1985 Nissan 720 problems

General information about Nissan-720
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list
Recalls list

The Datsun Truck is a compact pickup truck made by Nissan in Japan from 1955 through 1997. It was originally sold under the Datsun brand, but this was switched to Nissan in 1983. It was replaced in 1997 by the Frontier and Navara. In Japan, it was sold only in Nissan Bluebird Store locations.

Predecessors

Pre-war

The Datsun truck line began with the Type 13 Truck of April 1934, and was later used as the basis of the Datsun DC-3 roadster. A series of small trucks based on their passenger car counterparts, the 14T, 15T, and 17T, continued to be built until early 1944.

Post-war

The 17T was followed by the post-war Datsun 1121 in 1946, which was nearly identical technically but had an extremely simple body made out of simple pressed metal (with almost no chrome) and many body parts made from wood, to enable production in resource-starved early post-war Japan. Early trucks also depended on leftover stocks of pre-war parts. The engine was the 15 PS (11 kW) Type 7 unit. As the supply situation improved the new 2124 and then 2225 took over in July 1947 and at the end of November of the same year.

A rapid stream of changes and new model numbers followed in this early post-war area, as pre-war parts dried up and new designs were substituted. The naming followed a clear system: the first number represented the chassis/engine iteration, with "1" being the pre-war (17T) design. The second digit was for the bonnet and grille, the third digit for the cab, and the fourth and final digit for the rear body. 1121 thus had mostly pre-war parts, with a post-war design for the cab. The 2225 had post-war chassis and front end designs, with a fourth redesign of the rear bodywork. The grille was a plain, painted pressed steel piece. Some numbers were assigned but never used, such as rear body designs 2 and 3. The 2225 was succeeded by the 2125 at the end of July 1948; this seemingly retrograde step marked the return to the more ornate pre-war 17T grille.

In January 1949 the 3135 took over, followed by the January 1950 3145 model with a slightly different cabin. In August 1950 the Datsun 4146 arrived, introducing the 860 cc Type 10 engine with 15 kW (20 hp; 20 PS). The 4146 also had a bit more chrome trim included, as well as a stronger transmission. The power increase allowed for a somewhat bigger cargo area but top speed only crept up from 67 to 70 km/h (42 to 43 mph).

In 1951 the 5147 appeared, introducing a longer wheelbase of 2,150 mm (84.6 in) rather than the 2,005 mm (78.9 in) chassis which had been used for seventeen years. Most important was the introduction of hydraulic brakes, replacing the original mechanical units. The 5147 was succeeded two years later by the final 6147 model, which received the 25 PS (18 kW; 25 hp) D-10 version of the old sidevalve engine. The extra power output was made possible because of higher quality petrol allowing for higher compression rates. Although somewhat longer and with a bigger engine, the Datsun 6147 remained very similar to the prewar type 15 truck. Payload increased from 500 to 600 kg (1,100 to 1,300 lb) while overall length increased to 3,406 mm (134.1 in). A rare double-cab version, the DU-5, was introduced alongside the 6147. The 6147 was built until the 1955 introduction of the all new 120-series truck.

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Common 1985 Nissan 720 problems

The Nissan 720, produced in 1985, has been known to have several common problems that owners often report. Here are some of the most frequently mentioned issues:

Starting Problems: Another common issue is difficulty starting the engine, particularly after the vehicle has been sitting overnight or for a long period. A user on Ratsun Forums reported struggling with starting their 85 720 4x4 in cold Utah mornings. After replacing the spark plugs, ignition wires, ignition rotor, distributor, and battery, as well as all vacuum lines, the user was still unable to identify the cause of the problem.

Electrical Issues: Corrosion in the wiring harness is a common problem in older vehicles, including the Nissan 720. A Reddit post mentions a 720 with a corroded wiring harness, which caused issues with the brake lines and made the vehicle difficult to start.

Rust and Abuse: Rust and abuse are common problems in older vehicles, and the Nissan 720 is no exception. A Reddit user mentioned that rust and abuse were the biggest issues they encountered with their 720.

Body and Paint Issues: The clear coat on the bed of the 720 can peel off or fall apart, as mentioned in a YouTube video . Additionally, the paint on the truck may have dings, marks, or other imperfections that detract from its appearance.

These are some of the most commonly reported problems with the Nissan 720 from 1985. While these issues can be frustrating, many of them can be addressed with proper maintenance, repairs, and replacements.

What engine is in a 1985 Nissan 720?

The fuel-injected version referenced above was denoted as the Z24i (Throttle Body Fuel Injection) and was first available in the Nissan Model 720 ST pickup during the 1985 model year and was replaced in 1990 by the KA24E engine and they share the same bellhousing pattern.

How much is a 1985 Nissan 720 worth?

A: The lowest recorded sale price was $3,200 for a 1985 Nissan 720 King Cab 5-Speed on Sep 10 2023. Q: What is the average sale price of a Nissan Datsun 720? A: The average price of a Nissan Datsun 720 is $9,898.

How many miles per gallon does a 1985 Nissan 720 get?

Based on data from 20 vehicles, 490 fuel-ups and 113,328 miles of driving, the 1985 Nissan 720 gets a combined Avg MPG of 25.04 with a 0.28 MPG margin of error.

What is the towing capacity of a 1985 Nissan 720?

1000kg

The towing capacity of the 1985 Nissan 720 supports up to 1000kg. This is a braked figure, while the maximum load for any vehicle without using trailer brakes is 750kg, if rated to tow that much in the first place.

1985 Nissan 720 car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Nissan 720 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Service brakes problems
Hydraulic problems
Equipment problems
Power train problems
Steering problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1985 Nissan 720 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1985 Nissan 720 complaints

The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1985 Nissan 720.

2009-06-15

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2009-04-22
VIN: JN6ND06S6GW
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EQUIPMENT
Summary: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 NISSAN 720. THE CONTACT PURCHASED FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED BY CARDONE AND DANA. HE NOTICED THAT THE BLEED SCREW ON EACH CALIPER WAS MISPLACED AND LABELED INCORRECTLY. THE LEFT ONE SHOULD FIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND VICE VERSA. HE CALLED BOTH MANUFACTURERS FOR THE PARTS AND WAS INFORMED TO FLIP FLOP THE CALIPERS; HOWEVER, THAT ONLY WORKED FOR THE DANA PART, NOT THE CARDONE. THE CARDONE COMPANY HANDLES THE INQUIRIES FOR BOTH PARTS. THE ONLY PART NUMBERS AVAILABLE WERE FROM NAPA, A RESELLER OF THESE PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

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2000-08-27

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2000-08-23
VIN: JN6ND06Y1FW
Components: POWER TRAIN
Summary: THE TRANSMISSION STARTED EMITTING A CLICKING NOISE IN GEARS 1-4, AND 5TH GEAR HAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE, WHICH I PRESUME IS A GEAR WITH TEETH STRIPPED OUT ON IT. SEVERAL OTHER NISSAN PICKUPS, IN THE SAME YEAR RANGE OF THE TRANSMISSION I USE, SUFFERED FROM THE SAME PROBLEM, SO I BELIEVE THE 5TH GEAR HAS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN IT WHICH CAUSES IT TO FAIL AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

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1997-06-16

STEERING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
VIN: 1N6NDO1S8FC
Components: STEERING
Summary: VEHICLE WANDERS DUE TO STEERING DESIGN PROBLEM.

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1985 Nissan 720 recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1985 Nissan 720.

1990-04-17

Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Summary: INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES WERE PRINTED ON CERTIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence: INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL CORRECTED TIRE INFORMATION LABEL ON DOORPOST CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Additional sources

More sources of information about 1985 Nissan 720 problems:

buying a 720? - 720 - Ratsun Forums

https://ratsun.net/topic/43414-buying-a-720/

I was curious if there are any common problems ... 133. Location:Smyrna TN, Home of Nissan trucks USA; Cars:1985 720, 1996 Chevy Caprice 9C1.

I Might buy a 1985 4x4 720 this week. What should I watch out for ...

https://forums.nicoclub.com/i-might-buy-a-1985-4x4-720-this-week-what-should-i-watch-out-for-t486310.html

Mar 29, 2010 ... Hi everyone, I'm a longtime Nissan owner and I need (want) a little truck for summer fun in the woods, and dump runs and stuff like that.