Sunday, October 20, 2013

2003 Nissan Altima Repair Tips

The 2003 Nissan Altima is not known for its performance, but it is known for its longevity. Consumer review of the Altima generally give high marks for reliability. However, there are a few repairs that are commonly needed on this vehicle. These repairs can prolong the use of the 2003 Nissan Altima and let you drive it you many years.

Headlight Issues

    The 2003 Nissan Altima has been known to have corrosion problems of the reflective surface on the interior of the head lamps. This has since been recalled and can be repaired at your local Nissan dealership at no charge. If you would like to repair this yourself, open the hood and remove the Phillips screw on the side of the headlamp thats on the outside top of the headlamp. Place the screwdriver on the inside of the headlamp between the turn-signal light and the headlamp and pry outward; the headlamp should pop out. Twist the headlight bulb counterclockwise to remove the bulb from the headlamp. Install the headlight into the new headlamp and reinsert the entire fixture. Make sure that the clip on the grill side of the headlamp clicks into the groove, then install the Phillips screw.

Loose Interior Door Panels

    As the Nissan ages, the door panels sometimes pop loose. Gently pry the door panels back with a flathead screwdriver to see which of the rivets has broken. Remove the broken rivet and match it at an auto parts store with a new one. Install the rivet into the panel slot on the door. Push the rivet into the hole and give the area that the rivet is in a good hit with the palm of your hand. This allows the rivet to fully insert into the hole and the end to expand, holding the panel in place.

Smoking Muffler

    If the muffler seams like there is something burning in it, this just may be the case. A recall was issued on 2003 Nissan Altimas because of a muffler hanger pin that caught road debris and could cause the material to ignite, thus igniting the catalyst as well. This dangerous situation can be repaired at a Nissan dealership, or by taking a pair of pliers and bending the pin upwards as it will no longer catch on the road.


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