2007 Nissan Armada

The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. An unknown message was displayed after the failure occurred. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER WAS UNLAWFULLY RESET AND INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SLUDGE INSIDE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

THIS IS A CONCERN. AS A SENIOR MAINTENANCE MANGER FOR THE US ARMY, RECENTLY RETIRED, AND A VAST KNOWLEDGE OF MECHANICAL, AND SAFETY TRAINING, I CAME ACROSS AN ISSUE THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY FATAL. THE VALVE OR ROCKER COVERS ON THE ARMADA SLANT DOWN, AWAY AND BACK FROM THE ENGINE. THE BOTTOM BACK CORNER OF THE VALVE COVER SITS PERFECTLY OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER (DRIVERS SIDE). IF THE SEAL IS BROKEN AND THE OIL SEEPS OUT IT WILL DRAIN TO THE LOWEST POINT AND DRIP DOWN ONTO THE TOP OF THE HEAT SHIELD FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND POOL UNDER THE CONVERTER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN THAT OIL GETS HOT AND BURNS AND CAN POSSIBLY CATCH FIRE. DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH OIL HAS DRIPPED ONTO THE HEAT SHIELD AND HOW LONG THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN WOULD DETERMINE THE HEAT NEEDED TO GENERATE A FIRE. DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE FIRE IT IS POSSIBLE IT COULD BURN THE FUEL LINES THAT RUN IN THE SAME AREA. *TR