CHAOSMARINE

I too am in a similar position after this little fix session. So, for $1100 I got all new valve cover gaskets, MAF sensor, all new oil hoses (they were all caked with crud), oil change, all new clamps as the old ones were breaking, coolant flush, differentials cleaned out, steering fluid changed, new battery and positive cable replaced. Im now broke! Nothing done on the fuel system yet which needs to be done, now its surging a little, kinda like its starving for fuel. Oh yeah, need to change the transmission fluid too.

So I went by to see how things were going and its almost done. Ill be able to pick it up tomorrow after work. The tech working on it showed me some oil hoses... ewwwwwwww! They had so much build up that the 3/4 hoses were only about a 1/4" inside diameter. I was correct about almost all of the parts too, the entire truck is almost all original parts. Ill list all the parts they repaired tomorrow night.

Gotchya. Thanks.

Ok, I see, you have a 2002, I have a 1996. Do different years, '96-'04, have different engine types? And then do they change the name when they change the liters a Pathy has?

Ah, bummer!

One of the actual plugs in the MAF that the wiring harness plugs into was broken inside the MAF. So that, new, is $220. he got a harness fron the junk yard. And then with all the other things listed above and some other minor stuff itll be $1000. There are like 12 or 13 issues hes working on. As for R50 or VQ35, how do you know, like where it tells you on the truck? Dooe jamb? Under the hood? Just curious.

Actually, what Pathfinders have the VQ35DE?

Im thinking since I have a '96 its an R50. ? Im no mechanic, but is that a correct assumption? At least thats my thinking due to all the topics in this section.

Supposedly my problem is MAF. A plug for the sensor is broken. $220 part. Also the wiring harness got pinched somehow and had a short, replace from a junker. Anyway, with that, the valve cover gaskets, front and rear diff. fluid, coolant flush, steering fluid cleaned out and a few other minor things itll be $1000. Ill have her back by mid next week.

Sweet! Glad they found something. Mines in the shop now. Went in Monday Late and they were to run diagnostics today. Hope to find something out by tomorrow.

Any pics you may have you can send me and I'll post them for you. jason-reynolds@live.com Make sure you put NPORA in the subject so I don't junk the message.

I really think this is an injector, filter or fuel pump issue. My MAF is good, cats clean, hoses good, distributor, plugs and wires, .... so on and so on except the O2 sensors but I have no smoke coming out. The only things I haven't done is fuel related.

Well, I just cleaned the crap out of my MAF and it started up strong, as usual, ran for about 10 minutes and just died. Started her back up and she was studdering bad. Im going to change the fuel filter Friday evening and see how that goes and then run her down to Advanced Auto and get codes. Its only 1.5 miles away but I hope it runs that long. Anything other than the fuel filter and I'll have to have someone else do it.

I do believe I'm seeing a trend here. Though most of ours having this problem are older than JayJays. Here is a link to our conversations on almost these same exact things. http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/35587-pathy-troubles/

Yeah, I did the cap, rotor, plugs, wires and cats.

My pleasure. Thats what I love about forums like this, the friendly and helpful atmosphere. Not like some others like Pirate 4x4. Now that place is horrible!

Ugh, I wanna go so bad. Wheel with people who KNOW what they're doing and I could learn from. But alas, I just spent $1000 to send my wife to a convention in July and saving to go to Shot Show next year, 10 yr anniversary in November AND saving to just fix my Pathfinder. Ill pray!

I had an MAF go bad in a Mazda Protege but the stumbling and white smoke started as soon as the ignition started. There was a ton of white smoke. My Pathfinder doesn't stall until it's warmed up really good and there is no smoke what so ever. Although, I did find this on another forum, won't name it, don't wanna get banned from here already. lol Problem: "I drive a 1996 Nissan Pathfinder SE (4-Wheel Drive). About 2 months ago, my check engine light started coming on. Some of the symptoms I was experiencing were an abnormal idle, stalling (when completely stopped or slowing to a stop), hesitation, and a lack of acceleration. About a month ago, I took it to an Autozone and discovered the codes were for multiple misfires and the knock sensor. I replaced the spark plugs (which were long overdue anyway), then took it to a mechanic who replaced the rotor and cap. Thankfully, this fixed the hesitation and lack of acceleration. It also cleared the multiple misfires error code, and the check engine light has not come on since. However, it did not solve the abnormal idle and stalling. In fact, the engine has now started to stall more frequently. It starts back up with no problem, but in order to prevent it from dying out again, I have to stick it in neutral and hold down the gas pedal every time I stop at a light." Fix: "My problem ended up being the mass air flow sensor (which I had seen posted in other areas of the forum as the possible culprit). I initially tried replacing the spark plugs, then the distributor (hoping it was something simple and inexpensive). Unfortunately, that didn't do me any good (although replacing the cap initially helped for a day). I finally had to bite the bullet and take it in to a mechanic, who properly diagnosed it. He said would tap the sensor (while the engine was running), and the engine would sputter out. Apparently, it has something to do with an element in the sensor or something like that (sorry, I'm no mechanic). Anyway, it cost me $345.00 to get it replaced, but I haven't had a problem since." Maybe that'll help? I guess I'm gonna try it but it'll be a while, at least a few weeks.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for how it goes for you. I dont have the dineros to do anything right now. Just spent a ton on sending my wife to a convention in July and our 10 yr anniversary is in November. I thought about the O2 sensor but figured a fuel issue. I am not mechanically inclined at all so it's all a guessing game for me. I know a mechanic I'm going to call and take it to his shop for him to diagnose, we'll see how that goes.

This sounds like a problem I have also. Replaced distributor, plugs and wires, nothing, still happens. I live in an emissions free city so I cleaned out my catalytic converters, still happens but it has more power until she decides to stumble and stall. I'm thinking it is a fuel related problem also. It has the original fuel filter, most parts on it are still factory, so I'm hopefully taking care of that problem at the same time I get my valve cover gaskets replaced. One thing I don't understand is if it is a fuel problem wouldn't it be harder to start or stumble and stall shortly after starting? It NEVER happens to me until its warmed up and especially on hotter days.