CriticalCommonEngine

Nissan Terrano: R50 QD32ETi / TD27ETi electronic injection pump wear — power loss and cut-out

R50 QD32ETi / TD27ETi electronic injection pump wear — power loss and cut-out is a common engine fault on the Nissan Terrano on the 1995–2004 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $2,000 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 5 documented faults on the Nissan Terrano.

Vehicle: Nissan Terrano
Engine: TD27-ETI
Years: 1995–2004
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

This page covers the Nissan Terrano as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Terrano faults5 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the High-pressure fuel pump yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The electronically controlled injection pumps fitted to the R50 Terrano's QD32ETi and TD27ETi diesels wear at the plunger and control mechanism, and the failure is progressive rather than sudden. Owners describe a hesitation and then a lurch as you pull away from a stop, a surge at idle, and — as it gets worse — the engine dropping out or losing power at a steady cruise. On an automatic the shock loading from that lurch is hard on the transmission as well. These pumps are expensive to exchange and few workshops rebuild them, which is why a Terrano with a tired pump is often worth less than the repair. It is the single most important thing to test-drive for on a diesel R50.

What you would notice

A pause then a sudden lurch when accelerating from a standstill
Idle that surges up and down on its own
Momentary loss of power or a cut-out at a steady cruising speed
Black smoke or a flat spot when the throttle is opened

How to check it

Where to look. Injection pump on the side of the engine, with the electronic control unit mounted on the pump body

This is a test-drive fault, so insist on driving it yourself, not just riding along. From a full stop, pull away gently several times and feel for a delay followed by a shove — a healthy pump pulls away smoothly. Sit at idle with the bonnet up for a minute and listen for the revs hunting up and down. Then get it onto an open road, hold a steady 90 to 100 km/h for a few minutes and watch for any momentary drop in power. Ask whether the pump has ever been off the engine. If a workshop inspection is possible: ask for the pump timing and fuel delivery to be checked on a diesel test bench, and for the engine's fault memory to be read.

Parts involved: High-pressure fuel pump.

What it costs to put right

$2,000 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the injection pump ever been replaced, exchanged or repaired?”
“Does it ever hesitate then lurch when you pull away?”
“Has anyone ever told you the pump was on its way out?”

Now check the Nissan Terrano you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Offroad-Express (NZ) forum — '1996 QD32ETI r50 Terrano issues - help' thread
Offroad-Express (NZ) forum — 'Another QD32eti issue....' thread
JDMBUYSELL Nissan Terrano R50 buyer's guide

Nissan Terrano buyer questions

Is r50 qd32eti / td27eti electronic injection pump wear — power loss and cut-out serious on a Nissan Terrano?

We rate it critical and common on the Nissan Terrano. The electronically controlled injection pumps fitted to the R50 Terrano's QD32ETi and TD27ETi diesels wear at the plunger and control mechanism, and the failure is progressive rather than sudden. Owners describe a hesitation and then a lurch as you pull away from a stop, a surge at idle, and — as it gets worse — the engine dropping out or losing power at a steady cruise. On an automatic the shock loading from that lurch is hard on the transmission as well. These pumps are expensive to exchange and few workshops rebuild them, which is why a Terrano with a tired pump is often worth less than the repair. It is the single most important thing to test-drive for on a diesel R50.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Terrano?

$2,000 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Terrano years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1995–2004 Nissan Terrano. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.