r/altima

Nissan Altima 3.5 6 cylinder 2005 around 185 thousand miles

Okay this car has truly been through the ringer. It's a used older car. I wasn't really taught about maintaining cars and taking care of them so unfortunately everything I've learned about cars has been the hard way. Being so honest about my car knowledge it's barely any. For a poor idiot I have tried, I've kept up on oil changes, taken it to like six different mechanics, and have had this car worked on in three different states.

The car first dealt with overheating issues around two years ago when it was driven for 20 hours straight. Obviously this was a terrible move for the car, the situation was out of my control however. This is up there with one of the worst moments of my life. It overheated and smoked everywhere truly I thought the car was shot at that point. I was praying just to get off the highway and not have it blow up. Topped off all the fluids and let it rest for awhile and it drove no problem.

Around six months ago one of tubes that connects to the coolant reservoir cracked, had to drive it to the mechanic and stop every five minutes to add more coolant that would leak out very quickly, the temperature gauge would shoot up, it was smoking real bad again thought the car was shot. But they managed to find that tube, replace it, and it drove solid.

I had an issue with my belts and idler pulleys. This one went on for awhile because I didn't have the money to fix it for months. It would squeal every time I turned it on for at least 30 seconds and then it started doing it at every stoplight and kinda rocking at the stoplights. I got this fixed like a month ago. I've also dealt with occasional misfiring off and on for the last year, have not had the funds to fix that. When I take my car to the mechanic they'll fix what is necessary but advice me against sinking all my money in this car. Mechanic said I need new shocks and struts but wouldn't make any sense to do it on a car this beat up.

Since I got the belts and idler pulley replaced in the last month the car has been running solid at least for this cars standard. It starts most of the time and when it won't start I just give it a couple minutes and it always starts, I've never needed a jump. I've been told I probably need a tune up for that.

Tonight while driving the car started rocking and shaking. I pulled over when I noticed. Got out to see to a bit of smoke was coming out the hood and it smelled like heat. Weirdly enough the temperature gauge never went up cause I watch that thing like a freaking hawk now. Checked the coolant tank completely empty but there was liquid in the radiator. I walked a mile to buy coolant, filled up the coolant tank, and let the car sit for as long as I could to cool down. Was 14 minutes away from home and my only option was to drive it home. I can't afford a tow and I was in a really sketchy area alone. I drove it home and it shook like crazy. This car hasn't had shocks for years but this was seriously shaking and rocking, occasionally it was smooth out but only for like 30 seconds before flipping out again. Scary real scary. Was just praying to get home. Temperature gauge never went up but again when I got out little bit of smoke coming out the hood and smelled like heat. My dad said maybe bad coils packs or plugs?

2017 Nissan Altima. Two key fobs, one factory, one aftermarket. I have the same issue with both.

First off, I can’t get the battery to last more than two weeks in either one. At least for being able to lock and unlock the door without using the key fob. I can lock and unlock the door from a couple hundred feet away, no problem. But two weeks after I put a battery in, I can’t just walk up to the car and hit the button, it won’t work anymore.

And then, multiple times a week I go to start the car and I get either key ID not found, or key not detected. So I have to pull the fob out of my pocket and press it against the start button to get the car to start. The one that says key not detected, it’ll still let me drive it anyways…..

Anyone else have these problems, and/or know how to fix them?