Nissan's inability to properly seal and install a snorkel

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docp1980

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Just to give anyone who wasn't on the high country long weekend trip an idea of what happened: During one of the deeper crossings of the Humffray River, my 'sealed' snorkel leaked and my airbox took in a large amount of water. I was about 2m from coming out of the crossing when the ute almost stalled, blowing out a heap of black smoke in the process. It then went back to normal and I drove it out. After shutting down the engine and pulling apart the airbox, the air filter was completely saturated and water was in the air box. Luckily, it appeared that no water had gotten past the filter and into the engine - If the crossing had been any wider, or if the deeper section had gone on for any longer though, it could have been a completely different story! After replacing the air filter (thanks again Ridgie!), the ute drove out of the valley no worries at all. After taking the ute back to Nissan, I managed to get them to agree to paying for me to have the snorkel sealed where I want, as well as giving me another air filter.

WELL, today I got Guest 4wd to pull the snorkel apart and reseal the entire thing. What they found was astonishing. There was a large gap in the snorkel at one of the joins inside the guard. In addition, the snorkel was missing a nut where it was supposed to be secured to the guard and none of the joins were sealed properly (I had previously returned the ute to Nissan after they installed the snorkel initially and asked them to seal it properly - obviously they didn't understand what this meant). Anyway, now that the snorkel is completely sealed I can actually hear the engine sucking in air through the snorkel head whenever I accelerate and I reckon the ute is far more responsive now as well. Nissan will never touch my ute again, with the exception of any warranty issues. A massive thumbs up to Guest 4wd once again, those guys know their trade inside out and actually give a shit about their customers!
 
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Blackburn Nissan did you say?

Huh!? How about that I bought mine from there too! Ass+both hands+lights out= no hope.

I saw the silastic smeared around the join to the airbox but I also suspected that the leak may well have been inside the guard as its a fiddly bugger to get to.
 
X2, the snorkle on the Pootrol looked like it had being fitted by the work experience kid.
 
maybe, some people have no pride in there work.

images
 
But we digress. Back to the appalling job that is so often performed by dealers in installing factory aftermarket equipment.
Shit I installed my snorkel and it was done to the letter of the instructions provided and it works as described - perhaps Nissan techs are illiterate and unskilled?
 
I installed my snorkel myself using WAY TOO much silastik, But im still too scared to go through water crossings.

I guess with the case of Nissan, what you cant see wont hurt you. Of all the people who get their snorkels installed by Nissan, how many actually do water crossings? So they probably don't get too many complaints. kinda sad really.

Brett
 
Hey Matt.......it was a great experience though.....cause it all turned out well.

Glad she is sealed up well, and isn't the sound nice!

Lucky I threw the spare filter in - I almost left it behind as one of those things I won't need - bet your glad I threw it in. I'll always carry a spare from now on.

Watch out water - her comes Matt!
 
Hey Matt.......it was a great experience though.....cause it all turned out well.

Glad she is sealed up well, and isn't the sound nice!

Lucky I threw the spare filter in - I almost left it behind as one of those things I won't need - bet your glad I threw it in. I'll always carry a spare from now on.

Watch out water - her comes Matt!

Mate to say that i'm glad you threw that spare filter in is an understatement! I too, will always carry a spare from now on. Loving the sound the snorkel makes now!
 
Could you write a letter of complaint to Nissan outlining the piss poor work that was supposed to have been done properly twice? I just don't get why these dealerships are allowed to get away with this shoddy crap.

Leave Nissan to look after their Micra and Tiida owners, they wouldn't know if anything was not done right, maybe their shithouse "mechanics" are even able to work on these cars. Take your Navara to a specialist 4WD shop, where they usually understand the importance of doing a job properley.
 
I worked at nissen for 4yrs as one of those "shithouse mechanics" and think that maybe you should narrow it down the dearlership and not just bag out all nissen mechanics.i know for a fact that when i installed any snorkles they were sealed up properly and didnt leak at all.
 
I worked at nissen for 4yrs as one of those "shithouse mechanics" and think that maybe you should narrow it down the dearlership and not just bag out all nissen mechanics.i know for a fact that when i installed any snorkles they were sealed up properly and didnt leak at all.

Im sure most workplaces have the select individual who prides themselves on their workmanship, however these people are almost always outnumbered in the workplace by people that are just there to bring home the days pay.

Im sure none of the above posts were meant to upset or offend you.
 
I worked at nissen for 4yrs

Good on you Mudaholic, sounds like you are one of the good ones. Buuuuttt, you know how it is, you hear more of the bad experiences than the good ones, right?

Finding a good mechanic is hard these days, so look at it from where we are coming from as well. Getting shit service from some "professionals" in the industry gets people upset, I would be too.
 
My snorkel was fitted when new and also leaks around the join with the air box and possibly elsewhere.

Is the best way to fix it, to remove it and re-fit it or just seal up the gaps with sikaflex (or whatever it's called)?
 
I also belong to this unfortunate group. I discovered my factory fitted snorkel leaked in the Simpson Desert. My air filter was wet and stupidly as I got Nissan to service the vehicle the week before leaving (and they replaced the filter) I didn't think I'd need to carry a spare.

The good news is they can be dried next to the camp fire!
 
My snorkel was fitted when new and also leaks around the join with the air box and possibly elsewhere.

Is the best way to fix it, to remove it and re-fit it or just seal up the gaps with sikaflex (or whatever it's called)?

Mate, take it back to whoever installed it and tell them it isn't done properly. Stress to them if they can't do it properly then you want them to pay for someone else to do it. If you mention that you regularly drive through rivers and if it leaks they're up for a new engine and recovery of vehicle I'm sure they'll understand how serious it is. You don't pay 'professionals' money to do a shit job! I was lucky that my dealer agreed to my terms after the snorkel leaked. They just reimbursed me for the entire cost of having it refitted and sealed at my mechanic of choice and gave me a new air filter. If you do want to attempt the seal yourself then use sikaflex on all joins and plug up any drainage holes (my mechanic found two inside the snorkel arm). Bear in mind, if you do this yourself and it leaks though, then i'd imagine you'll wear all costs associated with a blown engine, etc....
 
Well, i installed my own snorkel. Once the Sikaflex was dry i tested the snorkel by placing a plastic shopping bag over the snorkel intake while the engine was running. This is a common technique used by installers to test the snorkel to ensure it is sealed correctly The air suction thru the intake destroyed the shopping bag. If there where leaks the bag would have just sat there with the engine obtaining air from where the snorkel wasn't sealed. Simple really.
 
Well, i installed my own snorkel. Once the Sikaflex was dry i tested the snorkel by placing a plastic shopping bag over the snorkel intake while the engine was running. This is a common technique used by installers to test the snorkel to ensure it is sealed correctly The air suction thru the intake destroyed the shopping bag. If there where leaks the bag would have just sat there with the engine obtaining air from where the snorkel wasn't sealed. Simple really.


Is there any other ways to test the seal of the snorkel that are mechanically noob friendly? I had my snorkel installed predeliver so its a bit concerning if its not going to do its job on the first crossing.

Also when it destroyed the shopping bag where did the pieces of it end up? In the airbox or not destroyed to that degree??
 

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