Keeps creating problems

Our primary response vehicle started giving us problems a few weeks ago. The rotor on the distributor broke and was replaced. It temporarily solved the problem, but the bakkie still had what sounded like a fuel problem.

After asking on Facebook, The Mechanical Crew came highly recommended. A mechanic came out, plugged in their diagnostics and said it was the cam sensor that was faulty - this would need to be replaced at the workshop, so they took the bakkie and left.

After a few days, they phoned and said it was the distributor that was faulty, not the sensor as mentioned before. It would cost an estimated R30 000.00 to get a genuine Nissan distributor, but they found one for R9000.00 plus labour. All plugs were apparently also replaced. It was replaced and they brought the vehicle back, saying it was fixed. The next morning (a Saturday), the vehicle would not start.

The mechanic only returned on the Monday and said plug 3 and 6 were not firing - the bakkie was towed back to their workshop. The mechanic then proceeded to maintain the cam sensor was a problem and it was INSIDE the distributor - which it is not. Excuses upon excuses - it's the computer box, the computer box is fine, it's the fuel injectors, the injectors are fine. This continued for almost week.

We went to fetch equipment that was still in the bakkie and we were then told that they wanted to put a fuel management system in because the bakkie was over-fueling - this would cost an additional R11 300.00, and we would only get a 1000km warranty on the system. When asked whether it would fix the problem, the mechanic could not tell us. We told them to bring the bakkie back and we would not be paying for anything further.

The next week, they apparently got someone from Nissan to do a diagnostic - here they found that it was the fuel regulator that was faulty. This was then also paid and replaced. Furthermore, they found fuel in the oil which led to oil and filters being replaced.

The bakkie was brought back and the mechanic left in a great hurry - this was because the moment we switched the bakkie off it was dead. I phoned and they came back - after a verbal exchange, he told us there was a problem with the battery - a Willard that was 100% functional and still under warranty when they received it. We were told to jumpstart the bakkie when we needed to use it - something not ideal for an emergency vehicle. We were told the boss would phone us - we are still waiting for this call.

To top it all off, the inside of the bakkie is covered in grease and oil, smells of cigarette smoke, body odour and grease and there were empty cans of Dragon on the back seat and floor.

If you want one problem fixed and another created, this is the place to take your vehicle...