SnowKat

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could explain a clanking'ish noise from the front of the 'Q? It happens only on initial exceleration from a stop usually only when cold in 2WD and 4WD(more 4wd tests to come, I usually forget and then its too late) and it sounds like the winch hook dragging which would be easily fixed if I actually had a winch (Hey maybe its one of those suprise options like the rear power outlet.......). I've read it described as driving over a grate on the weeeb but found no definitive answers (seems to happen to Titans too). I understand the thump when starting to drive is the ABS self test but this seems to be unrelated. Also, there aren't any associated vibrations through the steering wheel, my butt, or feet. If I was to venture a guess it sounds like when the front diff is randomly and not fully engagging the front driveshafts...hmmmmmm . Its hard to diagnose as you have to be moving to have it happen, and I forget about it, and only hear it with the window open. "Damn there it is....... Sorry honey I know were late but I have to conduct a few tests........" I know what the easy answer is ....... Turn up that "Bloze" sterio and put the hammer down . Now for the real answer...... I appreciate your advise and insite. Markus

Soo... after my SES light was on for an exceptually long time and I paid for a bogus diagnosis and repair estimate (apparently I needed a new cat???) the light went out (I may have driven past someone who farted and set off the light). Upon researching the problem I found that it is common on all manner of vehicals and is essentially un-diagnosable, its the out of range reading between the O2 sensors. Its become such a problem that there is an industry developed around it in the form of O2 fakers.... for less than 30 bux I can never have this problem again. Its amasing what the environmentalists and auto manufacturers can do when they really put their heads together <wipes away tear> "Its beautiful man". Annnywayyyyy...... A week after the light went out we put 3000Km on the 'Q driving to Vermont and New Hampshire with no problems..... good gas in the States and cheeper tooo.. ugh! We even got the famous "This car climbed Mt. Washington" sticker for the newly dubbed "goat" (My wife hates it when I call a luxury vehical like the QX4 the goat...hehehehe... But, honey it does mountains like a mountain goat!!! ). The more I drive it the more I love it...... Long live "The Goat"! Markus

And, the weiner is ....... Bank 1 Catylitic...... and the service guy said as far as cat's go these are cheap! Well Thhhhaaaannnkkk Yooouuuuu! I went to the stealership here as a test to see how they were at handling semi-knowlagible customers..... That was a hour 1/2 wait and $100 mistake. I went there to get the error code for the ses and estimate on the shift flair tranny TSB fix.... After 45min I was getting fed-up and wondering where my truck was and asked why it takes soooo long to plug it into the OBD2 reader. After the service advisor vanishes(never saw him again) the parts lady comes in from the back and says the mechanic should be back soon with the test drive...... WTF where is he going???? and WHY??? All I wanted was the SES error code and an estimate on a TSB(One of those things Nissan has fixed many, many times so finding info on how to repair it should be easy!!!!). AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGG! Anyway, finally the bill comes and they say that there is a problem........ that'll be $106.50.......... (more blank starring)........ sooooo what is it?........ Oh I'll have to go check.......(Smack self in forehead.....)....... You need a new TCM and a new cat......(more blank starring)........ Aaaannnnnnddddd the estimate I came in here a lifetime ago??????? ........ finally!!!! (Go accross the road to Canadian tire and get a Hains manual angry about having to pay a hundred bux for re-learning a lesson!!!!) In the imortal words of Bender...... Being thus'ly boned, ask not for whom the bone bones. It bones for Thee! Markus

Allright in a effort to make me look like a chump..... the 'Q now has decided that its going to have the SES light on permenantly.... arrrrgggggg!!!! Even after running a couple of tanks of the good stuff the light didn't go out. I'm gonna have to see what the code is...I'm assuming that it will be one of the O2 sensors. D'oh and I thought I was a genious... Oh well back sector 7G where I belong. Markus

Thats the biggest annoyance I noticed when shopping for our 'Q. Of the at least 70 '01-'03 Pathy's and Q's we looked at maybe 5 didn't have rust bubbling up under the rubberized window trim. And dont get me started on the wiper arms, I'm trying to get the the 'Q from my wife long enough to sand and paint them. We searched for our truck from Belville to Toronto. I have noticed this on many, many Nissans even on my wifes 90 and 87 Sentras. I have been hoping to find a fix as I feel it will eventually happen to our 'Q..... not having the rust bubbles was a big selling point. I really thought this was a common problem but judging from the responses here we must have run into a unique cross-section of Nissan vehicals. My 2 c's. Markus

No problem tecciball. Its really not that hard to do, just go one at atime and you will see what needs to be moved out of the way. It was easier to do than on my GT4 but some how it took longer which due to the constraints of space and time is almost impossible. We noticed a bit of a milage difference, more response in the engine, and our SES problem seems to have cleared up, but the plugs I pulled out were really beat-up. From years of testing plugs on my GT4 I found the Iridium to the best bang for the buck. Markus

I'm sure the VQ's are the same between the Q and the Pathfinder.... so you would have a "coil on spark" system. Yes, all you need is spark plugs for a "tune-up". The only thing I found tedious was that the Coil's above the plugs are bolted down solid boxes and can't be wiggled out. So you will have to undo some bracketry, the intake, and best of all the TPS (be sure to invite your friends over to watch the red o-ring wander off into the engine bay). As I said tedious and time consuming but not overwhelming. I found the part numbers of the plugs on the NGK site, http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/apps/car_truc...?engineid=30012 I was told that getting the right plugs could be a problem (on this forum) so with the above site your milage may vary. Markus

Thanks all for the welcome..... Trainman I am a firm believer that beer is always a good solution to any problem but to your credit I did add my sig. after I posted... cheers "Das Book" does state that the plugs should be replaced at 105,000KM so it was about time. I have never seen so much wear on plugs in my life. I have experimented with many different types and styles of plugs on my 4cyl turbo engine in the celica and have never seen rounded platinums. It must be because the Q was a city truck for 93,000km of its life. And, I thought that bombing down gravel roads was hard on vehicals. Also thanks OR99.5Speed, with these two vehicals I do make the local parts stores work for their money -study- Markus

Hi all, Thanks for this valuable resource for newbies like me. I had an intermittened SES light in the QX4 (New to us in December 05 with 100K Km) it was very frustrating. I know where all the "good" gas stations are in our area from the A/F meter in my very tempermental Celica GT4... ahhhh Japanese ECU's...... Anyway to make a long story pointless.... I was thinking the truck had a blown O2 sensor (apparently common, as read here). From previous experiments in passing Etests/SMOG tests w/o cats I thought I'd start with the plugs and get as good a burn as possible. I pulled the OE platinums and have never seen so much wear in my life (they were rounded???) and replaced them with Iridium IX's. It took two weeks to settle and now the big '4 can run on any grade gas without the SES light comming on. Anyway thats my 2c's .... I appologise if this has been addressed elsewhere. Markus