Vibrations... 2003 Pathy

[mass20v]

First off.. Hello everyone and thanks for taking the time to read this and adding your input. I recently purchased a 2003 Pathfinder LE w/60k on it. I love the truck and you can tell that the person that had it before really took care of it.. The truck is almost immaculate.

Anyhow, since purchasing it I always drove it in two-wheel drive (for gas saving purposes). I noticed that the tires need balancing and that's fine. But yesterday I put the transfer case selector switch to the "AUTO" position and drove it around.

When I get on the highway I noticed a vibration at around 50-60mph that was only getting worst under load. when I let off of the throttle it seemed to go away. It's a floor and seat vibration that's also noticeable in the rear view.

I might add that when it's in 2WD it's fine and the vibration isn't present. Any clues? What should I look for?

Thanks again,

[rlp]

Anybody. ?

[mass20v]

hey "rlp"

I was reading around and no one really had anything to say about this except for a couple of people reporting the same issue but different fixes. One: U-Joints Two: balancing drive shafts.

I guess that the shafts have small welded weights on them that sometimes fall off causing vibrations.

With that said I guess I'm going to start there and see where it takes me. Thanks for the bump anyhow.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Checking for the driveshaft counterweight is really easy, you can see the factory counterweight on my driveshaft in the following picture...

[Pwnin O'Brien]

If you do not get the vibration in 2WD then it is not your driveshaft counterweight. Some vibration in 4WD is perfectly normal, especially if you're driving in 4WD on dry pavement.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

A couple of other things to note (from the Pathfinder owners manual)...

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I apologize, I misread your original post. I thought that you meant that you got the vibration in 4WD, but you get the vibration when you set the dial to AUTO. This is an entirely different problem. When you set it to AUTO, the 4WD shouldn't be engaging at all if you're driving on dry pavement (assuming you were driving it on dry pavement) and you should notice no difference in driveability. When you were driving the vehicle in AUTO, did the 4WD lamp illuminate on the instrument cluster? What you have described in your original post sounds like 4WD is engaging when you turn it to AUTO.

[mass20v]

First off thanks for the reply,

I say "4wd" cause when I put it in "AUTO" all four "wheels" on the dash light-up.

With that clarified any clues?

[mass20v]

Also, to be clear it happens on both dry and wet pavement (more so) dry. But definitely still present on wet surfaces.

Thanks again.

[rlp]

Thanks mass20v.

I get a pretty fair vibration in 2Wheel at speed; 55 to 65+ and lessens around 70. It seems to originate from the passenger rear.

I know this could be a separation in a tire but have new Bstones, which could mean nothing as far as separations go. Ive had and diagnosed a few and Im hoping mine is that.

My thought was drive shaft and/or carrier bearing but if ok in 2wheel would seem a non issue. Some good info here on that. I will change my carrier as course of general maintenance as have waited to long on other rides and improvement was immediate.

Have read here where wheel bearings and seals need 'tightening' sometimes too???.

I can start with a GOOD balance and alignment. Checking rims etc... while at it for my vibration.

I just got my 03 QX so I am always looking for common symptoms here so thanks.

Hope is easy fix for you.

[supraholic]

Have you fixed the vibration in Auto mode? I have the same exact problem for my 2001 PF. Please let us know.thanks.

[fastpathy35]

It sounds rto me that the 4wd is staying on in auto.

[mass20v]

Sorry fella's I've been crazy busy with work and fam so I haven't been on here in a while. As for any type of progress with this vibrating, NEGATIVE. I've learned to live with it tho. I got the tires rotated and balanced shortly after the last post and inspected for weights on the DS that checked out OK.

I just drive the truck around in 2wd all the time. When it's snowing or raining it's in AUTO and if I'm getting dirty in the snow fishing for those elusive parking spots it's in 4H. The truck shifts fine and the transmission doesn't make funny sounds while driving. Although I must admit that when the truck is in AUTO and I come to a stop (ie: in a parking lot) and put it in PARK, take my foot off the brake and it's been off for a few secs the truck creeps or settles (when it first happened I thought someone touched my bumper while trying to park). If it doesn't creep it makes a sound, like ummm? a thhhfffump.. Almost like a disengaging of some sort when I turn the key off.. Not a loud one, and it's not a bang but it's just different (to me). None of these things are present in 2wd just in AUTO.

I don't know if it's just me being "over critical" about the truck seeing that it's the first truck I've owned and trucks are just that TRUCKS... But any insight would be appreciated. Other than that I LOVE IT!

Thanks again and I hope everyone's having a wonderful summer.

Cheers

[01silvapathy]

I never use my auto mode anymore cause I cant with the manual hubs I got. Anyways whenever im wheeling or using 4wd and I turn the truck off or put it in park you do get a kind of jerk or thump sometimes. Thats just the slack going out of the driveline its perfectly normal.

[Kidastra]

I had the exact same vibration feeling in my floor and seats, I work at a nissan dealership so I had alot of different input of what the problem may be,
in my case it was the front drive shaft, and my front left wheel bearing.

[mass20v]

I never use my auto mode anymore cause I cant with the manual hubs I got. Anyways whenever im wheeling or using 4wd and I turn the truck off or put it in park you do get a kind of jerk or thump sometimes. Thats just the slack going out of the driveline its perfectly normal.

Well that's a releif.. Thanks again man!

I had the exact same vibration feeling in my floor and seats, I work at a nissan dealership so I had alot of different input of what the problem may be,
in my case it was the front drive shaft, and my front left wheel bearing.

Funny you said that, I have a friend that said that too. But the reasoning didn't make much sense. He said that the previous owner probably NEVER drove it in AUTO or 4H/L.. Therefore the front drive shaft/u-joints more-or-less seizes or binds due to lack of of use? Anyhow you're spot on when you say, "it's in the floor and seats.." When you say front drive shaft did you replace it or was it a balance? I'll start there. Thanks!

[fleurys]

Your problem is the front u-joint. easy to test : (make sure to test this in a straight line...if you do this while turning you could damage the driveline)

1) put on 2wd : floor it from a stop to 30-40mph should be no vibration or very little
2) put to 4hi : same thing ... should be vibrating alot and potentially feeling that if you continue to accelerate, you might break something.

if that's the case, it's your u-joint. take 20 minutes, and remove the 8 bolts retaining your front driveshaft. Once you have it in your hand , you will be able to see that the u-joint is either seized or cupped (it moves in steps, like if the rollers in the u-joint caps were square instead of round)

[01silvapathy]

Your problem is the front u-joint. easy to test : (make sure to test this in a straight line...if you do this while turning you could damage the driveline)

1) put on 2wd : floor it from a stop to 30-40mph should be no vibration or very little
2) put to 4hi : same thing ... should be vibrating alot and potentially feeling that if you continue to accelerate, you might break something.

if that's the case, it's your u-joint. take 20 minutes, and remove the 8 bolts retaining your front driveshaft. Once you have it in your hand , you will be able to see that the u-joint is either seized or cupped (it moves in steps, like if the rollers in the u-joint caps were square instead of round)

I'm going to have to try this!

[Kidastra]

When I had my driveshaft out, it had no signs of wear the the joints. Even after I changed the drive shaft there was still a slight vibration, which is where the bearing came in, once that was repacked all vibrations were gone.

[mass20v]

Your problem is the front u-joint. easy to test : (make sure to test this in a straight line...if you do this while turning you could damage the driveline)

1) put on 2wd : floor it from a stop to 30-40mph should be no vibration or very little
2) put to 4hi : same thing ... should be vibrating alot and potentially feeling that if you continue to accelerate, you might break something.

if that's the case, it's your u-joint. take 20 minutes, and remove the 8 bolts retaining your front driveshaft. Once you have it in your hand , you will be able to see that the u-joint is either seized or cupped (it moves in steps, like if the rollers in the u-joint caps were square instead of round)

I'm going to have to try this!

+1

When I had my driveshaft out, it had no signs of wear the the joints. Even after I changed the drive shaft there was still a slight vibration, which is where the bearing came in, once that was repacked all vibrations were gone.

sweet... hopefully I can get to this, this week, Man, I just wish I had this info 2 weeks ago when I my pads and rotors done.....

[Pathfound49]

When I had my driveshaft out, it had no signs of wear the the joints. Even after I changed the drive shaft there was still a slight vibration, which is where the bearing came in, once that was repacked all vibrations were gone.

Which bearing(transfer case?) and for which drive shaft(front or rear) are you referring? I had a thread about this a couple months ago. Any info would be great.

[Kidastra]

Which bearing(transfer case?) and for which drive shaft(front or rear) are you referring? I had a thread about this a couple months ago. Any info would be great.

Bearing was actually the wheel bearing, just had to repack the grease, and tighten it up.
and I was referring to the front drive shaft.

[Kidastra]

Your problem is the front u-joint. easy to test : (make sure to test this in a straight line...if you do this while turning you could damage the driveline)

1) put on 2wd : floor it from a stop to 30-40mph should be no vibration or very little
2) put to 4hi : same thing ... should be vibrating alot and potentially feeling that if you continue to accelerate, you might break something.

if that's the case, it's your u-joint. take 20 minutes, and remove the 8 bolts retaining your front driveshaft. Once you have it in your hand , you will be able to see that the u-joint is either seized or cupped (it moves in steps, like if the rollers in the u-joint caps were square instead of round)

in my case that "test" did confirm the vibrations, but when the front driveshaft was out, the joints were not seized, or cupped. So it is possible that it is off balance also.

[Pathfound49]

Which bearing(transfer case?) and for which drive shaft(front or rear) are you referring? I had a thread about this a couple months ago. Any info would be great.

Bearing was actually the wheel bearing, just had to repack the grease, and tighten it up.
and I was referring to the front drive shaft.

Ok Kid. Thanks for the reply.