I have a 2001 Infiniti QX4 with 230k. I just had my 1st "major" issue. The torque converter came apart & burned up the transmission. I decided to fork out the $ to rebuild it ($2350) because the thing still runs like a beast. I hope to put another 100k on it

FavreOnSunday wrote:I have a 2001 Infiniti QX4 with 230k. I just had my 1st "major" issue. The torque converter came apart & burned up the transmission. I decided to fork out the $ to rebuild it ($2350) because the thing still runs like a beast. I hope to put another 100k on it

Install a Magnefine in-line filter to filter any contaminants from the rebuild process, and just to prolong the life of the fluid/transmission in general.

1996 Pathfinder SE here. Second Owner since 97. Got it at 90K. Now at 298,298KM.
Headgasket and Timing Belt need to be done. Debatting whether to keep it or go for a new lease. Tough Decision. This SUV has been very reliable and well maintained with no out of the ordinary issues.

I have a Burgundy 2001 QX4 with over 136K miles. It has been a great car. The issues over the years have been front drivers side light is out and has a ballast that has to be replaced at $500.00...ouch. My electronic seats stopped working. The rubber gasket around the passenger side window in the back has fallen down. The paint job has started to peel in the back. I've had to replace two ignition coils, which was not easy because the dealership had to wait for one to completely fail before they could fix it. Now my situation is that I have a battery cable end that needs to be replaced on the red side. Has anyone ever done this? If I am wrong to ask a question here and should be just posting my mileage, please let me know. I don't want to ruin the thread. Thanks!

hello,

2003 qx-4, original owner. generally happy with car. 185,000 miles.

besides interval upkeep i have replaced both catalytic converters, power steering pump, rear shocks, and now have to tighten the power steering valve screws (not going to be fun)

2003 LE 4x4 102xxx ish miles. Bought it with 14000 4 or 5 years ago. NO issues whatsoever. I am really good with regular maintenance, but other than that I have treated this truck like garbage and it just keeps going. Sounds and runs like a champ. It spends a lot of time off-road. Since this is our older vehicle now and we have treated it as such, this coming year is going to bring it lots of upgrades, can't wait.

My 2000 Pathfinder LE was going strong at 116,000 miles. No major issues until this stupid recall!!! Now I have to give her up! Very unhappy with that. I still wish there was another way.

2001 LE 4x4 158K, Purple Blue Metallic. Second owner, live in Catskill Mountains of NY State. Purchased at 65K miles in 2007. No paint rust, some slight peeling on hood.

Service:

Strut Housing Recall: Campaign 2 (Bracket, fiberglass Driver side-Fiberglass Passenger side) Was fixable since I clean the under carriage during the winter constantly.

Disk brakes x3, rotors x2 (Mountain driving)
Drums
Stabilizers
Ball Joints (LH&RH)
Exhaust 5x..original stainless crapped out, discount cat-back and mufflers just can't hold up. Lifetime warranty on the Car quest exhaust so I don't care...I just go back every year for a new one.
Struts & Shocks

2001 QX4 .....259,000 miles

i have a 97' QX4 besides the whole trailing arm problem it has been great. 240,000miles and still running good.

No powertrain issues here. I frequently check the oil to find it's still gold well after the last oil change. 285,000 Km (177,000 miles) so far and still going strong!

kip wrote:Hi Everybody,

I just want to say that I have a 2002 Pathfinder SE with a 5 speed manual transmission and I have 115000 miles on it and have had no problems at all. Besides the wonderful gas mileage that is and the having to use premium gas. It has been an amazing truck and I change my own oil using mobile 1 synthetic and had maintenance done on it at 75000 miles and it just runs and runs.

I have a quick question for anyone who may know. Should I use premium gas in my Patfinder? Its a 99.5 and I've been using regular and its seems to be fine but would it be better for the vehicle if I use premium?

easypoint23 wrote:

kip wrote:Hi Everybody,

I just want to say that I have a 2002 Pathfinder SE with a 5 speed manual transmission and I have 115000 miles on it and have had no problems at all. Besides the wonderful gas mileage that is and the having to use premium gas. It has been an amazing truck and I change my own oil using mobile 1 synthetic and had maintenance done on it at 75000 miles and it just runs and runs.

I have a quick question for anyone who may know. Should I use premium gas in my Patfinder? Its a 99.5 and I've been using regular and its seems to be fine but would it be better for the vehicle if I use premium?

No, use regular 87 octane fuel only - it's what the engine is designed for. Higher octane fuel is more difficult to ignite and if the engine cannot advance timing far enough to take advantage of the higher octane, driveability issues may occur, as well as lowered fuel economy.

DD since 1998, 297,645 as of this morning. new rear main seal @250k

2002 Pathfinder 112600 miles.Bought third set of tires last summer,Hacook AS s. We leased, then liked enough to buy out.Last year first major problem I couldnt fix right off. Left Banks injectors blowing full bore,no control whatsoever. it was a ticking time bomb. Three injectors and new plugs and intake gaskets at my local Nissan dealer set us back $ 1500. Ran like a top after that and still does, but developed that old dreaded coolant leak from tranny ,aka the crossover pipe? Thats what brought me to this site thank god.Otherwise the thing has been very reliable.Almost forgot just changed lower ball joints which was not to bad.

Towncivilian wrote:No, use regular 87 octane fuel only - it's what the engine is designed for. Higher octane fuel is more difficult to ignite and if the engine cannot advance timing far enough to take advantage of the higher octane, driveability issues may occur, as well as lowered fuel economy.

how about the Qx4 2000 you recommend only regular 87 ?

Yes. 1996-2000 R50s with the VG33E engine should use only 87 octane. 2001-2004 Pathfinders with the VQ35DE engine should use 91 or higher preferably.

Why only Regular gas, i thought Regular was bad for the valves making more dirt and also making your engine run sluggish.

I had my 2003 Pathfinder from 16,000 miles to 60,000 miles. The only problem I had the entire time was the exhaust rusting apart at 60,000.

BoostMyQX4 wrote:Why only Regular gas, i thought Regular was bad for the valves making more dirt and also making your engine run sluggish.

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/gasoli ... myths.html

Towncivilian wrote:

BoostMyQX4 wrote:Why only Regular gas, i thought Regular was bad for the valves making more dirt and also making your engine run sluggish.

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/gasoli ... myths.html

im getting my pitch-fork and torch, i have been deceived by the fuel myth for all this years

158,000 miles on my 2001 Qx4. Running pretty good still.

I had to replace all the ignition coils when one when out. @ 80k
replaced 02 sensor a couple of times
Starter went out and sprayed metal chips all over a sensor, so had to get both fixed
I had to have something on the rear axle, can't remember what.
Bose stereo - defective piece of junk (Clarion). Finally replaced it with a pioneer.

Other than the ignition coils and 02 sensor it has been a maintenance free ride.

I have decided to run it into the ground. I need to get the leather fixed on driver's seat, and do a few other things. I'm hoping to go 230k or so with no major problems, we'll see.

1997 Nissan Pathfinder with 180,000 miles on it. This car runs like a dream, the only problem it has are the rear control arm bushings. The R50's have a propensity to have this problem, I have heard.

PathyProject wrote:1997 Nissan Pathfinder with 180,000 miles on it. This car runs like a dream, the only problem it has are the rear control arm bushings. The R50's have a propensity to have this problem, I have heard.

Indeed, there is even a TSB about it: NTB98-001 PATHFINDER VEHICLE PULL AND FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION EXCESSIVE PLAY

Towncivilian wrote:

PathyProject wrote:1997 Nissan Pathfinder with 180,000 miles on it. This car runs like a dream, the only problem it has are the rear control arm bushings. The R50's have a propensity to have this problem, I have heard.

Indeed, there is even a TSB about it: NTB98-001 PATHFINDER VEHICLE PULL AND FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION EXCESSIVE PLAY

Thanks for the link, this issue will hopefully be resolved soon. I don't like it when my steering wheel and ride shake all over the place when driving.

99 QX4. 148,000 miles on VG33 engine. Replaced timing belt, water pump, rack and pinion bushings, new rear shocks, new Ac compressor, new radiator, new exhaust..need a possible rear end rebuild. Weak engine, however it always starts up.

2003 Pathfinder SE...151,000 miles. Only had to replace front wheel bearings at 123,000 due to a pit in the passenger side race. Getting ready to put new springs in the rear and front with 2nd set of shocks/struts. Gonna replace u-joints too. This thing's a tank!

1997 Infinity QX4 with 273,466. Changed Alternator at 260K, front rotors as we speak, and a catalytic convertor upcoming. Besides those issues, everything else has worked great!

I have a 1999 Pathfinder 2wd, and I have 208,436 miles on it, still running great, and I'd trust it to take me anywhere..... I repair cash registers and office pc's and I'm all over the county each day, and there's been times i put as much as 500- 700 miles a week on it, and it doesn't seem to mind......

Hey all, just joined this forum club after I've used this site numerous times to work and fix things on my Pathy.

Currently, I've got 137k miles on the Pathfinder... and she's a 1993! Honestly didn't believe it, but the Carfax showed no odometer rollback so I knew that it was legitimate when I traded for it this past April. I'm now the 3rd owner. First one was a nurse and I'm certain to believe that she took really good care of it. However the kid before me beat it up badly (had a transmission replaced, also tore the driver door off in an incident with a parking brake but overall she still runs great!

I take great care of my vehicles and this one is no exception. I've put the most work into it (My first car was a 94 Chevy Corsica, and other than oil changes, I replaced a thermostat. Easy. 2nd Car was a 99 Chrysler Concorde. Did the belts and a CV boot. All of that before the engine blew... which blew again after a new engine was put in. Third car was my last one, a 97 Mazda 626.. Loved it. First 5-Speed. Other than oil changes, a CV axle replacement, and occasionally plugging up an exhaust leak, It was pretty maintenance free!)

My Pathy has been getting a lot of my attention (and money) since April... Day after I got it, the timing belt skipped (ended up being a bent washer on the crankshaft) but it was easily fixed after a 2 day garage fix. Done the easy tuneup (Ignition Coil, Spark plugs, Distributor Cap and Rotor). When the timing belt went, I wasn't sure if by putting a new one on that it would work, and being that I was short on money, I didn't do the Water pump... but I'm thinking about doing that before next Spring. Beyond the oil changes (I use synthetic Mobil 1 oil, just because I feel that it helps along with a good oil filter (varies)) I've also done the exhaust manifold replacement with the studs as it was leaking and giving me a nice "tree frog" sound when I'd take it out of gear. I also noticed the valve cover gasket is leaking a little so I'll probably replace that in either October or over Thanksgiving Break. New headlights, as well as replacing both bumpers (they were the chrome ones originally and were rusting badly) Also done the diff fluid, trans fluid and transfer case fluid.
I believe I've got a solid Pathy. I primarily use it for transportation between school and home (150 mile trip) and also for Storm Chasing. Love it, and hope it'll give me quite a bit more years!