MadManMike

Woah man don't go NUTS on us! Okay I guess it's not that crazy of an idea.... Yeah i suppose I could... But then begs the question(s) Will it hold? Will it crack again in a different spot? Might be a good temp fix until I have enough time off from school to replace it. -Mike

Good idea.. Yeah I think most of it has been dealt with. At least most of the major issues (timing belt, exhaust manifolds, stripped out crank, shocks, radiator, starter), only 113K on the truck I bought the truck with lower miles hoping that it would have less problems Still have the *click click click Start* ignition issue, and still hear a ticking coming from the engine (I am assuming it's the lifters). And yeah some dumb kid owned it, his dad sold it to me. I don't think he cared much about maintenance, although when I bought it 2 years ago it was in good shape. Most of the stuff has happened since I owned it. -Mike

Hmm... yeah well if that's the case I will probably just buy the hose. It looks like I am going to have to take out the Radiator to get it in... or at least the fan shroud and a few hoses. It made a beautiful mess of oil in my engine If this car could run for 2 weeks with out having a major problem I would be happy. -Mike

Hey guys, So I am trying to pull into a parking spot at school yesterday and all the sudden I can't move my steering wheel and my engine starts smoking... I instantly knew it was something to do with my power steering... Well now that I look it over the hose that comes off of the top of the power steering pump has a crack in it and was spraying fluid all over my engine. So now I need a new hose, and was wondering.. Do I have to get the whole hose? or just the rubber part, because this hose is part rubber part metal. Pictures for reference: I couldn't find the part number in my manual. Is this the correct one? http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail....artNumber=91857 Thanks guys, -Mike

Yeah me too... It's probably best if you can find some one to tell you about it preferably some one who would be giving the fine. But basically what I get out of it is: You can only mount lights on your roof or roll bar... and make sure they are covered at all times, and don't use them on the road. And for fog lights... you can use them with your headlights when visibility dampened.. But it really doesn't say where you can mount the fog lights... your laws are much less informative than mine here in Washington. -Mike

So what your wondering is.... not necessarily what is legal.... but what you can get away with Because I did give you all the laws I think it's kinda funny, because I have read through the WA state law and there are a bunch of odd laws that no 4x4ers around here follow. Like some bumper off the ground height restrictions, as well as height restrictions for how far off the ground your fog lights can be. I figure if a cop A) knows the law and takes to time to come out and measure it, then he must be some kind of crazy bored. I measured my brothers old Yota 4-runner (it had a 2" lift) and it broke 2 of the laws. Technically my window tint is to dark.... but the cops around here are too lazy to measure it. -Mike

I found our laws on lighting here in Washington on the DOT's website... so I checked your DOT's website and sure enough it was there "Off-road lighting.--Off-road lighting lamps may be mounted on the roof or roll bar of a vehicle and shall be covered with an opaque covering that prohibits any light from being emitted when the vehicle is being operated on a highway or trafficway. Any person who illuminates an off-road lighting lamp while the vehicle is being operated on a highway or a trafficway commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $100." Here is the document explaining all types of lighting for vehicles: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/vehic...e/chapter43.pdf And here is where they explain all the vehicle codes: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/vehicle_code/index.shtml -Mike

I am sure most of the rest of the board would also like this but I figure it's worth a shot.. I need the sunroof shade for my 1995 pathfinder.. -Mike

That's the plan... I really hope to keep my pathy as an off road vehicle if I ever upgrade my daily driver. Okay so... Exhaust manifolds fixed... new starter installed... cracked exhaust pipe fixed... timing belt changed...new shocks put on... new clunking noise fixed... new tires put on... Wait? can it be?... is my pathfinder in good running condition for the first time ever? (except for the first week I had it). I almost don't want to say it for fear that something else will go wrong. Dare I say I might be able to take it off road this Christmas break? wow... -Mike

After I picked it up today I found out a lot more about what had happened. They said that there wasn't much damage to the crank it self, but the key was sheered in half. So it looks like the key took the brunt of the damage. And they said they only had to clean up the crank a little bit. mmm she sounds so quiet now -Mike

Yeah, well I would... if I had the time and the talent to do that. But since this is my daily driver, it really can't be out of service for more than a week. And since I am a full time student and it's nearing finals Okay so I talked to the mechanic this morning. And he said I will be able to change my timing belt in the future. I think** they were just saying that re-machining the crank is not going to last forever. Which I am okay with, because I doubt I will have to pathfinder till 200k. Or maybe they were just pointing out that my timing belt was good for another 90k ...lol In any event, at least I know I will be able to change the timing belt now. -Mike

Yeah I am not understanding that either.... unless they are going to "pin" the crank pulley to the crankshaft. As in actually drill and screw into it so it is on for good... I would have asked him about it there, but it just now accured to me that the pulley groove was damaged as well as the sprocket groove. -Mike

Yep... not quite to that extent. That is exactly what happened.. That must be why it took him so much time to get the crank pulley off. But he said he can machine the crank and fix it that way. Total cost with diagnoses $500. You think it's worth it? They owner of the shop said if it was him he would do it... because he said the rest of my pathfinder is in really good shape. My other option would be to ditch the pathy and buy a dorky econo car to get me back and fourth to school for the winter. And my pathy engine only has 111k on it. meh.. -mike

Yeah this is what they are doing... he said the keyway looked more like a U shape now than a square.... So they are going to machine the crank so there is a new spot for a key. I am somewhat confused about it my self... I have a hard time explaining it because I forget what the parts are called *looks at how to: change timing belt post* Okay so... The crankshaft sprocket shifted, the key hole for the crankshaft sprocket is about half an inch away from the keyhole for crank pulley, whereas they should be lined up. He is tapping the crankshaft sprocket.. so he can get something on there to pull it off. He said he has seen this happend to the pathfinder 3 or 4 times and has repaired them. But I am still not sure what he means by not replacing the belt any more ?? because the pulley is all that needs to come off for that right? He said it was a beast to pull the crank pulley off, took him nearly an hour. -Mike

Hey all, So as many of you know and have tried to help me with... I have been complaining about my pathfinder making a ticking noise and a all the sudden loss of power. Then a bad knocking noise and it would almost sputter out at a stoplight. After trying to diagnose it in the rain and cold, I figured that the timing was way off.. I thought maybe the belt had slipped, but I had no way of knowing for sure without tearing the car apart and I didn't have time. Took it to Gregs Japanese auto today... The mechanic said the same thing I did: "Sounds like your timing belt jumped a few teeth", told me it would be $150 to take the covers off and check. After removing the covers he discovered that my crank pulley bolt wasn't tight enough and the crank sprocket had skipped over the woodruff key, it was bad.. I could see that it was about 1/2" out of line with the other key. Luckily my crankshaft was not damaged... So now he is going to tap and drill it to get it off.. get a new key and cut a new groove for it and put it back together. But he said there is no way I am going to be able to change the timing belt again.... he said it would be near impossible to take the pulley off again... So, let that be a lessen to all.. Tighten the crap out of your crank bolt when you put it back together... Take the time to go under the car and jam something in the starter to stop the crankshaft from moving. I didn't and it came back to bite me. On the other hand my pathy will now be usable... and seeing that I only drive it about 5k a year I have a total of 18 years left on her -Mike

Okay lets see... I like stuff for my pathy (duh)... Any Meguiars car products eg: leather seat conditioner, car wax or the stuff that makes your wheels or dash shiny. I also could really use a recovery strap so I can pull people out of the mud and snow at school this winter I love computers and any thing to do with computers. I shop a lot at newegg.com and like pretty much anything from thinkgeek.com, I love energy drinks and any thing caffeinated. I really can't use t-shirts... I am tall and have a long back so unless you can get it in XL-T (American) or XXL-T (3rd world). I have a Nintendo Wii and I need more "nunchuck controllers"... I also buy a lot of songs on itunes... Yeah that is pretty much it... I might edit this and post more later if I can think of something. -Mike

Okay this is my new best: http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=4206025

Great now I am hooked... Haven't gotten very far but here is one of mine http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=4193044 Don't show that to my Eng prof... he would be disappointed I am an engineering student taking Statics currently we are learning about trusses and pulleys. -Mike

To all who have served or are serving in the armed forces: Thank you! And a Happy Veterans Day to All. -Mike

Not all that long ago... The heated seats no longer work

#1) it completely depends on where you live, auto repair costs on the west coast seem to charge quite a bit more than in the midwest. #2) It depends on how "Shady" or "reputable" you want to go. A local exhaust shop of mine said they would charge me $500-ish and my local dealership quoted me $1400.. And the local Japanese auto wanted to charge me $900-$1000. Be sure to ask if they will charge you more per broken stud... One place quoted me $400 but also $100 per broken stud on top of the $400. I ended up having 3 broken studs, so it would have cost me $700... but if 6 or 7 are broken you are sunk. As others have said, it is much easier if you have a body lift because it gives you easier access to the studs on the passenger side. Figure $100-$150 for parts... When you get your studs replaced replace all of them. And if you are worrying about saving money and your manifolds are not cracked you can just tell them to re-surface and re-use them. -Mike

I hope not... It's been really crappy weather so I haven't had a chance to lay in the wet driveway yet... I am starting to think this might have something to do with my recent loss of power... I might just have to take my pathfinder into a professional and have them diagnose it... Because that is the 3rd knocking or ticking noise coming from my engine. BTW: I have narrowed down my 2 other ticking noises, one is a lifter going bad and the other sounds like a bad pulley or bearing.... Me hopes it's not the T-belt tensioner.. ( I just replaced it a year ago). I will let you guys know what the so called pro's say... -Mike

More of an engine bang... less sheet metal. From what it sounds like is that it's commin from the bottom of the car, can't pinpoint it. If it's not raining tomorrow I will try and hear where it is exactly coming from. -Mike

Okay guys... This one is freaking me out.. So I noticed yesterday as I was idling at a stoplight the sound of metal banging on metal... It only happends while in gear, goes away when I put it into park or N. It feels like it is shaking the whole vehicle... something is wobbling.. Any ideas? -Mike

Josh Turner - Long Black Train