Front Differentail

2436 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by 92TripleBlack, Jan 21, 2006

WILDnPHX

Discussion Starter · Dec 19, 2005 (Edited)

Front Differentail not the problem - Updated 01-11-06

Ok, I noticed a small oil spot in my drive way and upon farther inspection I found it is coming out of a black tube that is just behind the air cleaner. I folowed this tube and it runs down to the top of the front diff. Is it possible I over filled it when I changed the fluid a month or so ago? I followed the directions and used a pump to pump it in until it ran out the fill hole. If I did over fill it will it hurt anything or will the excess just come out this tube?

I will pull out the fill plug and ensure I did not over fill it, What else could it be?

In case it matters I have a 05 4 wheel drive with 18,000 miles.

Thanks for your advice.

UPDATE - Diff is not the problem - ABS Acutuator is the problem and part is on back order with no ETA. Darn compact car loaner is getting old since it has been 1 week and a half. I called Nissan Consumer affairs and hopefully this will either speed up the part or up the loaner vehicle to something a little more comparable to the Mada. I'll let you all know the out come....

UPDATE - 01-17-06- Friday I picked up my Mada (They put a nice door ding in the side of it theat I know have to bring back for repair) and they said it was fixed well Sunday I opened the hood and guess what.. Diff Fluid in the exact same spot as before. I took it in yesterday and got the Service Manage who said yes it is diff fluid and yes it is coming from the vent tube like I had described when I first brought it into them. They diagnosed it and said a seal for the front diff was the problem and was on backorder however I can drive my vehicle until it comes in.

So they replaced the ABS Acutuator because they could not tell the difference between brake fluid and diff fluid and dented my door in the process of replacing parts that were not broken, and I paid $214 in up charges for a rental during that period of time. I am just a little pissed off at the dealer!!! So now I wait for the yet another backordered part....

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Armadaof1

· #2 · Dec 19, 2005

Sounds like you may have overfilled it. Shouldn't be too much of an issue because you can't overfill it by much (that's what the fill plug is for on the side).

I'd double check the level just to be safe and press on.

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SE Off Road1

· #3 · Dec 20, 2005

WILDnPHX said:
Ok, I noticed a small oil spot in my drive way and upon farther inspection I found it is coming out of a black tube that is just behind the air cleaner. I folowed this tube and it runs down to the top of the front diff. Is it possible I over filled it when I changed the fluid a month or so ago? I followed the directions and used a pump to pump it in until it ran out the fill hole. If I did over fill it will it hurt anything or will the excess just come out this tube?

I will pull out the fill plug and ensure I did not over fill it, What else could it be?

In case it matters I have a 05 4 wheel drive with 18,000 miles.

Thanks for your advice.

If you filled it until it ran out of the fill plug and then sealed it you did not overfill it. The tube is a breather that allows the differential to vent. It is up high near the air cleaner so if you have the drive train submerged you do not draw water in the differential. Typically you should not see oil coming out of this. I would pull the end out of the differential and pump air through the end near the air cleaner and make sure all the oil is out of the line. Seal it back up and keep an eye on it.

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WILDnPHX

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 20, 2005

SE Off Road1 said:
If you filled it until it ran out of the fill plug and then sealed it you did not overfill it. The tube is a breather that allows the differential to vent. It is up high near the air cleaner so if you have the drive train submerged you do not draw water in the differential. Typically you should not see oil coming out of this. I would pull the end out of the differential and pump air through the end near the air cleaner and make sure all the oil is out of the line. Seal it back up and keep an eye on it.

Thanks for your advice, I will do exactly what you said. I am concerned because of the amount that appears to have come out, I mean the fender wall under the air cleaner is all wet and it was dripping on the driveway. Makes me believe something else might possibly be wrong. I would like to take it in to the dealer but with the expensive moble1 syn that I used in it I would hate to have them tell me they drained it out and fixed the problem but did not out back in the moble1 fluid.

Thanks for the advice...

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WILDnPHX

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 11, 2006

Armada at the Dealer - It is the ABS Acutuator

It was not the Front Diff but was brake fluid and it needs a ABS Acutuator that is on back order with no eta. Been two weeks know and this rental stuff is getting old. Called Nissan Consumer affairs today and they are going to research this and get back to me tommorow. I'll let you know what happens....

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92TripleBlack

· #6 · Jan 11, 2006

Good luck.

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WILDnPHX

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 11, 2006

Question about brake fluid and paint

Since the brake fluid was leaking all over inside of the drivers side engine compartment behind the air cleaner, is this cause for concern since brake fluid does eat paint.... Will my paint be damaged (start peeling off)?

They will replace the ABS acutuator but will they or what can they do to prevent or fix the paint?

Thanks for the advice...

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ggeorgie

· #8 · Jan 11, 2006

WILDnPHX said:
Since the brake fluid was leaking all over inside of the drivers side engine compartment behind the air cleaner, is this cause for concern since brake fluid does eat paint.... Will my paint be damaged (start peeling off)?

They will replace the ABS acutuator but will they or what can they do to prevent or fix the paint?

Thanks for the advice...

Make sure you mention it to them and recorded on your reciepts, even if they don't do anything, at least you can go back and tell them ( Dealer Or Nissan USA ) "I told you so"

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WILDnPHX

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 21, 2006

Update - 01-17-06-

Friday I picked up my Mada (They put a nice door ding in the side of it theat I know have to bring back for repair) and they said it was fixed well Sunday I opened the hood and guess what.. Diff Fluid in the exact same spot as before. I took it in yesterday and got the Service Manage who said yes it is diff fluid and yes it is coming from the vent tube like I had described when I first brought it into them. They diagnosed it and said a seal for the front diff was the problem and was on backorder however I can drive my vehicle until it comes in.

So they replaced the ABS Acutuator because they could not tell the difference between brake fluid and diff fluid and dented my door in the process of replacing parts that were not broken, and I paid $214 in up charges for a rental during that period of time. I am just a little pissed off at the dealer!!! So now I wait for the yet another backordered part....

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92TripleBlack

· #10 · Jan 21, 2006

If I were you, I'd punt!

Make sure they comp you for the added rental time. They should have let you know they didn't have the parts on hand.

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