1998 Nissan Maxima I was told it may be a bent rod

ARTNTERRI

MEMBER
1998 NISSAN MAXIMA
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
130,000 MILES

We have been smelling a gas smell then the engine light came on we put off service for about a month. The car was missing so I thought it may need new plugs couldn't locate them so I remove one of the fuel injecters and must have messed up the o ring. The same day we put some lucas in the gas tank, then drove the car and it started smoking and quit running. Took it to local shop they put to seal kits in the two fuel injecters and got it running, but told me they think that one of the rods is bent. We drove the car home I drove it around the block it wasn't smoking but you can hear the engine is a little noiser than it was. We like the car and would like your advice on what to do and how much it could cost to fix. Thank you ArtnTerri.

1 Reply

PEAR69

MECHANIC
1,482 POSTS

A bent rod will lead to catastrophic engine damage. The noise you hear is probably the rod knocking against the block -- everytime it hits the block, the block becomes weaker and eventually either the rod will break or the block will break -- or both. Then it will be time for a completly new engine. If you catch it in time, you can replace the rod -- I suggest replacing all of the rods as a set. This requires a total rebuild of your engine.
A rebuild will cost you around 1500 and a new engine will cost about 2500. These are high estimates, depending on your location and stuff like that.I do suggest having an ASE Certified Tech. Do the engine work.