95 pathfinder...issues

[adamzan]

Hi I have a 95 pathfinder. Mechanically it's mint, the body is decent and frame is solid. Only problem is, I've been chasing this shimmy forever. It didn't do it when I bought it a year ago, and I don't wheel it much if at all.

Things that have been done

- new inner tie rods and Center link- inspected rear trailing arm bushings, they're tight.- new front sway bar links and shocks- 3 sets of tires on 3 different sets of rims all re balanced and rotated (I have a set from my old pathy)-Alignment-wheel bearings inspected and re packed.- new brake pads and rotors- new poly tension rod bushings

I recently drove it on a 400km each way trip and it ran fine and the wheels didn't fall off so I know it's solid. But I'd REALLY like it to be smooth all the time. Here is the tricky part. It doesn't do it all the time, and its not related to specific speed, I guess I only notice it over 60kmh. If its freezing cold its usually fine for the first bit but after like 20 minutes or if i hit some rough roads it starts. Its like a side to side shimmy that comes and goes. It's in the front end for sure as I can feel it in the wheel as well. It makes the truck really tiring to drive too. It has 263,000kms on it.

The other issue I'm having is the cruise control. I tried swapping the cruise computer and the actuator with other known working ones and still nothing. Also I checked the brake pedal switch and it is functional as well. When I turn on the master switch the light comes on on the switch and I can hear a click, but when I try to set it, nothing. The dash light never comes on. If you hold set and turn the master on the dash light blinks. It did this with both modules too.

I'd really appreciate any input!

Thanks!

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

For the shimmy issue: How many miles are on this truck? Does the shimmy happen at all speeds, or is there a speed it it worst and then fade away when you go faster or slower? Have the tires been balanced lately?

One idea is that if the mileage is well up there and especially if it's actually used off-road / rough roads, then I'd look for worn ball joints (it sound like the only parts not replaced in the frontend yet).

As for the cruise issue: Have you actually found that relay that clicks when you turn it on -- it may not be working - could be lighting up the indicator circuit "on" but not sending power to the cruise control brain.

[adamzan]

Quote »For the shimmy issue: How many miles are on this truck? Does the shimmy happen at all speeds, or is there a speed it it worst and then fade away when you go faster or slower? Have the tires been balanced lately?[/quote]The truck has 263,400km, or roughly 162,000 miles. The tires have been balanced and have lots of tread. They are bfgoodrich radial long trails.

Quote »One idea is that if the mileage is well up there and especially if it's actually used off-road / rough roads, then I'd look for worn ball joints (it sound like the only parts not replaced in the frontend yet).[/quote]I only took it on a trail once, and it was a light trail with very experienced wheelers with me.

It sometimes feels like there are bumps in the road, that I don't feel on the same road in other vehicles...Very strange. The ball joints are recent. The previous owner said he had them changed. This pathy is driven on paved roads 95% of the time and it is 50/50 city/hwy driving.

The relay that I hear is under the hood. I guess I'll have to pull out the multimeter....

[Chuck Tribolet]

The ASCD hold relay is on the right (US passenger) side of the enginecompartment. FSM says it's bue, and the second relay back from the fronton that side.

The FSM has several pages of debugging procedures for the cruise, see if you can scrounge one up.

I'd be checking to see of the control module can see the SET switch. It's on thesteering wheel, right? (My '95 got traded in '01). Steering wheel switches relyon mechanisms I've never trusted to get signals from the part that turns tothe part that doesn't turn. Note that there's a couple of diodes in that switchso they can get away with one less wire (Reset pulls BOTH wires low)

[adamzan]

The ASCD hold relay is on the right (US passenger) side of the enginecompartment. FSM says it's bue, and the second relay back from the fronton that side.

The FSM has several pages of debugging procedures for the cruise, see if you can scrounge one up.

I'd be checking to see of the control module can see the SET switch. It's on thesteering wheel, right? (My '95 got traded in '01). Steering wheel switches relyon mechanisms I've never trusted to get signals from the part that turns tothe part that doesn't turn. Note that there's a couple of diodes in that switchso they can get away with one less wire (Reset pulls BOTH wires low)

Thank you. I found that if you press the cruise button while holding set or any of the steering buttons, it will cause the dash light to blink. And if i press the set button, it makes a difference in the flashing of the light, so does the brake switch, so I believe those parts are fine. I have a FSM and was trying to find that relay the other day! The hold relay would only engage when you press set right? Makes sense. I will try and nab a couple at the junk yard or maybe my 93 pathy, if they're the same.

[my350z8]

I had the same issue with my the cruise control. There are 3 spring loaded pins in the steering column that press against the steering wheel. If the pins are worn they will not contact the steering wheel preventing the signal to control module. Also the lubricant on the pins may be getting stiff preventing they from moving freely.

[adamzan]

Alright, well I had a shop replace the rear swaybar bushings and links, and it was nearly -40 when I got it back, and it seemed to handle great again.

BUT as soon as it started to get to more milder temperatures outside, it came back. What would cause the shimmy to go away when its that cold outside?

Also my rear shocks are original, and the ride is quite rough, should I replace them, they don't feel bouncy when I push on the bumper...