Just picked up a Pathfinder. Couple questions.

[twofortyesex]

Evening,

I recently picked up a 98 Pathfinder Chilkoot 5spd as a winter commuter. I just have a couple questions. First off the dimmer switch didn't work when I got the vehicle. I went to a junk yard and managed to pick up another one for under 10 bucks. Sadly that didn't do the trick either. There are a couple bulbs out. Is the dimmer still suppose to work, or is it like the compass/temp above the mirror? (One of my bulbs in my mirror were burnt out, I replaced it then the compass/temp started working)

So far my burnt out/not working list is the Glove Box, Ashtray, A/C button (manual HVAC) and the Yield/Rear Defrost don't light up. The light turns on when Rear Defrost is engaged, just not the button itself. I did notice a couple people had glowing knobs and gauges on their manual HVAC. Are they suppose to glow or was that a mod? What about on the left side, the dimmer icon itself, the cruise button and the L/R on the mirror switch, are those also suppose to light up? I checked all the fuses and so far everything seems okay.

The Pathfinder I checked also had a white faced gauge cluster. Would this one be a direct swap into mine, or would there be modifications required?

I am also trying to hunt down some cheap foglights. Anything similar to stock someone can recommend? If not I can hold out until the junk yard has a set. Same goes for a Bush Guard.

Lastly the transmission makes a 'whine' every now and again when switching gears. It doesn't seem to affect shifting, just makes this noise every once in a while.

It's the second Nissan to join the family and so far it's been awesome!

If anyone has anything to add or something I should be weary of please feel free to fire away!

[Chuck Tribolet]

By "dimmer switch" do you mean for high/low beam, or for the instrument panel lights? If it's the high/low beam, is it stuck on high? Stuck on low? Also note that there are some relays involved and could be the point of failure.

With all those instrument panel lights out, I'd be thinking it's either the dimmer for them (test by jumping around it with a piece of wire) or a fuse."

The FSM is here on NicoClub. Download a copy.


Chuck

[Towncivilian]

Welcome to NICO!

Check the fuse labeled "TAIL" in the engine compartment fuse box on the driver's side. That fuse controls external tail lights as well as all interior illumination.

Download the owner's manual as well as the factory service manual. To save a copy of the FSM, right click -> Save As on every PDF, save them into a single folder, then use fwd.pdf to navigate. I'd also suggest a read through of the general information thread.

A white (actually bluish) instrument cluster can be achieved by replacing the five illumination bulbs with LEDs. See the LED conversion details thread for more information.

The glove box, ashtray, HVAC buttons and faces, hazard switch and rear defroster switches are supposed to light up. The cruise controls, dimmer switch, and mirror switch do not light up.

I would also suggest the following:

• Have your Pathfinder inspected for the strut housing corrosion recall if it hasn't been yet. This should be your top priority.
• Change all fluids and filters, especially if you do not know the service history of the vehicle. Engine oil and filter, manual transmission fluid, differential(s), engine coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, engine air filter, fuel filter, cabin air filter (if equipped; if not, install one, details are in the general information thread). Also grease the driveshaft (details also in the general info thread).
• Adjust accelerator and cruise throttle wires; see pages FE-3 and EL-161 of the factory service manual respectively for instructions.

Changing the manual transmission fluid may help with the whine you hear. Use a GL-4 75W-90 fluid only. I would suggest Amsoil MTG.

As for fog lights, a junkyard might have an OEM pair. Just make sure they are water tight. Be sure to get the turn signal/lighting stalk on the steering column from the donor vehicle and maybe the fog light relay if you find a good pair of lights.

I would be leery of installing a brush guard. Nissan did not make any of their own brush guards and have a TSB warning against aftermarket brush guards - see NTB96-080 - GRILLE GUARDS, BRUSH GUARDS AND WINCHES.

If you have any further questions or problems, don't hesitate to ask!

[twofortyesex]

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

When I first brought the vehicle home, as I was driving the entire instrument cluster actually burnt out. I popped the hood and replaced the TAIL fuse as soon as I got home. Once I did that the cluster was back in action, everything else I mentioned stayed off.

I'll go over some fuses again this morning and see if anything else is burnt out. I'm going to download the FSM and OM from the website and will have a look over them today as well.

As for the white cluster. I was looking to replace mine with the one in this HOW-To located here: how-to-replace-instrument-cluster-lamps-t461756.html This one actually has white faces where mine are black. It also has a nicer 4WD illumination, though I was reading up more last night and found out that those particular clusters only work with Automatics and not Manuals? Is this true?

Thanks for clarifying which lights up and which doesn't. I've made a list of bulbs to replace in case everything is burnt out and it's not just a fuse.

The first thing I was worried about was the strut housing corrosion recall. This vehicle was originally from BC. It's in really good condition for having 300kms on it and not much body rust compared to the other Pathfinders I looked at in my price range. The front wheel wells appear to be in excellent condition as well with not much rust. I can provide photos if needed.

I have done oil and filter, power steering, coolant and the engine air filter so far. Transmission, Diffs, Brake fluid and Clutch will be done hopefully before the end of the month. I'll check the cabin air filter sometime this week.

Why would the accelerator and cruise throttle wires need to be adjusted if you don't mind me asking? Do they loosen over time?

This vehicle was equipped with stock fogs at one point. I'm not sure what happened to them as the wiring and mounts are still there. The turn signal stalk has the foglight switch also, so all I need is a pair to splice in and I'll be good to go!

Thanks for the TSB warning as well. I'll consider this before making a purchase in the future.

Thanks again! I'll go over some of the stuff today and see if I can locate the problem. It gets dark pretty early up here, so it would be nice to have complete illumination inside

[Towncivilian]

Instrument clusters between years are most likely not interchangeable, especially not between engine differences (1996 - 2000 have the VG33E whereas the 2001 - 2004 have the VQ35DE; I'm sure there are significant wiring differences). You might be able to get by with a year plus or minus difference, but I would absolutely pore over the wiring harness pinouts to ensure that before trying. I don't think any 98 - 00 instrument clusters have white faces, though.

The accelerator and cruise wires on my Pathfinder had some slack and it was noticeable in the accelerator pedal. Also, there seems to be less of a "jolt" when engaging/disengaging cruise after the adjustment of both wires. My brake pedal also has a little bit of slack but this is a lot more difficult to adjust and I may just have the dealer perform the adjustment.

Some photos of the wheel wells wouldn't hurt so we can ensure things look good. Even if there is little rust, was the vehicle still inspected by Nissan?

[twofortyesex]

Yeah it was the same cluster as this one: http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj24 ... C03948.jpg

It was in a Pathfinder they had labelled as a 98, though they could have been mistaken?

The throttle cable is nice and tight, the cruise one seems to have a little bit of slack to it. That is the only thing I have yet to try, so I may experience this 'jolt'. I'll report back.

Photos will come sometime today. I just got the glove box out and there's no sign of a light anywhere in there. Maybe this one didn't come with one?
The ashtray bulb is toast, and due to it being one piece (the connector and the bulb) Nissan wants 25 bucks for it! I'm gonna head back to the junk yard today and see if either Pathfinder had a good one I can use for now. I'm going to check the dash lights real quick before I leave just incase any other bulb is out I can 'borrow' for the time being. I'll order some bright LEDs one of these days.

The vehicle was inspected by a family friend. I used to work at Nissan a couple years back, they did my 180sx alignment and I have continuously purchased my parts from them. I'll give them a call as well sometime today.

Quick EDIT: One of these 20A fuses for RR defrost is out. I'll replace that as well. Is there suppose to be a fuse in the ETS MTR spot? Mine is empty.

[Towncivilian]

If there is a glove box lamp, it will be in a white housing above the glove box.

The ashtray bulb itself is replaceable, use a #74 bulb. You don't need to replace the entire harness unless it's melted or something.

I'm not sure what "ETS MTR" is for. Is this a fuse in the engine bay or behind the coin tray?

If the rear defroster fuse blows again, make sure both harnesses at the rear window are connected securely and free of significant corrosion.

[twofortyesex]

Maybe the blown RR Defrost fuse has something to do with the Yield/RR not lighting up?

Couple photos I took so far.

Photo of the Yield/RR Defrost buttons. How do you get into these to check if the bulbs are good?



Second photo is the ashtray bulb. It looks like the bulb is attached and it's all one piece:



Third picture is where I'm stumped so far. How does the A/C button come out so I can check the bulb? Same goes with the knobs. I can't get to the back to unhook and remove the whole HVAC setup.



Thanks for the quick responses!

[Towncivilian]

On the sides of the switches, there are small tabs holding the cover on. Use a small precision screwdriver to pry these away to allow the top to pop off. Be careful with the hazard switch since if you damage the contacts while reassembling, your turn signals won't work. They also won't work without the hazard switch connected. If the bulbs are blown, you can replace them with 12v microbulbs from Radio Shack.

That ashtray bulb is weird, looks different than mine. I think that might be a 12v microbulb in there based on the size, I'm not sure. Can you see where the bulb's leads exit, or are they covered by the solder there?

Remove your radio cluster and push the HVAC control unit in and then under so you can access it better. I don't exactly remember how you remove the buttons, but it was fairly obvious once I was able to see and gain access to them. These take 12v microbulbs too.

[twofortyesex]

Well I definitely didn't have the patience to open the yield/rr buttons. The bulbs were burnt, but I destroyed the buttons trying to pry them open.

Hopefully the pathfinder at the yard still has them

I'm gonna head to the yard right now, was going to wait til tomorrow morning but I'm just gonna go get it over with now.

Still unsure about the HVAC controls. Chances are the bulbs are burnt out I just don't want to destroy it like I did to the buttons.

[twofortyesex]

Alright. I picked up a new set of buttons from the yard. I hooked up the yield in the parking lot. It worked and lit up like it was suppose to. When I got home I unhooked it, put it back in the bezel and hooked everything back up. Now it doesn't light up anymore?! I'm just going to leave them as they are for now.

I did pick up a new ashtray bulb setup. It's different then the one I posted before. I had to take the male end as well since the one connected to my vehicle is different.



My dimmer seems to be working now which is good, as well as the A/C light.

So as it sits my HVAC and Yield/RR are still out. The weather is going to get chilly over the next couple of days, so I'm going to put this on hold until the weekend.