It can also cause damage to camshafts and rockers over a period of time.

The noise that I am getting is a much more dense noise than the type of noise that a lifter would make. It is difficult to determine the cause because it only last up to 10 seconds. Nissan doesn't seem to want to find the cause. They just tell me that it is under warranty if anything happens! That's real comforting.

I am going to take it to another dealer in a different stsate and see if they can help. If not, I'll have to get rid of this truck and avoid Nissan forever.

Bill Rodgers

Vero Beach, Fl

800-535-6009 x225

772-532-6364 cell

Posted: Dec 16 2006 at 5:31pm | IP Logged

IMHO, a few lifter thunks when first starting isn't a big problem.  Over the next 150,000 miles that ya'll will own your trucks is won't amount to a hill of beans as far as damage to the engine.  Definitely something I wouldn't worry the dealer about and go through all that aggravation.  Some lifters bleed down and thunk when you start it up.  My wife's 20 year old Porsche 944 (183K) thwaks when you start it up and it runs as strong now as the day we bought it. 

Don't want to ruffle any feathers, just my 2% of a dollar.