Need ADVICE buying used pathfinder!

[pancake]

I'm looking at a 97 pathfinder. It's a 4x4 automatic with about 150k miles. cosmetically in good condition both in and out and it has been maintained with papers, only 2 owners, both family friends.

 

The timing belt, water pump and other things have been replaced in a timely manner. The one thing that concerns me is that it has a reoccurring check engine light and supposedly comes and goes but once it comes it'll stay. Its been like this during the ownership of the car for about 7 years.

 

The seller is transparent and gave me the invoices from the dealer. They tried to track it down over the life of the vehicle. Unfortunately they didn't write down the code except the most recent repair which was code P1447 and P0325 knock sensor. They "repaired EGR system and lines" and "Set timing HW" for about $150 in labor and it seemed to fix it so the car passed smog after failing the first time. (in CA you fail for CEL)

 

The first time it happened they replaced both rear o2 sensors.

 

Doesn't have any mods seems to be a commuter car for a college student mostly.

 

The price is $2500.

 

What do you guys think? It's in my budget, has records but I dont want to be stranded somewhere this is a daily vehicle and i cannot be stranded. Not to mention the $2500 isn't such a good deal if I have to pay $800 for a knock sensor repair which is what I'm reading on the internet.

 

 

[CALPATHY]

You can either splice in a resistor (I forgot the value for the resistor, I am sure you could google it) that will make the central unit think the knock sensor is OK, but it is not recommended.

You can also do what I did which is to change the location of the sensor with a lot easier access:

 

http://x.nissanhelp.com/forums/pathfinder/7890-3-3l-knock-sensor-relocation.html

 

 

http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f46/knock-sensor-relocation-how-41704/

[pancake]

You can either splice in a resistor (I forgot the value for the resistor, I am sure you could google it) that will make the central unit think the knock sensor is OK, but it is not recommended.

You can also do what I did which is to change the location of the sensor with a lot easier access:

 

http://x.nissanhelp.com/forums/pathfinder/7890-3-3l-knock-sensor-relocation.html

 

 

http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f46/knock-sensor-relocation-how-41704/

Thanks. So that was back in 2011 or something. The seller took the car to the smog place and it was a fail due to the check engine light and it also failed the "visual PCV". I dont know what that is. But the 2 codes thrown were again P1441 and now P1447. The knock sensor code I dont think was there?

 

The advice was that there's a visual hose that was needing replacing and possibly some valves. I did some reading and it looks like its related to the EVAP and cannister so the purge valves and what not.

 

Anyway I'm waiting to hear back from him once they correct it and it's smoggable.

[Slartibartfast]

Unless "visual PCV" means something special in California, I suspect it means the guy looked at the PCV system and saw something wrong with it. PCV is positive crankcase ventilation--the line from the valve covers to the intake. It redirects blow-by gas and oil vapor and whatnot to the intake. If that's leaking, the truck runs lean, and a lean condition can lead to preignition--which the knock sensor picks up (hence the code).

 

The evap codes aren't uncommon from what I've heard.