Ale

I'm looking for a decent rack for my 91 pathy. It has the stock plastic cheep-o rack that is labled as not being able to handle more than 60lb evenly distributed. I have been looking at Yakima Q Towers or a Surco safari rack. I'm wondering what some of you have chosen, your experiences with the above-mentioned products, and/or your recommendations. I have a fiberglass canoe I like to carry on my truck so the stock rack just doesn't cut it. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks. AL

Good question. A friend who is a mechanic was shopping for the parts and was going to help me put it in later this summer. I'm not up on the specifics, but he told me I needed to add 4.5" in order to fit the larger tires. Are you aware of something that I am not? AL

I'm planning on installing a 4.5" suspension lift on my 91 Pathy in July, and upgrading my 31" tires to 33". Since I occasionally pull a tent trailer with my pathy and I'm wondering how a lift affects towing performance and what sort of problems I may encounter in terms of stability. Any advice is welcomed. Thanks, :bow: AL

I've seen a number of references to a "come along" what exactly is that? Is it just a tow rope, or is it something more? Thanks, AL

Dense tree canopy blocking my signal? No problem... I have a chainsaw remember? Seriously though. I don't have fuel in the chainsaw while its in the vehile and the jerry can is kept outside. Loading all the gear isn't really an issue cause I have most of it in a couple of plastic bins. I just toss them in the back and go. Thanks for the suggestions AL

Whoops, no I just jotted the chainsaw down twice - I just have a gas one. AL

I'd be interested to know what sort of supplies experienced off-road enthusiasts take with them whenever they go into the bush. I'll get the ball rolling with the items I take, with the caveat that I'm fairly new to this. COmments or additional suggestions welcomed! * Spare Tire (duh!) * toolbox with a broad selection of tools and the Hanes manual for my vehicle. * Hi-lift jack * large can of Fix-A-Flat * An electric lantern (fresh charge before the trip) * LED Flashlight w/ spare batteries * Several road flares * roll of duct tape * coil of electrical wire * coil of heavy nylon rope * gas-powered chainsaw * jerry can with extra gas * a large container of engine oil * first aid kit * Lighter * Compass & topographical map of the area * collapsible shovel * chainsaw * a really large tarp * Enough spare food/water for a couple of days * Cell phone * 2 blankets * A small tent & sleeping bag Any other suggestions? -AL

My transmission died a couple of weeks ago. I got it rebuilt and am just in the process of putting it back in. Should be finished by tomorrow evening. I found an excellent rebuilder in the lower mainland. I don't know where you live so let me know if you want the details. Cost for labour was about $1000 and the rebuild (which included hardened splines, and a replacement of all hard and soft parts, and an aftermarket cooler) was $1800 ($2800 total). I decided to save the $1000 and remove and reinstall it myself. It turned out to be a b*tch to do and in hindsight I might have been better to let the shop handle it. If your tranny is damaged, flushing it isn't going to make it get better, but it might get some of the metal shavings out and buy you some time. The thing you have to worry about is having it go suddenly when you're off-road and in the middle of nowhere. When mine went it just went 'clunk' and I had no gears. If I was in the bush, I would have been hiking out, and if the road was too nasty for a tow, airlifting it out would have been the only option. If you're just driving in the city and within easy reach of a tow truck or BCAA, you can choose to wait till it goes, but I would be nervous about doing any off-roading with a tranny that could die at any moment. -AL

Bless you, that's exactly what I was looking for! -AL

There was a post on here a while back (at least I think it was here... ) in which someone was discussing the problem common to Pathfinders whereby the headlights are dim due to the crappy stock wiring. I'm looking to remedy that situation this weekend but I can't find the post which included wiring diagrams, etc. Does anyone remember this post that can point me in the right direction? Much appreciated! AL

I need to get a new spare for my pathy. I'm wondering if wheels from any other SUV's (e.g. 4Runners) will fit the Pathfinder. I've seen a few people with other types of SUV's selling wheels and I don't want to pick up a set that have a different bolt pattern. Anyone happen to know? Thanks, AL

Sign me up. AL

Rednecks in Canada??? Never!!!! -alcohol- Not enough sun!!! I beg to differ. I have a friend from Aldergrove who definitely qualifies... He has the Yeeeeeeehhhhhaaw! down pat and wears those western belt buckles the size of a dinner plate to go with his cowboy boots. And he used to tip cows when he was younger. AL

I checked out all the local wreckers. Only one had a pathy of the right age, and they were asking $1250 for the transmission. Considering that I can get mine rebuilt for about $1800, and that includes an aftermarket cooler and a warranty it seems like a better bet - especially since I'd be taking my chances with the condition of the used tranny. AL

Pitt Meadows... that is close, I'm just off Pitt River, only a few blocks away from the Pitt Bridge. AL

Well, I'm getting the tranny rebuilt by a local outfit and I'm going to remove it and reinstall it myself. From any of you who have done this before, do you have any recommendations regarding any additional modifications I should make while I'm in there? I'm putting in an aftermarket cooler - any recommendations for the brand? Any other suggested improvements related to the transmission to lessen the likelihood of this happening again? Thanks, AL

That sound great Trainman. I'm a photographer and always in search of scenic locales. I know we have an abundance of them here in BC but I don't get enough chances to go exploring in order to find them. I've been thinking about starting up a photojournal of the various roads I explore. Is there any sort of resource for 4x4 enthusiasts to post images of the places they visit? Regards, AL

Thanks Trainman. Truth is I always have overdrive off unless I'm on the highway and doing 80km/h or better. Doing so drops the revs and I figure it puts less strain on the motor. As soon as I hit the exit ramp, or otherwise start to drop my speed, it goes off again. Unfortunately the previous owner put 40K on the transmission before I got it and I have no way of knowing how she drove it. When the transmission died, I wondered if the OD might have been responsible. Judging from your comments, it sounds likely. Pity... Oh well, you learn something new every day. I'll continue to use the OD sparingly. Thanks, AL

Hi, thanks for the replies. I am located in Vancouver Canada. There were no warnings such as slippage or difficulty with certain gears. One moment it was driving just fine, next thing I know I hear a soft 'clunk' and it's like I'm in neutral and no gears work. I rolled to a stop and that's it... I tried 1, 2, 4L, etc... nothing. Is there a way to tell what shape a used transmission is in without completely taking it apart? e.g. you mentioned metal in the fluid, etc. I'll try the diagnostics you mentioned. I think I found them all. I'm in the process of phoning all the local wreckers to see if they have anything in stock. Apparently the place my mechanic recommended for $2800 charges only $1800 foer the rebuild itself - so I can save $1000 by removing and reinstalling the unit myself. At least that's a less-expensive option than the $2800-$3000 I was looking at before. Still doing research... Thanks Again. AL

I live in Port Coquitlam, work downtown Vancouver. Southern BC is a description of the areas I'm likely to do off-roading in. I've only done a few rough roads so far - nothing truly nasty... yet. AL

Thanks, I've read a few comments about that and will definitely replace the stock oil cooler once I get the new transmission in. Does anyone know of any decent sources from which I can purchase a new or rebuilt tranny? Thanks, AL

I've had a minor quirk with my '91 Pathfinder for a while. Whenever I do a hard right turn, the interior light would flicker and I would hear the chime that normally accompanies the door being opened. I suspect this is caused by my weight leaning against the driver side door and a loose contact? I never really cared about it because it was such a minor item until recently when I put in a car alarm. Now the stupid alarm is going off randomly all the time (often in the middle of the night), and I think that the door contact is flaky, causing the alarm to think the door is being opened. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Does anyone know how the door sensor works on a 91 Pathfinder so I can fix it. My neighbors thank you in advance. Thanks! AL

Bought my '91 Pathfinder last summer. Had the transmission die a couple of days ago which brought me on here looking for advice. Wish I'd found this place sooner since some of the advice (like an aftermarket cooler) might have saved the transmission. Anyway, I'm pretty new to Off-Roading and trying to learn the ropes. Any suggestions for decent roads in southern B.C. for a newbie would be greatly appreciated. Regards, AL

My tranny died a couple of days ago. I described the situation here: http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=4986 I'm trying to figure out what my best option is for a replacement that I won't have to replace anytime soon. I could get Nissan to fix it, but seeing as I've had two die in 65K and 45K kilometers, they don't seem to be very reliable. I could get an aftermarket one, but which? I could get a used one from a wrecker, but have no way of telling what shape its in. Any suggestions? From what I've read here an aftermarket cooler is recommended - wish I had known that before :sniff: any other recommendations for getting a relliable transmission? - other than buying a different brand of SUV, which is what my Bronco-riding friend is suggesting. :help: Thanks, AL

My Situation: I have a mint 91 Pathfinder with an automatic transmission I bought last year with 106K on it. It now has 111K original km on it. The previous owner told me the transmission had been replaced at 65K. To my surprise , the transmission died on me yesterday - only 46,000km after the last one died. The car has been *very* lightly driven. My Options: Nissan says it will cost me $3,000 to repair. My mechanic of choice recommends a local shop that can give me an aftermarket tranny for $2800. He also said that the aftermarket one has a better cooling pump that is more reliable. I also have a brother-in-law who is a mechanic and who has installed and rebuilt transmissions. He says he'll put it in for me if I can get the part - though he doesn't want to have to rebuild it himself if he can avoid it. A couple of question... 1) is this a common problem with Pathfinders? Is there some other component that could be faulty thats causing the tranny to die in such a short period of time? I don't want to be offroading in the middle of nowhere a couple of years from now and have transmission #3 blow on me. 2) Is there some part that can be replaced, or some modification, or some aftermarket brand, or a combination of the above that will give me a reliable transmission? This is the kind of problem I can't afford to have happen to me out in the sticks. I'm a little annoyed about having to spend 3K after such a short period of time and just as the summer is starting. Thats money I was going to spend on a lift and some 33" tires - instead I'm spending it just so the vehicle will run. I'm willing to shell it out to get it working, but I do not *ever* want to have to do this again for as long as I own the vehicle, and if that means I have to shell out a little extra now to get it done right, so be it. Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks, AL