I recently purchased a '05 Armada LE from a used Chevy dealer in east Texas. The day after I brought it home blue smoke starting coming out of the exhaust when I would start it up. It wasn't continous but a big plume of blue smoke would come out for a few seconds when I started it.

The dealer tried all this stuff to fix it, none of which worked, so they put in a "new" used engine (I'm told about 35k miles on it). So, I get the truck back yesterday. Sure enough, blue smoke again!

So, there's only 1 of 3 scenarios:
1)They never installed a new engine
2) They installed a new engine with the exact same problem as the old engine
3) They completely misdiagnosed the problem from the beginning (I'm assuming this is the case)

I have a friend in common with the owner of the dealership and the owner has been trying to make things right but after all that I'm completely frustrated and his telling me to bring it back and I can swap it out with another vehicle. The problem is...I don't want another vehicle. I want a black Armada LE like the one I have no but one that's messed up.

I'm going to see if I can find another from another dealer and if he'll make a trade with that other dealer. My other thought is asking the owner if I can just take it to my local Nissan dealer and have the pros diagnose what's really wrong with it (on his dime of course).

My question to everyone is...

1) if it's not the engine...what else could it be?

2) do lemon laws only apply to new vehicles?

Thanks

It's the engine... It wasn't replaced... I'd agree with your thoughts 100%... :mad:

Rekooh, sorry to hear about your problems. Luckly you choose a some what easy color to find.
Hey mabie you can talk the dealership into a newer year.
:p:p:D

Look for the vin number on the engine block to see if it still match up.
Cant believe they would swap out engine but not spend the money to get it diagnose first.
At least they are not blowing you off like most use car dealers.

yeah cant you just look under the hood and see its cosmetics? a new engine would probably be cleaner than you old engine. look to see where if the bolts were removed, etc.. thats just a quickie eyeball test.. .:D

and ooh boy if they lied to youuuuu!!!!!!!!! someones gonna be in trouble..

I bet they just put some honey oil in the engine not to smoke anymore but i bet they did not replace the engine. What i suggest is take it to the dealer by your self pay the $100 to check it out and and they will tell you every thing, if they change the engine if its the same engine and of coarse what the problem is with the truck. And after you find out whats the real problem with the truck you can go back to that dealer and tell him to shove it up his arse.........

Well I guess I'll find out for sure tomorrow. I got the OK from the dealership I bought it from to take it for diagnostics at my local Nissan dealership and they would pay for it.

If they didn't replace the engine I can't imagine they would want me taking to Nissan because they would definitely get busted if they did lie to me.

One of my drinking buddies said if it wasn't the valve seal and the smoke is blue, which I think it is blue, then it's probably a fuel problem and maybe something with the fuel injector or one of the lines.

From my past experience, Blue Smoke has usually been oil leaking into a piston and White smoke was usually coolant leaking into a piston...

you might be right Pops. my buddy said he gets black smoke and blue smoke mixed up with gas vs oil all the time. Either way I'm sure the pros at Nissan will be able to finally figure out what the deal is.

Its buyer beware these days.............definitely have the dealer check it out

A few things....

1. Blue smoke is oil as stated above.
2. Nissan does not tag motors with VIN# so the only way to tell is look at bolts for marks. Your whole front end would have had to been removed to get the motor out or they did a frame off. (removed body from frame.)
3. Pull dipstick and oil cap... Look for burnt or crust. Dipstick should be clean and not have any stained spots on it. This will give you an idea if oil changes were done regulary.
4. It has taken me 3 months to find an Armada that was in good condition to buy.

Good luck with your truck... glad to hear they are trying to work with ya instead of giving you the shaft. +1 for that.

it's definitely buyer beware...the thing is i took it to a "muffler shop" and told them to check it out and they didnt come up with anything. i guess that's my fault for being to cheap to take it to nissan to have it inspected before i bought it.

Will check the dipstick for signs of stain or crust. Thanks guys. I hope it's running right soon. I still love this truck.

Mine was doing the same thing. I've got an 08 LE with 76K on it. I bought it was 74.5K on it. I took it to Nissan, they told me that sludge in the valve cover was causing my issue. I put new valve covers on it, and so far (it's only been a couple of days) I've not had any issues with smoke at startup. I have a thread going on this in the "Problems" forum.

I was kinda thinking the PCV system which is in the valve covers. If not then it is nost likely valve seals or guides.

man, sorry to hear you going through all of that. If its a new vehicle and they tried to fix the same problem three times, (lemon-law) than after that, they must provide a different suv that is same price or compatible....


Believe.