Nissan Frontier

[Mike in Virginia]

Anyone have a clue what might be wrong with my new truck?  It's a 2012 model, automatic.  At about 15,000 miles, it developed a shudder when stopped at a light, or anytime when I stop with it in gear.  Shift to neutral and it goes away.  If I hold the brake while in drive and simultaneously give it a little gas, the shudder goes away.  Like it's idling to slow.  In the old days, that probably meant a carbureator adjustment, but on the new computerized vehicles, I don't know what to adjust.
They said that the truck "learned" how I drove and adjusted itself accordingly.  No one has ever driven it but me.  They said they set the computer back to where it was when it was new, but the shudder is still there.  Driving me crazy. 
Any ideas?

[Larry L]

There are 2 things to try but do them separately. The first thing i would suggest is disconnecting the battery for about 5 minutes. Hook it back up and see if that makes a difference. Make sure when testing that the engine is at full operating temp. If that doesn't effect it, clean the MAF which is by the air box. Make sure to use a sensor cleaner. If that doesn't do it, disconnect the MAF and drive it. A MAF can be out of range but not code up on these engines. If there is no change when driving it, the MAF is bad. If it runs better, the MAF is bad. It should run lousy with it disconnected. Hopefully you have the stock air box and a paper filter.

[Lloyd Smale]

could be your torque convertor going south

[guzzijohn]

Since I assume you are still under warranty I would ask the dealer to have you drive another Frontier and see if the same shudder is there. If not tell them to fix it until it no longer does that. Keep a log on everything incase you have to push the lemon law.
GuzziJohn

[FPH]

Since I assume you are still under warranty I would ask the dealer to have you drive another Frontier and see if the same shudder is there. If not tell them to fix it until it no longer does that. Keep a log on everything incase you have to push the lemon law.
GuzziJohn

X 2  my friend has the 4x4 No Fear version.  Went through 6 or so tie rods.

[scratcherky]

A plugged PCV system will cause a shutter when stopped in gear. See if you can find the PCV valve and clean it out with carb cleaner. Also make sure a hose is not loose or has a hole in it.

[Mike in Virginia]

I haven't been able to resolve it.  But thanks to all.  I'm headed back to the dealer tomorrow morning.  It's getting worse.  I intend to be their worst nightmare until it gets fixed. 

[Mike in Virginia]

Well, I took my new Frontier to the dealer (again) and told 'em I wanted the shudder fixed and I wanted it fixed under warranty.  After 2 hours, the service manager said the exhaust system needed an "adjustment" and adjustments were not covered under warranty.  $43 dollars later, I still have the shudder.  If I live long enough to get a new truck, it ain't gonna be no dern Nissan. 

[wtxbadger]

Have you tried contacting Nissan directly to try and get and the problem resolved? Calling or emailing either the regional or corporate office might help encourage your local dealer to resolve the problem to your satisfaction.

wtxbadger

[Bugflipper]

I would be sure to get the $43 back. Exhaust adjustments don't fix a rough idle. In essence they don't know what's wrong with it so they charged you for their stupidity. Moving rubber isolators on the hangers doesn't constitute any charge at all for a customer having an issue with a new vehicle.


 If it has the 4.0 they have the idle set to 630-650 rpm to save gas from the factory. Pop your hood and see if your engine is shaking at idle. If so ask them to bump it up 50 rpm for the idle speed. In most cases this solves the engine stuttering about at idle.
To test it before taking it in barely depress the pedal at idle and try to hold it at a constant rpm 750 rpm or under. Your shudder should go away. If they can't reprogram your idle you can get a bully dog and do it yourself. They run about 250 and you can change a lot of parameters to increase fuel economy, performance or towing. If you take it in for warranty work you will need to use the revert to stock feature. The Magnus Moss Act won't cover changing the ecu settings.

[Empty Quiver]

You may also investigate idle air circuit, or whatever constitutes one in your Nissan. What it does is introduce air into the manifold. The extra air causes a lean condition which is corrected for and the idle increases. It is easier to control a small orifice rather than a large throttle plate to get a better handle on low speed rpm changes.


Now whether or not you have this I do not know. If you kill the defrost does it help? It sounds like the added load on the engine is a cause of some sort. The idle circuit is there for that as well. The smaller the engine the more important those things become. As a percentage of power an AC compressor is little in a 6.0L V8 But by the time you are driving it with a 1.4L I4 you have a pretty good load. You are in the betweens.


Good luck

[guzzijohn]

Quote from Mike in Virginia:
"If I live long enough to get a new truck, it ain't gonna be no dern Nissan."


Any new vehicle can have some hiccups. It really sounds like something quite simple. I am on my second small Nissan (96). Both have been very reliable. My current 96 model has had one change of shocks, one O2 sensor, one tune up and had to replace the plastic bottle that holds the windshield washer fluid, that it in about 120K miles. It has sat outside most of its life and still has zero rust. The only reason I am on a second one is that I wanted to go from a regular cab to an extended cab.
GuzziJohn