2001 NISSAN QUEST

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust on cold start, Milky oil on dipstick or under oil cap, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, Overheating or fluctuating temp gauge, Rough idle and misfires as it progresses

Fix: Both head gaskets, resurface heads if warped (common), new head bolts, timing belt while you're in there, complete coolant flush. 16-20 labor hours if heads don't need machine work, 24+ if they do. Many shops recommend just doing short block or engine swap at this point due to related bearing damage from contaminated oil.

Estimated cost: $2,800-5,500

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Pink or strawberry milkshake-looking fluid in radiator or overflow, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Overheating transmission, Coolant in transmission pan during fluid change

Fix: The cooler is built into the radiator. When it fails, coolant and ATF mix—'the strawberry milkshake of death.' Requires new radiator, complete transmission flush (multiple times), often new transmission if coolant contamination went unnoticed. 8-12 hours labor for radiator and flush if caught early, 16-24 hours if transmission needs replacement.

Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (if caught early), $3,500-5,000 (if trans is cooked)

Typical onset: 100,000-160,000 mi

Symptoms: Heavy knocking sound from lower engine, especially on cold start, Rapidly dropping oil pressure, Metal shavings in oil filter, Loss of power and eventual seizure

Fix: Once coolant gets into the oil from failed head gaskets, it washes away bearing material. Requires full engine rebuild (all main and rod bearings, crank polishing, possibly new pistons/rings) or more commonly a used/reman engine swap. 20-28 hours for rebuild, 12-16 for engine swap.

Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500 (rebuild), $2,500-4,000 (used engine swap)

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Severe clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration at idle in gear, Visible transmission sag when inspected from below, Harsh engagement on acceleration

Fix: Front and rear transmission mounts fail, allowing excessive drivetrain movement. Both should be replaced together. 2-3 hours labor, straightforward job but requires supporting the transmission.

Estimated cost: $350-550

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Coolant smell in cabin or under hood, Small coolant puddles under vehicle (rear of engine), Slow coolant loss over weeks, Visible seepage at back of intake manifold

Fix: Upper and lower intake manifold gaskets leak coolant externally. Requires removing intake plenum, throttle body, fuel rail. Should replace both gaskets and thermostat while apart. 4-6 hours labor.

Estimated cost: $600-900

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Hard starting after sitting, Loss of power under load or at highway speeds, Sputtering or hesitation during acceleration, Check engine light with lean fuel codes

Fix: Fuel filter is often neglected. Located under vehicle near fuel tank. Clogged filter stresses the pump, leading to premature pump failure. Filter replacement is 0.5-1 hour. If pump fails, add 2-3 hours (drop tank).

Estimated cost: $120-200 (filter), $500-800 (pump if damaged)