Not your typical p1130

[IMColor]

Working on an 04 Pathfinder. Before I got my hands on it, the owner swapped out all hoses involved with the swirl control and vacuum system. He also swapped out the swirl control solenoid valve.

I've done extensive testing on the system and read through the service manual thoroughly, and here's what I've come up with:

The system isn't configured exactly the way the service manual describes, for example, the VIAS control solenoid valve on this truck has only two nipples, one that goes into the vacuum Reservoir and one that goes to the swirl control valve actuator. Based on the way the system should work, that doesn't seem to be relevant but I thought I would include it anyway.

I have confirmed that applying 12 volts across the terminals for both the swirl control solenoid valve and the VIAS control solenoid valve causes them to activate and act as they should. The problem is, these are valve ever receives the command to activate. I get 12 volts on one terminal, but never get anything on the other terminal for either solenoid. Not voltage, not ground, just nothing. That's regardless of RPM or engine temperature. It's Fly by wire , so there is no throttle position sensor.

For the VIAS, the service manual says there should be 12v on one pin, but makes no mention of what should show up on the other and has no procedure for testing it. It states there should be 12v on the y/g wire at idle and 0v above 5000rpm. Considering the r/y wire is fed 12v directly from the fuse, that means the solenoid only activates above 5000 RPM, and therefore that would be the only time that it moved the actuator. Which we know is not correct, because the actuator should move as soon as the engine starts.

Any insight anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated

[mdmellott]

The VIAS on your '04 is only an Off and On actuator. In other words, the valve is either closed or it's wide open. As you have pointed out from the service manual, the valve only opens with the engine speed above 5K rpm. There is no partial opening that happens at a lower rpm. Are you getting a P1130 trouble code?

[IMColor]

so here's the actual problem....

The swirl control solenoid that all the parts stores and dealers are trying to give me work backwards. It is a normally open solenoid, meaning with no power applied, it passes vacuum through it. When power gets applied, it blocks the vacuum.

The service manual clearly states that when voltage is applied to the solenoid, it should pass the vacuum to the swirl control actuator. The entire theory of operation for that system is based on that premise. I proved that that's what it appear was looking for by taking the vacuum switch from a different vehicle and putting it in line in place of the solenoid that I was given. The switch that I used was normally closed, so when voltage was applied to it, it did pass the vacuum on to the actuator. The computer did not initially throw a code and the engine went through the RPM range without stumbling. the computer did, however, eventually throw a code because it did not like the resistance of the switch that I used in place of the solenoid.

So.... why is everybody trying to sell me the wrong part and where can I get the right one?

[mdmellott]

That section of the factory service manual seems a bit confusing to me because of the word choices that are used in it, but that's just me. Even the name for this valve the manual uses is drawn out. The Swirl Control Valve Control Solenoid Valve is Nissan part number 14956-1P101 for your '04 Pathfinder. I find the FSM description of what it does, when it does it, and how it does its thing hard to follow in the manual so I would have to trust the dealership that the part is correct and not working backwards. Of course, I would opt for a lower cost at some other supplier like https://www.nissanpartsdeal.com/parts/n ... 1p101.html