Changed plugs and fuel filter. Was easier than I thought.

[Finkle]

Saturday night I went and bought platinum spark plugs, and replaced them, fuel filter and air filter. It was my first time and it only took me 2 hours.
I am glad that I have a 2004, because I do not have the dreaded 6th spark plug in the back. Whew I was glad because before I knew that i was worried that there wasnt a kit under my rear seat.
I changed my front diff fluid on sunday, plugs came out easy and was finished in 45 minutes.
Has anyone changed their own transmission fluid? Was it hard? Where do you refill it?

[Towncivilian]

Draining & filling trans fluid is easier than an oil change. Undo the trans drain plug with a 19mm socket, drain (about 4 qts), reinstall drain plug with 25 ft/lb of torque and new crush washer (same as oil change crush washer), fill through transmission dipstick tube. Check level after driving around for 10 minutes, top off if required. If slightly overfull don't worry about it, but if it's by a lot then you must fix it.

What brand of spark plugs/fuel/air filters did you use? You're lucky, it took me 6 hours to change my spark plugs. And they were replaced 25k ago, so I wasted $70 and 6 hours! Hah. But that was just because of user error.

[Finkle]

I'd have to look at the name brand when i get home. The spark plugs were the one's that O'reillys said were the factory replacements. $10 each and platinum tipped. A napa gold fuel filter, and a wix air filter(i think). I love the air filter tray. easiest air filter to change ever.

I've never changed the oil myself. I always let Nissan do it. When I bought it used from them they gave me 8 free oil changes. but when i was under it, i saw a small pan with bolts all around it and a drain plug. Im guessing thats the oil drain? where on the transmission is the drain plug?

[Towncivilian]

Good brands.

The small pan with the bolts all around is indeed the steel oil pan. There is a squareish pan more towards the rear of the vehicle with a 19mm drain plug at the driver's side rear corner of the pan which is the transmission pan. I forgot how many miles you have currently on your Pathfinder, but a pan drop & filter change wouldn't hurt to get any crud out of the pan. It's not an absolute necessity, however, and drain & fills every 15-30k for the rest of the transmission's life should keep it working well. There's an excellent how-to here if you're inclined to do so.


(image courtesy of Empty V)

[Pathy415]

Took me about 3 hours because it was my first time changing plugs on my pathfinder and I also did the cap and rotor and did a How-To for it.

[Finkle]

Thanks Pathy415. It's because of guys like you and Towncivilian that forums like this are a success.