Question for NisTech QX4 awd reliability

[zabisis]

Hi I am looking at buying an older QX4 say between 97 and 99. I haven't decided fully whether to go with Pathy or the Q. One issue is the AWD.I had an 93 Dodge Caravan with AWD(viscous coupling) it worked great and was reliable probably do to it's simplicity.The Q has a wet clutch computer controled diff. which is infinitly more complex(pun intended)SO the over all question is how many years could one expect for this unit to run without expensive repairs?Any info would be of great help.Thanks Geoff

[driverdriver]

As long as you don't go offroading( the QX4 is NOT and off road type truck-the most offorad that it's recommended for is gravel trails) and change the transfer fluid according to service intervals and refrain from using 4 wheel mode on dry pavement(causes binding), the system should last a long time.

If your thinking of purchasing a QX4, it is important you buy one with a complete service history in order to avoid headaches.

Overall the vehicles are reliable. Pre '01's are pretty good on gas, bad on low end torque. Post '01's require premium gas(not an option) and are quite thirsty to run.

[zabisis]

WOW this is a surprise. If this vehicle is a dressed up Pathy what makes it not good for off road.?Why does it have 4 low and available limited slip rear diff?I realize the AWD setting is not for the truly off road driving but with 8.3 inches of clearance one would hope they hadn't changed the under pinnings so much you couldn't take to rougher trails.by the way how does one know if a used Q has said limited slip when sold in Canada? Would that be part of the Premium package.Thanks for the fast reply by the way I am closing in on a few models both Pathy and Q that I need to test drive.

[driverdriver]

If you want to off-road stick to a pathy or better yet get a Jeep, Land Rover or a fully loaded Xterra.

The suspension and steering setup is different for a Pathy and a QX4. The Q is tuned to deliver a refined road experience and ride (meaning car like). The Pathy even though its unibody has heavy duty truck suspension setup that is designed for tackling forestry roads.

I belong to a local Durham region off-roading club and we go often during good weather. I've seen guys in QX4's try to off-raod despite our warnings. They usually have expensive accidents or require winching out due to expensive damage.

[zabisis]

Well this is interesting I have been trying to find a local club to learn how to off road properly and I happen to live in Pickering. Where do you guys drive and who are you <grin> as in what club.I had a 93 Grand Cherokee with Quad track years ago but it had issues in the few years I had it. My 87 Pathy was great.(old style truck frame)Anyway I guess I have been looking at Nissan/Infinity because of reliability.

[driverdriver]

Here's the link:

http://www.durham4x4.com/

Its an offshoot of a larger club which was Jeep's only.

This club is all encompassing in terms of vehicle and off road skill level. Its a good mix of people who are willing to share there knowledge.

There is a good mix of vehicles from Jeep TJ's. Cherokee's. Liberty's to Xterra's, some Pathy's, some Land Rovers, 1 Land Cruisers, one or two Suzuki XL-7's and the odd Kia Sportage.

The club meets at the Tim Hortons parking lot in Brooklin-north end of Whitby (corner of Winchester(hwy 7) and Baldwin/Brock street (Hwy 12).

Off road excursions are held in north Durham region into the Kawarthas.

If you want a mixture off reliability and luxury you can pick up a luxury loaded '03 Xterra(with leather interior + true off roadability) in the GTA for a bit less than a '01 or '02 QX4.

[NISTECH]

The 96 to 04 pathy and QX4 are nearly identical vehicles. The springs on the QX4 are softer to deliver a smoother ride. But by no means is the pathy have heavy duty truck suspension.The both use typical macpherson struts on the front and standard shocks with lateral links on the rear. The old frame model path 87 to 95 had the heavy duty suspension.

I wouldnt recommend taking either pathy or QX4 from 96 to 04 for serious off roading. Like he said Xterra would be a better choice.

[fueler]

My QX4 has been to Baja over 20 times, i've had all 4 wheels off the ground countless times, mud up to the headlights, basically a ****-load of offroading and it runs great!

[kg03]

<--------------QX4 owner particularly annoyed by people critiquing a vehicle they don't own.....................

I am sry to be a bit crude...............but the moderator seems to know an awful lot about QX4's and pathfinder to not have a 4wd in his list of "driver" amongst his signature. I have seen plenty of pathfinders and QX4's hang with jeeps, full size trucks, and other off road machines. Often they can surpass depending on the driver.............

[fueler]

I agree, when I go to the mountains in a snow storm, I see that 90% of lifted full size trucks stop where the pavement ends, and turn around. The wet clutch transfer case in the QX4 is the same setup as in the Japanese AWD Nissan Skyline which easily withstand 600+ hp in daily drivers, transfer case is the least of your problems with this vehicle. Xterra?? Xterra is the same engine (v6 3.3) mated with a heavier chassis and body, as well as a tall, unstable body. Cheap interior and ugly neoprene seats come standard. I prefer high speed stability along with comfort and safety. I drive in Baja all the time - you guys don't know the first thing about Mexican off-roading... I'm talking about dead horses in the road, potholes large enough to disable Baja pre-runners, drunk people, jumps, and vast open areas with no gas or civilization for 200 miles in any direction....

[KoukiS14]

This is all news to me. . the older VG also does NOT get better fuel economy -- In fact, it's terrible. . haha

The QX4 does just fine off the pavement. . the suspension setup and unibody could limit it, but I've never intended to go rock crawling in mine. (you'd never be faced with conditions where I live that would warrant solid axles, unless you head over to the tougher trails at The Badlands)

The pre 01s have 90% of their torque available at ~1500 RPM. . not bad imo. 200 ft lb is the max however.

I can tell you they're great in the middle of a blizzard!! I managed to get it stuck in a 3.5 - 4 foot drift, and was able to rock it out and continue along my way. (snow driving doesn't have a whole lot to do with suspension though. . add some decent ground clearance and traction, and you're good to go)

Summary: The R50 is sort of unique in my opinion. . it does deliver a car-like ride, but isn't a crossover .. it can do much more than gravel trails, but it's def. not the vehicle I'd choose for serious off-roading. I'd probably choose an Xterra with a SAS (solid axle swap), or buy a Jeep (kidding)

I have taken my 240sx down offroad trails before (into the woods, through sand / mud . . on ATV trails, etc)... I'm just glad I have a vehicle that takes the beating better. So from my perspective, the QX4 seems absolutely unstoppable -- it's my first 4x4, but 2nd SUV.

[KoukiS14]

Fueler is a great source of information regarding QX4 off-roading. . The dead horses in the road thing sounds interesting -- do you tackle those with 4lo?

I do love the Xterra, but I preferred the QX4 as I could get one with more stuff, lower miles, and still be within my price range. Xterras seem to hold their value nicely.

I went with the QX4 BECAUSE of the auto 4wd setting. It's not something I leave on ALL the time, but in conditions where it's mostly slick, but there's also some dry spots, it def saves me from having to turn 4wd off and on all the time.

[KoukiS14]

potholes large enough to disable Baja pre-runners

Heck. . I've seen this off of Halsted in south Chicago. There was a hole big enough to swallow my S13.

[fueler]

Imagine driving a 2005 Chevy fullsize truck with $7000 of lift in Baja with no light other than your headlights, and then hitting a horse at 2am at about 75 mph: Thats what happened to this poor guy: The owners truck was smashed Another Baja photo of a poor gringo who couldn't handle his Bud Light...

[KoukiS14]

That's a beautiful thang!

Sad though ... but good eatin' horse.

[nissandoms47]

where the hell did that horse come from? unless so cal is full of them lol. anyways to the whole r50 not being able to offroad, come wheelin with me and it'll change your mind.. or better yet a man named max stryker. but he just rips everything up. i wheel with finesse lol, oh and how does the r50 not have heavy duty suspension? i have never broken anything suspension related, infact the r50 steering is the strongest steering by nissan on the 4x4s between 87-04. everyone has to upgrade theirs just to run 32s or even 31s even. so far the rack and pinion on an r50 has been tested up to 35s and works.i dunno about the new steering on the frontys and titans etc..

[fueler]

That horse incident happened in Baja. There is nothing around for miles, including electricity, and no light pollution to brighten the sky, so it gets REAL dark out there. Basically we were travelling in a 2 car caravan when the car in front of me sverved and braked, and we saw the horse. It was smashed and looked like it rolled a bunch of times too. The legs looked all broken and there was some gnarly road rash. I took a pic. Then we kept going, and maybe 300 feet later there is a lifted brand new Chevy with a smashed front end and coolant all over the place and the guy is just sitting there, he said he didnt need any help. I did not know there are horses in Baja until that night!

[KoukiS14]

Man that sucks for that guy!! Did he end up in Mexican prison?

My name is Antonio Banderas. .. you killed my horse. . . prepare to die.