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Nate94XE4x2

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Posts posted by Nate94XE4x2

  1. Well hell, boys. Another look at the ECU diags in mode 1 told me the O2 sensor was dead weight. So I jacked up the truck right after a drive, hit the O2 bung with a torch, got the 24" pipe wrench dug in, stripped it some more, brought out all the colorful language, questioned my understanding of lefty-loosey when under, backwards and upside down, and damn near quit again when the thing moved. By no means did it come out the rest of the way easily. Don't know if they skipped the anti seize or what.

     

    New one in and whaddya know, thing runs like a champ again. I've had a lot of old vehicles. This is the first to demonstrate that a bad O2 sensor will put you in a bad mood when the engine runs like crap. I'd check my newfound mpg rating if my odometer hadn't quit...

    • Like 1
  2. I replaced the IACV because the old one tested bad and threw an ECU code. Talk about a pain in he ass to get to.

     

    No go on the O2 sensor: prev owner deleted cat and put in track pipe. I kinda wonder if the O2 sensor didn't get welded into place. No go with the right socket tool, no go with a monster pipe wrench even after soaked with PB blaster and the correct angle for leverage and everything. Now it's rounded right to hell but still connected and giving SOME readings. Guess I need to MAPP gas the pipe next, try heat.

  3. 94 XE Automatic

     

    Symptoms: normal start and idle immediately after start except with what sounds like misses every 1 to two seconds? If I put it in gear within 5 to 10 seconds after starting it to move across the parking lot to the gate or back out of the longish driveway, I'm lucky if it doesn't stall out when I get to the gate or street. Lots of hesitation when I first start driving. Seems to do all right with my foot to the floor once it clears its throat but goes back to lots of hesitation when going back to normal throttle. This continues for about five minutes in cool to warm weather before everything seems to smooth out and things work fine for the rest of whatever drive I'm on. However, even when warm such as if running into The store for five minutes, same thing happens upon return and starting the truck. Sitting for two days, running into the store for 5 to 10 minutes or filling up with gas, no difference on restart.

     

    This all seems to have started fairly directly after I ran it out of gas for the first time ever. Around the same time, I also replaced the idle air control valve. I am also unable to remove the O2 sensor to replace it, which I believe to be bad or dying given ECU tests and fault codes. Since then, I have replaced the fuel filter, I have tested every sensor and switch I can find to test including the MAF and TPS sensors, which have all checked out. I have tested half the fuel injectors, The ones I could get to through the multi connector. I have removed the fuel pump from the tank and found both to be so clean after 260,000+ miles it looks like it came from the factory, with a clear screen on the pump. I have blown the fuel lines from the tank up to the engine compartment out with air, I have looked for vacuum leaks. I have run a 32oz bottle of Techron fuel treatment through a half a tank of gas.

     

    I did hook up a fuel pressure gauge between the fuel filter output and the fuel rail input. I get around 45 PSI with key on, I get about 38 after start and idle with jumps above 40 when I blip the throttle. I'm not sure if this is low or not, I am under the impression that the fuel regulator regulates the fuel rail to 40-ish psi. I guess I don't know if I expect straight fuel pump pressure to be higher.

     

    This thing has been running flawlessly for many years before now, what am I missing? Is the fuel pressure I am seeing normal or low? And when I find out this is spark plug wires or plugs or cap or rotor, which I have somewhat recently replaced with Bosch/Denso, can I pay one of you to shoot me?

  4. PROBLEM SOLVED! Finally pulled the steering wheel last night. Of the 3 copper spring-loaded pins that make contact with the rings on the back of the steering wheel, the outtermost pin had been ground down so far that it no longer was long enough to make contact with its ring... like so far down that the center indent on the pin was completely flat! Other two pins still looked fine. Tons of copper "dust" all over everything, something must have gotten in there and acted like sandpaper on that one pin. Now that I think about it, I do remember scraping noises at some point. I guess I was seeing things when I thought I tested for continuity.

     

    The easiest fix is probably to get another pin assembly from the junk yard. However, this was at 10PM and I wanted it to work RIGHT DAMN NOW. So I hacked that bitch. Took a piece of 12ga solid copper wire, the width of which was exactly the difference in length between the worn down pin and the others, and folded the very tip of it back on itself as tightly as I could to make a little copper wire circle roughly the diameter of the pin. Clipped the circle off of the wire, then soldered it to the tip of the pin as straight as I could. Used a file and filed off excess solder and copper so that it would fit through the pin hole... filed the face flat and even beveled the rim like the other pins were and drilled some of the solder out of the center of the wire circle to match the indentation in the center of the other pins. Put it back together, cleaned up the rings on the back of the wheel, put down a thin layer of teflon grease on the rings, and put it all back together. Ta-da, Resume/Acc works!

     

    I love it when a plan comes together.

    • Like 1
  5. I've done a search and haven't come up with anything specific to this. So...

     

    My Set/Decel and my Cancel steering wheel cruise buttons work fine, but my Res/Accel button does not (very sketchily did once or twice at one point). I have replaced both the steering wheel switches and the cruise control module. I believe I have tested, at the cruise module, for continuity across the contacts for the Res/Accel button being pressed and was able to measure it being pressed.

     

    Minor aside: Occasionally, when I Set the cruise, I get a steadily flashing dash "CRUISE" indicator. Turning off the main cruise switch and back on clears this up.

     

    Anyone hear of this particular malady? I suppose I should take the steering wheel off and clean contacts, but I did see continuity back at the module.

     

    At the very least, I can still Set it and Cancel without having to tap the brakes, it holds just fine once set, I just can't Resume back to speed once cancelled.

  6. Sorry, shop manual did not register as FSM. :shrug:

     

    Ok, do this: compare it to the 4wd system exploded view. Is the lock nut the same with the two spanner holes in it? Is the tool number the same?

    If so, I just use a drift pin and a hammer to tap it loose/tight as it doesn't take much but some prefer to use a socket.

    If not, remove the dust cap (no auto hubs in the way, right?) and take a look?

     

    B

    The deed is done, the rotors changed. The Pathfinder is definitely a different beast than what I've ever taken apart before... cars with 150-250ft-lbs of torque on a 32-46mm castle nut. Drift pin worked great on one and the other was so loose it was already wiggling when I unscrewed the lock washer. Those screw-on lock washers didn't come through for me on the FSM diagram, those are slick! And that is one hell of a beefy spindle, again compared to the Toyotas, Hondas and other assorted CARS I've had apart. Annoying to have to remove the whole hub for a brake rotor, but you can't win them all, I guess.

     

    Thanks!

    Nate B

     

    P.S. Ended up making a "socket" by taking a Dremel to a cheap hole saw, which enabled me to put a torque wrench to it in order to get my 30ft-lbs of torque on it without having to guess.

  7. Here's my situation--

     

    '95 xe-v6 auto. ~180K miles. About a month back, got the timing belt changed, I'm assuming the water pump got changed as well, replaced something to stop oil leakage (head gaskets? I'm not too sure), and had an additive put in the transmission fluid to make her shift quicker (R to D used to take 2 to 3 seconds). Ever since then, all of the gear ratios seem to have become shorter--the tach reads about 100-200 rpm higher than what it used to be (ex: 60mph used to be @ 2400 in final, now it's about 2600). Everything runs fine, just at a higher rpm than before--same mileage and what not, too. I was just wondering if this was any cause to be concerned?

     

    Alohas,

    K

    From your description at 60mph, it sounds to me like your torque converter is not locking in. Not sure where you live, but here in the cold it takes a good 10-minute drive to warm it up enough to where it will lock in again, usually over 40mph or so.

  8. Thanks for the reply, but that tells me nothing. As I mentioned, I did reference the shop manual/FSM.

     

    A direct quote from the FSM, the FA section, page 25: "Remove wheel bearing lock nut... 2WD Trucks: With suitable tool." An illustration shows "KV40105400 (J36001) or suitable tool". Not helpful.

     

    I'm hoping someone has experience with it and can tell me, "Yeah, a 46mm axle socket will work fine" or "Just use 2 chopsticks, it'll spin right out".

     

    Anyone?

  9. Anyone have any pointers specifically for a 2WD on this topic? According to the shop manual, the front hub nut isn't on that tight but there's no mention as to what size the thing is, only to use special tool so-and-so or equivalent. I'm trying to figure out what I'll need before I take anything apart only to find I have to put it back together to go get a tool.

     

    Thanks!

    Nate

    '94 XE 2WD

  10. you have a wing on the back or wingless? The main porpose of the wing (besides bein cool B) )is to help keep the back window clear, might also assist in keepin crap outa the squirter... unless your throwin mud pies at your 3rd brake light :shrug:

    No wing, no roof rack, no 4WD... about the only thing I have is A/C, cruise control and ground clearance. Wish the deal I scored on this would have been of the 4WD variety, for sure. Guess I will re-clean it as suggested and, if it re-clogs again, I'll just have to accept that Indiana has dirty, dirty roads.

     

    Damn, I missed this!! I would have told him that the rear nozzle sprays blinker fluid and that he should remove and refill the tail lights just to be safe...

    How long you think before would figure you out and check the muffler valve instead? Actually, the hose to those rear squirters can get pinched off when the Johnson bar bumps up against the atmospheric depressurizer.

  11. I'm somewhat of a fuel-injected rookie. Starting this winter, when I go to start the truck, it fires right up for a few moments before the engine speed reduces, sputters for a few seconds, and then resumes idling. The colder it is, the worse it is, and it will die if it's REALLY cold. It smells pretty rich in the process.

     

    What do I check/fix/replace/kick?

  12. I've had this same problem... just one of the reasons I've named my Pathfinder "Twitch". I did open the lock timer, I did find bad solder joints, I did fix them, and it does still happen. I surmise that it is worn-out solenoids on the locks themselves or other worn-out components that don't allow the solenoids to fully unlock the doors. If you lock the driver or passenger front doors, the rest of the locks go with them. I suspect that the trigger for this is pretty high in the lock travel. Closing the door jars the lock, it hits the trigger, everything locks up. I have also been "trapped" inside the car... closed the door, doors locked, unlocked the doors, trying to open the doors pulls the lock down a little bit which triggers the lock, etc.... this is one of the reasons I suspect the solenoids or related parts. The last time it happened, it was because the outside handle wasn't quite all the way retracted. When this happens, I cannot even pull the lock up manually. Seems to be worse in the cold.

     

    Haven't found the end-all be-all fix for this, but I do suspect the lock solenoids in the doors. A door panel removal with a multi-point lubrication plan may just fix things but I haven't gotten there yet.

  13. If you want to make sure everything is working correctly with that part of the ecu.

     

    I would do the diagnostic procedure starting on page 250. Looks like it has something to do with the ignition when starting the truck.

     

     

    Page 302 explains what pin 36 and 38 do and what voltages they carry at what state the truck is in.

     

    pin 36 goes to ignition switch and should have 11-14v with ignition switch on and 0v with the ignition switch off

     

    pin 38 is the power supply for the ecm. Should have battery voltage when the ignition switch is on.

     

    Hope this helps.

     

    Mark

     

    Thanks again, Mark... I only just saw that there was another reply on this. I have since surmised that the bad voltage regulator I found last year, the same issue that overcharged and boiled the battery which smelled REEL nice, probably also cremated that trace. I have long since replaced the whole alternator and, since hacking together a fix for the burned trace and diode, I haven't had any more problems with the battery draining. It will be very pleasant this winter not having to plug it into the charger every evening.

  14. With regards only to street/highway driving (I only have a "lowly" 2WD XE):

     

    Sorry, I have issues with any claim that the torque converter will not lock up unless you disable the O/D. It definitely locks up, only over some factory-set speed and only after the tranny warms up. On cold Indiana winter days taking the Interstate into town, mine will hang out in O/D "float" until about 3 miles in where it will feel like it shifted into "5th" gear... this is the torque converter locking up once it has warmed to the correct operating temperature. In the summer, TC lockup comes in about a mile after getting on the highway.

     

    When towing or going through the hills, more gas pedal is required and, therefore, the TC will unlock on you if you ask for more power than what it is willing to give without unlocking the TC. Kicking off the O/D keeps it in 3rd gear and more in the power band of the engine meaning it is able to keep up with demand without unlocking the TC (and, therefore, raising the engine speed more towards the power band).

     

    I do note that letting off the gas then getting back on temporarily unlocks the TC until you settle your foot down. Haven't ever messed around a lot with "Sport" mode at highway speeds to know if the TC locks up earlier or stays locked under similar circumstances.

     

    In response to "why doesn't it just always stay locked", one of the desirable qualities of an auto tranny is smoothness in shifting, and an unlocked TC acts to smooth gear transitions. Personally, I wish I had a 5-speed manual, seconded by wishing the TC would lock up at anything above 10mph except briefly for gear changes. Had a malfunctioning Buick that did that, acted a lot like a manual.

  15. Next questions:

     

    I'm new to the Nissan FSM and I'm having a little trouble following the part relevant to what I found. The burnt traces were on pins 36 and 38 of the ECM. The diagram tells me in one place that those lead into "Joint Connector A" and I haven't been able to find what might be on the other side of that connector. In another place, it makes reference to pin 36 being connected to Ignition switch power and a connection to a "Check Connector"... again at a loss on where to find other info on that connector. Same diagram shows 38 connected to several things, I'm assuming a common ground or something.

     

    Any insight on this?

  16. see this thread

     

    http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=26616

     

    download the FSM

     

    The factory service manual has all the pin-outs of the Ecu in it and what they do. Will also let you know what other use the potentiometer on the ECM does.

     

     

    Apparently the link now longer works on that page. you can find it using the second link.

     

    or use this link

     

    http://rapidshare.com/files/301854759/1994_Pathfinder.zip

    pass: carpdf.net

    Mark

     

    You are a gentleman and a scholar. Thanks!

     

    Edit: Oh wait, I already have that. Guess I need to look closer at it because I didn't find much ECM info the first time through. I don't think any less of you, though :)

  17. I have a '94 XE VG30E Auto with an ECM marked MECM-V184. Runs fine. Trying to track down a battery drain, I disconnected the ECM and the stray power draw went away. I cracked it open and found two traces on the board that were smoked, traces that led to each side of a diode marked 'D1'. Upon soldering in a temporary diode replacement and fixing the traces, the battery drain didn't come back... at least, I haven't seen it yet. Runs the same before and after my "fix". Anyone know where I can find circuit diagrams or the pinout for the connector so I can try to figure out what exactly I changed or affected? No error codes showed after I plugged it back in, it flashed a 55 for me... didn't check it before I unplugged and hacked.

     

    While we're at it, does the potentiometer on the ECM do anything besides act as a switch to change the ECM mode? A sticker makes mention of idle speed but not of how it might be used to change it.

     

    Thanks!

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