You don't have to be an import specialist to know that Nissan cars and trucks have a good reputation for reliability and longevity. Nissan, under the Datsun name, was one of the first Japanese automakers to break into the U.S. market. They did it right, by establishing a strong dealer network and offering a quality product at the right price. In doing so, they have built a loyal group of customers.

In this article, we'll take a look at some the common mechanical problems that have cropped up on this line of cars. "Common" is probably the wrong word, but with the amount of miles these cars deliver, some problems will inevitably show up.

TIMING COMPONENT REPAIRS

Over the years, Nissan has used both timing belts and chains. Currently, in most of its vehicles, the valve train is controlled with a chain. If you had to pick a problem area with these engines, it would be in the valve timing area. And most of these problems are leaks. On GA16-equipped Sentra models, front crank seals are a common failure. It's hard to miss this one with its tell-tale trail of oil being whipped off the pulley. They're easy to replace by simply removing the pulley, popping out the seal, and installing a new seal and fresh drive belts. Be sure to inspect the seal contact area on the pulley for wear. If it's deeply grooved, let it protrude slightly so the lip will contact an unworn portion of the pulley, rather than install the seal flush.