MadManMike

Quick question... So I ordered a cheap muffler just to use for now (one of the "trush turbo") mufflers on summit for $26... but of course I had to select the wrong model number when I ordered. The muffler I ordered is the same length as the stock but not nearly as big around. What would be the side effect of using this muffler? I could just send it back in exchange for one that I meant to order... but seeing that this is just a temporary job.. as long as it won't affect my vehicles performance. -Mike

I think for now I am just going to buy a cheap replacement muffler and clamp it on, that will get me through the rest of the school year. But I think I found my summer project -Mike

Does it really do any good to go up to 2" if whats coming off of your manifolds is stock? I figure I can have a weld shop weld up the parts if I can get it fabricated. -Mike

The problem with stainless is I can't weld it my self... I don't have TIG only ARC and Oxy/Acetylene. Suppose I could find someone to weld it up for me. -Mike

So I got off my lazy butt and got underneath to take some pics... Looks like for some strange reason I have a smaller pre-cat after the Y and a regular cat after that. On the left is the CAT and the right is the Pre-CAT Up close of what I believe to be a Pre-CAT Any other 95 owners have a setup like this? -Mike

Hey Guys, Back story: 6 months ago took my pathfinder into the local Japanese auto repair place to look at the loss of power I have been having and the horrible 11mpg. They said that there was a bunch of back pressure on my engine and it was caused by the fact that my muffler was plugged and my Catalytic converter was probably responsible for clogging it. They recommended a full catback exhaust system and quoted me some crazy price. New story: I am on spring break so I had time to take my car into a local exhaust shop and get a quote on a catback. They looked at it and said that they didn't think my catalytic converters were bad just that my muffler was bad. Told me they would replace the muffler with a so called "Turbo muffler" and install a new tailpipe for $180. Questions: Why does my pathfinder have 2 catalytic converters? This is news to me. Does this mean if I want to replace my converter with a magnaflow I am going to need 2 of them? are both the converters the same? Any recommendations for a muffler? or is a muffler just a muffler... Oh and also they said I need new plug wires... recommendations for plug wires? -Mike

98148 is my zip if you still need it.. Yeah i will check around and see if any local places will do that for cheap. What kind of muffler do I need? -Mike

I am not stupid enough to just take their word for it... They took me out and showed me the marred up crankshaft and what was left of the key before they did any work on it. These guys are very professional when it comes to that. And the 2nd time the symptoms came back it was to a much lesser extent and they did not charge me anything for the 2nd diagnoses. They are trustworthy but the downside is that they are expensive. I realize that a mom and pop place could do what I want for less. I will start calling the local exhaust shops and see what kind of bids I get. And why get an off brand when you can get magnaflow universals for $60.. Unless there are off brands that are cheaper than that. -Mike

Hey guys, So as most of you know I have been having major problems with my car for a while now. I was getting about 10mpg, had a crazy lack of power and ticking noise coming from the engine. The guys at the local Japanese auto shop figured out that my woodruff key had been shaved and the crank was damaged (see more about that problem if interested: http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=20384&hl= ) Any way they fixed that problem... now a month later my pathy all the sudden exhibits the same symptoms as it did before they fixed it. Took it in today fearing that my crank was dead again. They checked the crank bolt and said it was as tight as ever... But that my catalytic converter was falling apart and clogged my muffler. They then proceeded to quote me $980 to replace my cat and muffler... So with $300 in my savings account I now need some other options. So what are my options? I know I want to get the magna-flow cat on ebay... But what about the rest of the exhaust? how hard is it to replace the Muffler your self? -Mike

So I am guessing there are no more stickers? The snow and ice scrapers wrecked havoc on my stickers and I need some replacements. -Mike

The problem is I have no way of proving it was them, I had my old tires rotated about 6 months ago by Les Schwab. I hadn't taken off my front tires until I got new ones put on at discount tire, thats when they discovered the first bad stud. (although I did have some exhaust work done on my car since then and they could have taken off the tires). I know I haven't taken off my new tires since I got them, and that's when I discovered the 2nd stripped stud... So that stud is definitely Discount tires fault. And I know it's not me, I put my lugs on hand tight first then give them a tug with the tire iron... I don't use air tools for tires. So any way, long story short. There is no way to tell who ruined the first one, the shop that I found charges $50 per wheel (both stripped studs are on the same wheel) so it is essentially free to fix the 2nd one. It just makes me laugh... I mean you work with tires all day, that is YOUR only job and you strip the stud? how stupid can you be.. -Mike

I just called a local wheel aligment place and they said "$50 per wheel"... So I think I am just going to do that... better than freezing my butt off in the snow/rain..

Hey guys... So after I got my new tires the guy at Discount said that one of my studs was totally stripped (I am pretty sure it was done by les schwab) and so I have been driving with out one lug on my wheel for a few weeks now. Just yesterday I took the tire off and one of the lugs was really hard to take off (another stripped stud)... The guys at these tire places are too air-tool happy Any way, so I call les-schwab and they say it's going to be $100 in labor to get them off (because it's the front tire)... so now I am going to do it my self. What all is involved? Is there better aftermarket studs that I can put in while I am in there? -Mike

Got the hose today... Took me about 4 hours to install. Plus it was icy on the ground and in the 20's all day.. so I was freezing my butt off by the time I was done. Couldn't get a couple of the clips back on, because the new hose really didn't line up with the old one. But I gave them a good wiggle and they didn't move at all, so I am not going to worry about it. For people trying to do it in the future: Taking off the fan shroud and the FAN/clutch makes it a lot easier. Also you have to take off the passenger front tire to get to a clip in there. Any way I got it all done before it snowed again... And now I can finally stop driving my moms corolla Embarrassing and it doesn't fit me -Mike

Yeah I think I am just going to stick with what the manual says... And it says ATF. I put PSF in while it was leaking so I could get home... I have had power steering go out before in smaller cars, but with my new BFG's I was having a hard time steering my pathy with no fluid -Mike

I thought I remembered hearing that. Well the hose was not in at any local stores, including our big napa warehouse ( I really wanted to get my pathy fixed this weekend before we get snow)... So I had to order it online and now I am going to have to wait a week for it to ship. Oh well... I suppose I can let the poor pathy sit another week. -Mike

Any special power steering fluid necessary? -Mike

Santa was feeling generous this year! WOOOHOO! I got me a 3" X 30' Recovery strap! THANK YOU! I can't wait to use it!! -Mike

Pretty much... Be careful when sucking it in... I have never done it but have heard of people causing vapor locks because of sucking it in. If you do a search (maybe you already have) there are a ton of posts on seafoam. And I am sure someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in soon. -Mike

Yeah, when I go to NAPA I go to the distributor warehouse (huge place). When they tell you "We don't have that in stock I am going to have to order it" this is where it comes from. And everyone there knows what they are talking about. At least you warned me... -Mike

Says the mechanic I have a ticking noise as well... And I a pretty sure it's a lifter... but it seems to be louder when cold and then once it warms up it stops ticking. Just thought that was noteworthy... or maybe my manifold studs are shot again... -Mike

Present sent... Hey is there some kind of unkown rule that I can't open my present till Christmas? I mean technically you guys would never know I am just trying to avoid a NPORA faux pas by showing every one what I got before I am supposed to open it. How does the whole "grand unveiling" of the secret santas go down? Or do they stay a secret? -Mike

Tried to use the 1/2" but it was to big... I don't think I could even jam it in. I am just going to buy a new hose probably... I should have time to install it this weekend. -Mike

Rubber...

Sweet... this sounds fun. Any other NPORA-ers doing this? I think my bro and I will be able to bring our pathy's out. -Mike