1998 Nissan Maxima

ON 6/11/02 I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (TOWING IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED IN MY WARRANTY WHICH THEY MADE ME PAY FOR). IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE DUE TO WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST, SPUTTERING/HESITATION, FUMES INSIDE CAR, SOAKED FRONT FLOOR MATS. SERVICE MGR CALLED ME TO SAY THE TECH FOUND WATER BACKED UP IN AC HEATER BOX FROM 'DEBRIS'. THIS 'DEBRIS' WAS LEAVES FROM TREES, THAT CAUSED WATER TO DRIP ON THE COMPUTER. (COMPUTER IS A COVERED COMPONENT ACCORDING TO MY WARRANTY). THEY COULD NOT REPLACE MY COMPUTER DUE TO 'NO DEFECT'. THEY SAY IT WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. HOWEVER, I PURCHASED THE CAR 11 MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT. THERE IS A DEFECT SOMEWHERE THAT 'DEBRIS' IS GETTING STUCK/CLOGGED. I GARAGE MY CAR AND DON'T HAVE ANY 'FALLING DEBRIS' FROM ANY TREES IN MY YARD. I DON'T HAVE TREES NEAR ME LIKE THAT. I REFUSED TO PAY THE $1100.00 THEY SAY THE COMPUTER WOULD COST TO BE REPLACED SO THEY PLACED IT IN THE 'SUN' TO 'DRY' AND CLEANED OUT THE EVAPORATOR CASE (WHICH IS WHERE THE 'CLOGGING' OCCURRED). THAT ALONE COST ME $365.65. I WROTE TO NISSAN MOTOR CORP, AMITY NISSAN AND CONTINUOUS CUSTOMER CARE (WARRANTY COMPANY). RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM ANY OF THEM. I WANT MY COMPUTER REPLACED AND BE REIMBURSED FOR THE BILL I HAD TO PAY. IT CLEARLY STATES, IN MY WARRANTY BOOK, THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE COVERED UP UNTIL 100,000 MILES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED-- STACEY J. GUENTHER NLM

THE AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR IS LOCATED BELOW THE AIR INTAKE AND IS OPEN TO DIRT AND DEBRIS. THIS CLOGGED ON A TRIP, CAUSING FLOODING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTERIOR. THE ONLY WARNING IS A YELLOW DASH LIGHT THAT SAYS "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" UPON BLINKING, THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES "DO NOT DRIVE OVER 45 MPH" AND " NO NEED TO TOW TO DEALER" THE UNIT CAR CONTROL COMPUTER IS IN DIRECT LINE WITH THE WATER FLOW FROM THE EVAPORATOR, AND WHEN IT CLOGGED AND FLOODED SHORTED OUT. THIS LEFT THE CAR FUEL INJECTORS WIDE OPEN..FLOODING THE ENGINE..IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS LET-UP ON AT 45, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STALLED. IN TRAFFIC, CREATINGS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECVIALLY SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS DIDN'T TURN ON, AND THE CAR LOSTB ALL POWER..STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. THE GAS FUMES WERE ALMOST OVERCOMING. NEITHER THE OWNERS MANUAL OR THE NISSAN SERVICE INDICATE AT ANY TIME THE NEED TO CLEAN OR PROTECT THIS EVAPORATOR. THE OWNERS MANUAL RE; FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT LEADS ONE TO BELIEVE THE CAT CAN BE DRIVEN SAFELY..IT CANNOT. NISSAN REFUSES TO PAY FOR OR CORRECT THIS LATENT DEFTECT.