"The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you're finished" - Benjamin Franklin

If I owned your Xtrail and intended to keep if I would look at buying a Scan Gauge and keep it in operation until the fault is found. the scan gauge will hopefully show the fault/s when it occurrs. I would write down the fault codes and then do the reset especially if you xxxKm away from the nearest service centre. Supa Cheap sell scan gauges ( around $200?) but am not sure they will do the job on the Xtrail., and you may need some training/help in its use.

I understand all these sensors are to help mechanics deterinined what is wrong with a vehicle or the faulty sensor, but with a combination of error codes, it takes a good tech to figure it out, along with scan gauges than cost up to $20K.

I think you need to get the problem fixed under warranty, otherwise it could cost.

others looking into scan gauges..........


http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/101305/SCAN_GAUGE_INFO.aspx?ky=&sn=&p=%2fForum%2fDefault.aspx%3fpn%3d2

( copy an paste)

Peter

-- Edited by PeterInSa on Thursday 28th of March 2013 03:14:34 PM

-- Edited by PeterInSa on Thursday 28th of March 2013 03:15:33 PM

-- Edited by PeterInSa on Thursday 28th of March 2013 08:21:25 PM

I had that problem in the Navara after having a new suction valve in the diesel pump. After many trips to the (warranty) garage - they couldnt find the problem as it disappeared everytime you turned the key off and on again. Finally convinced them to ask Nissan - there is a reset switch - needs to be reset after any work done on the pump. Took the guy 10 seconds to fix!
May not be your problem but worth asking about maybe.

Bear in mind there a different types of X'trail, 2WD, 4WD, both diesel and petrol.   Each may have their quirks like any vehicle.

I had a 2006 Petrol Auto 4WD X'trail, used it to tow two small caravans (13' and 15') including a couple of round OZ trips and it never missed a beat, except a battery died in Carnarvon and had to be replaced, but it was old.  

Always towed with Overdrive off, only sold it because I had moved onto a campervan.  My son in law has it now and is very happy with it.

I still get pangs when I see one on the road.  For a small tug they are ideal (not meant to tow large vans), and are very roomy inside for SUV's of their size.

This site has some good tech and other info about Xtrails, see;

 http://www.australianxtrail.com.au/ 

  

-- Edited by Duh on Friday 29th of March 2013 10:06:08 AM

Is Cloak's question asked of Homer and Marge or us? If us, yes, we tow with our 4WD XTrail - a 14'6" Viscount which doesn't weigh much. Fuel economy under 12lt/100km.

Thanks Wombat and others who have shared their experiences. The technician at Nissan dealership in Mackay believes that the fault lies in the electric brake we had fitted to enable towing. He has been able to replicate the limp mode status which I believe is part of the reason  why mechanics have trouble analysing the problem in the first instance. So at the moment the brake has been disconnected and we have taken the car but not the van over the weekend to put on some mileage to see if we have the same problem again.

He was able to replicate the problem in the workshop by accelerating while he had his foot on the brake. Each time he did that the motor went into limp mode. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO on the assumption that the fault lies in the brake, we will have a new one installed on Wednesday after the Easter weekend. It may be the case as the first incident happened not long after we had the electric brake fitted. So who knows , I guess it is just wait and see and hope that if it ever happens again it will be on a quite little country road!

I can only imagine what that family on the Nullabor in the new Pathfinder went through. We plan to head off in June for the big leaving from the Atherton Tablelands, so will one day be in those isolated places.

Maybe we should look for an old Holden/ford still in good nick with no blooming computer and all the problems they create!!! Remember the ones that the average guy with a bit of mechanical nounce could keep going. 

If this reply doesn't sound technically accurate this is Marge standing in for Homer who thinks his hands will fall off if they touch a keyboard. However he does make a good cuppa so I will hang onto him for a bit longer. Drive safe everyone.

Marge

Thanks so much. I think I have only made 4 postings, but spend many hours reading the experiences a of others and the amazing tips people have.

Marge

Well Wombat, that was a wasted exercise. I have posted on the general forum, hoping for some replies. So you might like to check out what I have written. Seriously it is shocking that manufactures are releasing cars which they KNOW have the potential to cause serious accidents, and not have the technology in place to read the computerised engines. At this stage I think we would swop the car for a good old reliable one made long before all this computer guff!!! Look pretty, but they don't go. Do I sound cynical? You betcha!!!!!!

Travel safe

Marge