Heat from Transmission tunnel

[astus]

My pathfinder 2002 4WD is stressing me now. It has about 135k on it. It now generates way to much heat around the gear lever area right Down to the floor of the drivers area. So hot it Burns the soles of your feet.the heat normally happens a few minutes after takeoff. The 4WD light also comes one few minute after takeoff. The truck is now not driving smoothly as before. Very slow in picking up speed and feels like something is gripping the wheels from moving.
Overt the passt few days after a long drive i hear cracking m metal noise like heated metal sheets cooling off and contracting. yesterday a metal sheet covering the drive shaft fell off and looted very rusted or burnout. The engine should seem louder. Am new here...can someone help me here? The Nissan people here in Accra, Ghana don't pay attention to American, Japan made R50 models...they want only the modern model s....PPlease help.

[AZhitman]

Have you gotten under the truck to inspect? Sounds like a part of the exhaust has come apart.

If you'll get underneath and take some good photos, we can help!

Welcome aboard - I think you're our first member from Ghana!

[astus]

thank you very much AZhitman. I just looked under my Pathy and am more confused...i now accept i havent been observing things underneath the car.
i must confess afew things...i have not changed tranfer fluid and deferential for over 30k... and my last diagnosis told me my swirl control valve solaniod was off and my ABS sensors were also off... i have also read from some of the threads in this forum about greasing the drive shaft.
I also suspect the heat is coming from the catalitic convertor under the driver's feet!! could it be?
i manage to take some pictures of the underneath this morning but paardon my ignorance, i cant seem to find my way to uploading them,,,can yu show me how to post the pictures here too...
thanks.

[AZhitman]

Yes, it can easily be an issue with the Catalytic Converter. Possibly, the heat shield was the part that came off - that would explain the intense heat!

Here is how you upload pictures: how-to-post-pictures-using-photobucket-t521110.html

We will be happy to help you get your Pathfinder back into good running condition - You have a good vehicle, it deserves your attention.

[astus]

Thanks for the tip. Here are some pix s...
This leakage scares me
Then i got these pixs of the cat and the begining of the exhaust system:




But how do i know if the cat is faulty?
Then i got these others

[Towncivilian]

Welcome to NICO.

Looks like you're missing a couple heat shields around the cats, but that should be no big deal. Many members rip them off due to rattling or other noises and don't have any issues.

Check the transmission fluid level:
1. Drive around for 10 minutes in the city after the transmission is at operating temperature.
2. Park on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
3. With P selected, shift through every gear and return to P.
4. Pull the transmission dipstick with the engine idling, wipe it clean, reinsert it completely, and read the level. It must be within the notched area labeled "HOT". Check for fluid contamination after wiping on a paper towel.



The fluid should be red, and not smell burnt.

It looks like you've got some weeping around one of the transmission pan bolts, and possibly around the bell housing. Can you degrease these areas and watch for leaks?

[astus]

Now am all messed up!!...My 2002 pathfinder is acting up! I went to check my fluids first and the rear differential and the Transfer fluids were bad...i decided to change them today....i just drove out of the service shop, accelerated off and the engine went off after some jerks...for about 1hr the engine was refusing to stay on for more that 7second...
i put it off for about 15mins started it again and it came on...now it stays on but its not smooth...when i park and leave the engine on, the sound keeps going up and coming down all by itself...and when driving, it jerks strongly when i try to accelerate over 30kmph...
Now am confused...did i have to change the transfer fluid? The accredited NISSAN dealers here in Ghana refuse to touch any R50 model imported from US, Canada or Japan...because the sell only R51 models...
am left all alone with wayside mechanics you can hardly trust...
HELP!!!!!

[Towncivilian]

Are you sure the fluid levels are correct? Remove the fill plug of both on level ground and use your finger as a dipstick. If fluid is on the bottom of your finger, the level is correct.

What fluids did you use?

[chris_clark1979]

How does it run the first 10 minutes?
You can check to see if the cat's are bad. Have the motor running at night for at least 30-45 minutes and crawl under it and look at them. If there even glowing red a lil bit there clogged up. It doesn't sound like low or bad oil to me..

[astus]

Are you sure the fluid levels are correct? Remove the fill plug of both on level ground and use your finger as a dipstick. If fluid is on the bottom of your finger, the level is correct.

What fluids did you use?

Thanks i used a Dextron III for the transfer...and a gl 5 for the differential...
I have been reading here about limited slip...i have to go and verify
if what i was given is LSD... Most of the fluid you guys talk about here are very scarce here in Ghana. No shop here has Mastic D...just some strange brands of Dexron IIIs...
AM CHECKING THE FLUID LEVELS NOW...
I AM NOW CONVINCED I HAVE TO SELL OFF...NISSAN WON'T HELP ME

[Buzzman]

I might be coming in here a little late with my $.02 worth, but from your initial post, it sounds an awful lot like you have a blocked exhaust. Either the cat has disintegrated internally, and it's clogged up the system, or possibly your pipe has collapsed (internally) somewhere.
It's not a common problem, but it sure sounds like a blocked exhaust to me.
Try something simple, like revving the engine in park, and holding your hand over the exhaust tip to see what kind of pressure is being generated. If you don't get much coming out of the exhaust at the tail end, then you have your answer.
Hope this helps.