WD21: 1986.5 - 1995
R50: 1996 - 2004
R51: 2005 - 2010
Maintenance
Q: How often should I change my fuel filter?
A: Nissan suggests that the fuel filter should not be changed unless it becomes clogged (or when it is too late). Many NICO users would recommend you change your fuel filter on a regular basis (maybe once a year or once every two years) since it is very simple to replace and the filter itself is fairly cheap and it can improve vehicle performance. For 2005-2010 Pathfinders, however, it is quite costly and difficult to replace the filter as it is housed inside the fuel pump/sending unit. While the filter on the R51's should be replaced when clogged, it may not be advisable to replace the filter on a regular basis.
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Wheels/Tires
Q: What is the lug pattern?
A: 6 x 139.7mm (6 x 5.5in) for WD21's and R50's, 6 x 114.3mm (6 x 4.5in) for R51's
Q: What is the center bore?
A: 100mm (3.93in)
Q: What is the largest tire I can run with factory suspension?
A: It is not recommended to use a tire taller than 31" as it can cause rubbing on the fender flares or front bumper. You may be able to fit larger tires, however that would require removal of the fender flares as well as an aftermarket bumper (unless you cut away some of the front bumper) and other various trimming/bending.
Q: What is the largest tire I can run with the A.C. (Automotive Customizers) lift?
A: With some serious trimming and bending you may be able to fit as large as a 34" tire, given the fender flares are removed and an aftermarket front bumper is used (unless you cut away some of the front bumper). The A.C. lift has different outcomes on different vehicles, some net more than 2" of lift (after settling) which can allow for larger tires.
Q: Which are better, steel or aluminum wheels?
A: It depends on your application. Steel is much stronger and much cheaper, however it can rust very easily and it weighs significantly more than aluminum or alloy wheels. Aluminum (or alloy) wheels are much lighter and will never rust but they can be quite expensive. If the vehicle spends a lot of time off-road then steel is recommended for strength. If the vehicle is a daily driver or spends most of its time on the road then aluminum (or alloy) is recommended for weight savings and better MPG's. Either wheel will perform the same in either on-road or off-road applications, it really comes down to personal preference.
Q: Can I paint my factory wheels a different color?
A: Sure! It's not a simple process by any means but it can be done in a weekend. The job is much easier if the tires are removed from the rims, although it isn't necessary. For some detailed instructions as well as some pictures of the process, check out the following threads: Painted my stock rims, Painted My Wheels
Engine/Transmission
Q: What are some power adders to get better performance from my Pathfinder/QX4?
A: For the R50's there aren't many options; the two most popular power adders are custom exhaust and a cold air intake (or a high-flow drop-in filter). Some other power adders available for the R50 are high performance camshafts and an ECU reprogramming service. Other options include universal power adders such as upgraded park plugs (such as Pulstar or something similar), electric fan conversion, throttle body bypass and a timing advance. The R51's have a plethora of options including custom bent exhaust systems, a supercharger, custom headers, high performance camshafts as well as a slew of aftermarket ECU programmers. The R51's can also benefit from the same universal power adders listed above for the R50.
Suspension
Q: My car sways at high speeds (on the highway), what is causing this?
A: This is a common problem known to occur on R50 model Pathfinders/QX4s that occurs when the lower control arm bushings become worn out. The issue can simply be fixed by replacing these bushings. Removal and installation of the bushings is not an easy job and requires special tools. A professional installation should be considered.
Note: Polyurethane bushings are available to permanently alleviate this issue; however, new lower control arms (w/ new bushings included) can also be purchased. When considering the price of polyurethane bushings and the price of labor for a mechanic's removal/install - it may be cheaper to purchase completely new lower control arms and tackle the project yourself.
This is not a difficult job, but requires some specialized tools (a press and possibly a come-a-long) to do correctly. The old bushings should be pressed out of the control arms. Doing it any other way may damage the control arms. Average labor rate to replace lower control arm bushings is about 1.2hrs.
Q: What sort of repercussions might I face from running a suspension lift on my Pathfinder/QX4? (i.e.: What additional modifications might I need? What impact is it going to have on street driving? Would you suggest it for a car that is not going to be used for offroad driving? And so on...)
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Body
Q: What are the most rust-prone spots?
A: Unfortunately, everywhere! The entire body as well as the entire undercarriage are all prone to rust. If you live in the northern states (or the vehicle is from the northern states, or the rust belt) then you likely have large amounts of rust on the undercarriage. Most of the rust you see on the undercarriage is just surface rust and does not effect the strength or integrity of the parts. As for the vehicle body, the R50's generally rust under the fender flares first. Although you cannot see it, the fenders may already have large rust spots or even body holes due to the rusting; it takes a pretty long time for the rust to make its way past the flares and to the rest of the fenders but the rust will eventually grow to cover the entire fender if not treated.
Q: What’s my paint code?
A: There are two places to find your vehicles paint code. The first place is the label on the driver door jam. On the sticker, it is a 3 character code near the bottom of the label. In the following example the paint code is EW3:
The second place to find your vehicles paint code is on the placard located in the engine compartment on the firewall.
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General / Miscellaneous
Q: What’s the average gas mileage?
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Q: What are some things to look for when purchasing a Pathfinder/QX4?
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Q: My HVAC blower only stays on one speed and I can't change it!
A: If you have the automatic HVAC system (with LCD display), then the issue is most likely the fan control amplifier. This part basically controls the four fan speeds and it is probably burnt out and requires replacement. If you have the manual (three dials) HVAC controls then the issue is the fan resistors. The fan resistor is essentially a bank of resistors which control the four fan speeds. The resistors are burnt out and will need to be replaced to restore all of the fan speeds. The following thread explains both issues in detail and steps on how to replace the parts: Blower Motor Problem
