Weird Vibrations... getting worse?

A forum for the legendary Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4.
HankyD
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:38 pm

Post

Hello peoples,


First things first, I am new and this is my first post so hello to all.

I am experiencing some vibration issues with my Pathfinder. It's a 2001 make with auto trans. Just hit over 200xxx kms/120xxx miles.

It began vibrating shortly after start up and then would go away once I started accelerating. When firing the vehilce up, the RPMs would go up normally, then a few moments later the rpms would sink to about 500 (or in that neighborhood) and of course, this is where the vibrations occur. It wouldn't do this before, and it's quite noticeable. This past weekend, I changed the spark plugs (it was definately needed) replaced the air filter and cleaned the throttle body. Unfortunately, this didn't fix the problem.

It seems to becoming more frequent and not just when I fire it up. I do a lot of stop and go driving around town. Now I am finding that it's vibrating when I come to a stop until I begin accelerating again. In motion, it operates normally, just when it's at idle at a stop or when I have it turned off and have to turn it back on. This vibrating doesn't happen all the time btw, more like 2/3rds of the time. Also, power is not the same when I begin accelerating from this state until I begin cruising fast enough.

I am not getting a CEL. I am thinking a contaminated sensor that should be cleaned/replaced? Maybe the coil packs? :wtf2:

Thoughts,

-Hanky


User avatar
asnorton44
Posts: 502
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:43 pm
Car: 2001 Infiniti QX4
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Post

Id try cleaning the MAF

HankyD
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:38 pm

Post

Ok, I will try that.

Do the MAFs get dirty quite easily on these application and thus need regular cleaning?

Anything else I should consider?

Thanks

User avatar
asnorton44
Posts: 502
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:43 pm
Car: 2001 Infiniti QX4
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Post

Yeah if its the MAF its probably due for replacement. Mine lasted around the same amount of miles you have - got the point where when I stopped at a light the car would stall out and I had to put it in neutral and rev the engine to keep it going.

MisterEd
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2011 7:51 am
Car: 1997 Q45
1997 Pathfinder
1997 Corvette
2003 Avalon
Location: Long Island, New York

Post

Your ignition coils might be on their way out. The coils increase the voltage from the battery to the spark plugs. The symptons of your car stalling might be coils that aren't sending the required current to the spark plugs. Coils can be tested for proper resistance with a multimeter. Your repair manual will have the specs for your car. Good luck!

User avatar
Towncivilian
Posts: 4868
Joined: Sun May 23, 2010 10:21 am
Car: 2001.5 Nissan Pathfinder SE 3.5L 2WD A/T
2007 Nissan Altima 2.5L CVT
2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0L CVT Special
2012 Infiniti G37 Sedan 7A/T
Location: Florida, USA
Contact:

Post

Also try running a 20oz bottle of Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner next time you fill your gas tank. Have you ever changed the fuel filter?

Page EC-511 of the factory service manual has the reference resistance values for the ignition coil packs.


Return to “Nissan Pathfinder Forum / Infiniti QX4 Forum”