Nissan Navara Diesel Problems

This is a very contentious question and depending on who you talk to, you’ll get a bunch of different answers. Overall, it seems that Navara D22s from about 2007 to 2010 did, in fact, have a DPF fitted as standard. But only if they had an automatic transmission; manual versions don’t seem to have been fitted with a DPF. Why? Who knows.

In any case, the definitive answer can be obtained by looking under your vehicle. The DPF will appear as a large cannister, mounted next to the chassis rail, just behind the transmission and is part of the exhaust system.

You haven't given me much to go on with here, Noel. Without the year and specification of your Navara, I can't even guess if it was fitted with a DPF or not. That's because Nissan has had a bit of an on-again-off-again relationship with DPF technology. To the extent that in some versions of the Navara, the automatic variant had a DPF and the manual did not.

But you can check for yourself by taking a look under the car. A DPF looks a bit like a muffler, but with a couple of metal pipes coming out of it and usually an electrical connection or two. Some of this stuff may be hidden behind heat shields, however. In most cases the Navara's DPF will be located in the middle section of the exhaust system, roughly beneath the front passenger's seat.

Modern turbo-diesel engines absolutely hate having water enter the fuel system. It can cause lots and lots of damage and isn’t always fixed by simply changing the fuel filter and the contents of the tank. Sometimes injectors and even the high-pressure fuel pump itself will be damaged by the ingress of water. If that’s the case, then more work will be needed before the vehicle is safe to drive again, as you may wind up doing more harm to other components until the full scope of the water-damage has been diagnosed.

For that reason, you really should have the vehicle looked at by a specialist. A specialist workshop will be able to tall you what else needs fixing or replacing. A specialist will also be able to electronically cancel the limp-home mode and any check-engine lights once all is well.

For a few years from 2005, Nissan sold two types of Navaras in Australia - the all-new big D40 series and the old D22 that dated back from the latter 1990s. 

If you want an inexpensive, compact and hard-wearing truck that's reliable but not very refined nor comfortable, the old D22 is it. Its 3.0L turbo-diesel has proven strong and reliable in this application and the Nissan has a reputation for being as tough as nails.

The larger and newer D40, meanwhile, is the much better choice if space, safety and refinement are priorities, and remained a class-leading proposition right up until the current-generation Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50 and Volkswagen Amarok all moved the pick-up truck game on in 2011. The Spanish-built ST-X is the choice grade, especially in turbo-diesel and 4x4 guise.

The Navara is considered a reliable and dependable truck, but many are also workhorses that lead tough lives and are often neglected or mistreated. If you're after one, please consider having it checked out first by an experienced mechanic.

Known issues include fuel-injection failure, roof rust, premature clutch wear in manual  models, electronics issues, turbo-charger failures and sagging rear springs.

Such problems can apply to any similar truck, so don't be too put off by the D40 Navara. It's a firm used-truck favourite for good reason.

Get it to a diesel mechanic, but if you can’t check the fuel pump.

Unless it’s a massive leak that drains the oil from the engine, which is most unlikely, it won’t affect the engine.

It's not possible to say with any certainty. Regularly serviced it could go for another 260,000 km, but if neglected it could breakdown tomorrow.

Relatively few of these engines were sold, so it won't have the same established patterns as a HiLux 3.0-litre for example.

It would be nice to think that carmakers would own up to problems with their cars, but they always seem reluctant to do so, and our consumer laws are so pathetic that there's no incentive for them to do so. I would take the car to one of the diesel mechanics you refer to and have it repaired by them. I would expect they would be less expensive than the dealer.

Worn injectors are a possibility. I would take it to a diesel mechanic and have it checked.

It could be a number of things, like the suction control valve on the fuel pump, although that's unlikely given that the pump has been replaced. It could be a problem with the fuel rail pressure sensor, but the first thing I would suggest you try is clean the Mass Air Flow Sensor in the intake.