I took my 2013 Nissan Maxima in to the mechanic for some fairly typical repairs and they told me nothing is worth fixing because the Push Rod is failing, rendering the engine doomed. I've never dealt with a push rod situation before so I'm at a loss. Can anyone offer any advice or additional info on a push rod failure and if it means the end of the engine? Thanks!

 

Your mechanic told you that your 2013 VQ35DE’s piston connecting rod(s) are failing, is that correct?

 

Thanks for the response. He told me that the "push rod" was failing. When I asked what that was, he said it was the rod near the lower part of the engine that controls the movement of the pistons. When I asked how he knew it was failing, he said because there is a low "rumble" sound and he can see metal flaking near the rod area. When I asked about a repair, he said that the repair for a push rod failure is typically engine replacement.

This just seems like an extreme assessment of a Maxima engine with only 135,000 miles that has been well-maintained and driven with care.

 

get a 2nd opinion

 

I’m in agreement with Prophecy … or maybe just leave it alone.

I don’t recall that crank and/or rod issues are typical, common or even uncommon in the VQ35.

If it truly does need a rod replacement or the rod fails and the engine self-destructs, the end result is the same.

Are any of these symptoms present?

Knocking noise;
Low oil pressure;
Low oil level and/or high oil consumption;
Overheating.

Any of these present?

 

Pushrods are what cam-in-block engines like Chevy smallblock have lol that's issue number one. Is it knocking or anything? If not, get a second opinion. Some guys say crap like that and it's not even correct

Many years ago when I had my 3rd gen in college a shop that did the alternator said they put a cheap reman in because "the transmission is slipping so bad" and said they didn't do transmission work so take it elsewhere. Shifted fine to me but took it to an Aamco who drove it around a few blocks for free and said the place is full of sht & the transmission is fine. Some guys make obsurd diagnoses over nothing

 

Push rod, no. VQ's don't have those. Connecting rod, maybe. More likely it's the bearings.

RECORD_ID: 362627

NHTSA Item Number: 10054120

Replacement Service Bulletin Number: N/A

Date Added: Dec 21, 2013

Bulletin Number: NTB-12-071-A

Date Posted: Dec 17, 2013

MFRINTERNALCAMPAIGNID_SOFTWAREVERSION: N/A

COMMUNICATIONTYPE: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

Make: NISSAN

Model: MAXIMA

Year: 2013

Component Name: ENGINE

MFRCOMPONENTSYSTEM: N/A

MFRCOMPONENTSUBSYSTEM: N/A

Summary: NISSAN: KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM NUMBER 1 CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARING, WAS NOT HEARD AT COLD START, WHEN VEHICLE IS LIFTED, KNOCKING IS HEARD, OR AT WARM IDLE, NOT HEARD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR SITTING WITH RADIO ON. MODEL 2009-2014 MAXIMA

 

RECORD_ID: 2597305

NHTSA Item Number: 10192284

Replacement Service Bulletin Number: N/A

Date Added: May 10, 2021

Bulletin Number: NTB12071A

Date Posted: Dec 17, 2013

MFRINTERNALCAMPAIGNID_SOFTWAREVERSION: N/A

COMMUNICATIONTYPE: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

Make: NISSAN

Model: MAXIMA

Year: 2013

Component Name: ENGINE

MFRCOMPONENTSYSTEM: N/A

MFRCOMPONENTSUBSYSTEM: N/A

Summary: IF YOU CONFIRM A knock noise coming from the # 1 crankshaft main bearing: ACTION 1. Remove the # 1 main bearing (upper and lower halves), per the Service Procedure in this bulletin. 2. Select and install a new # 1 main bearing that is one grade highe

 

If the bearings are shot and ruined other components, then yes a different engine is a better repair.