Riderman

Did the OP ever find the problem?

That is typically called "morning sickness." I swapped my valve body with a $50.00 junk yard one and it bought me a year or so until I got a rebuilt transmission.

Yes it is possible. I did it last June in a 98 SE.

My hat is off to your mechanic! I pride myself in being a decent mechanic, that one would have taken me a while...OK, a long while to find! LOL I wonder how many people would have replaced the tranny before finding this issue?

If the frame is OK, just go to a JY and purchase a front clip and bolt in on. You can straighten the inner fender parts Close enough to bolt the new metal on using scissor/bottle jacks and a piece of wood 4x4. We have done it many times. Yup, when you pop the hood you can look at the inner fender and tell it's been wrecked before, but NOT from the outside. Just did this for a neighbors PU truck a while back.

I have used both in the past. Black RTV by itself and a gasket with permatex gasket sealer. Both worked well, no leaks.

Do you have access to a scan toll to read any codes? For example, to see if the Crank Shaft Position Sensor is working or not.

Hope this helps somebody. We just put a "new" JDM motor/Trans/front differential/Xfer case in my daughters 98 pathfinder a few weeks ago. I replaced all seals, gaskets, etc in each piece. I replaced both Idler pulleys and the fan clutch with new ones I then decided to replace her AC comp/ Expansion valve, dryer, etc. I recharged her AC by wieghing in the exact charge. Her AC was OK driving around town, not bad, not great @ around 80-90 degrees. I purchased some 1/2" rubber HVAC pipe insulation from Lowes for less than $6.00. It comes in 6 foot lengths. I cut it in half, right down the center so I had two 6' pieces. I installed/stuffed it around the outer edge/gap between the radiator and condenser, the top, and both sides. This directs more air thru the condenser at low rpm's, like when it's needed while driving around town. I wish I measured the before/after evaporator temp when I did this, but by seat of the pants feelings, it is MUCH better. My daughter said, "MY AC is Kicking." She told me tonight that her friend stated, "your AC is colder, did you do something to it?" I'll let you know how it works around town in the upper nineties.

About $35.00-$40.00 for the entire dash with the airbag attached from Foss or Pick N pull. I go to both all of the time.

I just purchased the dash out of a R50 with air bag at Pick N Pull here in VA.

I had this same issue. I pulled the cat and soaked it in purple power and water from Advance Auto overnight. It's been 3 days and no code/CEL.

It Fits! The 04 Xterra transmission was Plug and play into my 98 pathfinder.. The only "issue" was the Xterra's transmission wiring harness was a few inches shorter than the pathfinders. I could have easily swapped harnesses but I chose to just move my pathfinders chassis wiring a little and tie wrapped/zip tied them to the speed sensor cable. My pathfinder TX10 transfer case bolted right up to this transmission. I'll make a separate post with a few more details soon.

The Junk Yards I "peruse" in VA and OH will NOT sell used Cat's.

I'll let you all know in a few weeks how things fit together. I bought a rebuilt transmission from a 04 Xterra on Ebay. I purchased a front differential and transfer case with 45K miles from a 96 pathfinder, I purchased a JDM 3.3L engine as well, all from Ebay. My daughter's 98 pathfinder SE has 258K miles on it. I want it to last a LONG time. I'm purchasing from Rock Auto all gaskets, seals including the water pump/timing belt kit and will replace all drive belts/fluids. I already replaced her entire interior, except the dash with one from a near cherry 2001 Pathfinder, and I painted it two years ago. She already has new tires/brakes, rear differential, etc. A coworker has a Buick V6 car with over 200K miles. He just paid a shop in N.C. about 2 thousand dollars to replace ONE head, a used JY head at that, all lifters and labor including labor to trouble shoot his problem. I'm going to have about that much $$ in everything I just purchased, including shipping and tax. Now....I just gatta do the work...:)