[Need to Program Computer (ECM or ECU?)]

So did the P1610 and P1612 go away on its own?

[Codes P1610 and P1612 on 02 Pathfinder]

Did you ever come up with a solution? I'm dealing with P1610 and P1612 right now. So frustrating.

[Rear Main Seal poll ( weighing options)]

I bet the first time they kinda pushed the new RMS in without dropping the oil pan and it didn't mate perfectly.

 

Having just completed this job (and still leaking btw) I dont undrestand how they could possibly do it without dropping the oil pan.

[Truck keeps dying at idle after a bunch of work completed... need help... at wits end...]

My second thoughts were vacuum leaks or leaks in the intake manifold...

One method people use is the smoke test which wasn't working for me well beacuse the fan was blowing the smoke.

The other method of spraying carb cleaner to see if there is a change in idle seemed to reveal something but I dont know if it makes sense.

I sprayed carb cleaner on the hoses to see if it changed any reactions... also around where the upper and lower intake manifold meet... and at the very front of the two manifolds made a huge difference... it ticked way up right away...

This tells me that theres a leak there between the upper and lower inake manifold... am I right?

I didn't replace those gaskets when I put them back together, so i'm thinking thats what I need to try... what do you guys think?

[Truck keeps dying at idle after a bunch of work completed... need help... at wits end...]

Okay guys, I had a bad ticking going on. Had to replace a bunch of valve lifter buckets, did chains, tensioners, guides, water pump, and oil pump, bunch of seals/gaskets.

 

I cleaned out the throttle body really well as well as the upper and lower intake manifolds.

 

Ticking is gone, actually runs really nice when at speed.

 

Problem is when i start it, it idles very rough like its ready to die. Something kicks in (dunno if its the thermostat turning on or what) but then it runs fine... no problems... ticks down/off... rough idle, and then it ticks back up idles great... and so on and so forth... maybe 20 seconds or so in between each 'cycle'.

 

My first thought is that I really need to bleed this thing better. I have been bleeding the coolant now for hours and I'm not seeing any more bubbles...but I'm still getting this rough idle like its ready to die... till it catches itself.

 

I'm starting to be concerned that its not just coolant but another issue. But if thats the case, why would it tick up in cycles and run great? (only to click at me, then run rough) it really sounds like coolant but I dont know what more to try.

 

Heres a few videos of the behavior. Please help!

 

This video begins with the rough idle. At about :07 it runs fine, at :32 the rough idle returns, and then by the end of the video its fine again. On and on.

 

 

 

[I broke these fittings on the valve covers... how screwed am I?]

So removing the valve covers these fittings were brittle as hell and they crumbled at the slightest pressure to get the hose off.

In my research it seems nissan doesn't sell this and the only offical way to repair it is to replace the whole valve cover. Thats super expensive. Does anyone know how I can fix it? I'm thinking about drilling it out and tapping some threads and replacing it with an aftermarket fitting. Does anyone have any experience with this? How possible is my solution?

[Electrical Issue (I think) causes hard jolt and O/D Light Blink - then it all returns to normal... any ideas/help?]

PS the voltage regulator is built into the alternator, correct?

[Electrical Issue (I think) causes hard jolt and O/D Light Blink - then it all returns to normal... any ideas/help?]

PS the voltage regulator is built into the alternator, correct?

[Electrical Issue (I think) causes hard jolt and O/D Light Blink - then it all returns to normal... any ideas/help?]

When your alternator started to go out did you get a battery light on the dash? I suspect mine is starting to go but hasn't yet and that's why I get no charging error light.

[Ticking coming from an 02 VQ35DE ... done my research, help please!]

I have an 03/2002 build date... I know that sometime in 02 they changed the lifter type... does anyone know if I have the type that can be fixed with shims?

Anyone else know how to test by pressing on the lifters? I'm trying to learn how to do that but having trouble finding info on that method. I'll open it up this weekend but need to know what to do once I'm in there.

[Electrical Issue (I think) causes hard jolt and O/D Light Blink - then it all returns to normal... any ideas/help?]

So. Here's a new one that popped up today that I'm stumped on. I'm driving to work this morning around 60mph out of no where I get this big lurch. Almost felt like the entire transmission just fell outta the car. O/D light starts flashing at me... Then it goes away and the car runs fine. Few more miles down the road does it again. Get onto local streets much slower pace doesn't seem to happen at all. The o/d light is not on and it's not throwing any codes

On my way home from work today it seems like if I provoke if by giving it some gas while already up to speed that's when it doesn't like it. I feel like it could be an electrical problem because the stereo completely shuts off and I see the voltage drop considerably from about 14.1 to 12.7 and come right back up as a few seconds later when the od blinking light goes away and it resumes driving just fine. I also checked the transmission fluid level and it seems perfectly full. Not low at all.

It's not shifting hard otherwise nor does it seem to be slipping at all. It does lurch, od light, voltage drop and then back to normal like nothing happened within a few seconds seemingly outta no where and then it's fine again. With no codes to go off of I genuinely have no idea where to start.

Theres a procedure here:

that supposedly runs a test on the transmission and then returns a number of flashing lights to get a code. When I did this I got 11 or 12 blinks which if i understand correctly means everything is functioning as it should. can anyone correct me if i'm wrong?

[Ticking coming from an 02 VQ35DE ... done my research, help please!]

Is it possible for an injector to be running fine but still tick? I dont have any SES codes relating to the injectors and the truck doesn't sputter or anything it runs perfectly... its just this sound I can't figure out.

[Where are coolant drain plugs located?]

Is it necessary to use nissan's anitfreeze or is there any equivalent that can be found at autozone? What is appropriate for the 3.5L engine?

[Ticking coming from an 02 VQ35DE ... done my research, help please!]

Injectors, I think could be a possibility, but how would I test them? I've ran a few fuel treatments through the system opening it'd clean em' up.

[Ticking coming from an 02 VQ35DE ... done my research, help please!]

Well guys thank you for the suggestions. Here are a few more observations.

 

The sound is so loud it's hard to tell exactly where it's coming from.

 

1. The engine doesn't appear to be burning any oil. I've got a small leak from the rear main seal and so I check it often and the level is very good and remains consistent even with the leak.

 

2. The sound gets faster not louder but faster when revving the engine.

 

3. To the best of my knowledge there isn't any loss of power that I can tell.

 

4. The sound resembles the ticking you get from a diesel engine while driving around.

 

5. I do have a SES for the right front catalytic converter. I'm considering replacing it but trying to tackle the ticking first.

 

6. I took the cover off the timing chain tensioner and it looks like it's providing a good tension but I cannot get my fingers on the chain to feel if it's loose but either way the guides could be chewed up even if it's got decent tension at 132k miles.

 

7. I bought the stethoscope as per your suggestions. Poking around the sound seems to be loudest around the valve covers but I'm not sure if that ticking could just be the injectors. I didn't poke around under the truck just the front timing chain cover and the two valve covers.

 

I've got an 02 built in 3/02 does anyone know if I've got the shim less type valve lifters or no?

 

I've tried the ATF trick to try and clean up the lifters but it did not get any better so I'm not sure its the lifters. Anyway I'm willing to do the work but does anyone have any other suggestions on how to pin point this? I just picked this thing up and I really like driving it but this ticking is driving me mad. Not to mention I'm scared to take it any kind of long distance for fear of it taking a total crap on me.

[Ticking coming from an 02 VQ35DE ... done my research, help please!]

Well guys thank you for the suggestions. Here are a few more observations.

 

The sound is so loud it's hard to tell exactly where it's coming from.

 

1. The engine doesn't appear to be burning any oil. I've got a small leak from the rear main seal and so I check it often and the level is very good and remains consistent even with the leak.

 

2. The sound gets faster not louder but faster when revving the engine.

 

3. To the best of my knowledge there isn't any loss of power that I can tell.

 

4. The sound resembles the ticking you get from a diesel engine while driving around.

 

5. I do have a SES for the right front catalytic converter. I'm considering replacing it but trying to tackle the ticking first.

 

6. I took the cover off the timing chain tensioner and it looks like it's providing a good tension but I cannot get my fingers on the chain to feel if it's loose but either way the guides could be chewed up even if it's got decent tension at 132k miles.

 

7. I bought the stethoscope as per your suggestions. Poking around the sound seems to be loudest around the valve covers but I'm not sure if that ticking could just be the injectors. I didn't poke around under the truck just the front timing chain cover and the two valve covers.

 

I've got an 02 built in 3/02 does anyone know if I've got the shim less type valve lifters or no?

 

I've tried the ATF trick to try and clean up the lifters but it did not get any better so I'm not sure its the lifters. Anyway I'm willing to do the work but does anyone have any other suggestions on how to pin point this? I just picked this thing up and I really like driving it but this ticking is driving me mad. Not to mention I'm scared to take it any kind of long distance for fear of it taking a total crap on me.

[Valve Lash Adjustment on a 3.5]

Update: I have a 3.5L and it for sure does have the shims. I looked at the clearances and all of them are in tolerance, and pretty well within it with the exception of one of them being at .33mm (max spec being .37). I am noticing not much oil is reaching the lifters on cylinder 1. So I'm back to trouble shooting. Maybe the plate behind the rear timing plate is leaking? Or maybe excessive sludge build up? I want to try and clean the sludge out first then worst case scenario pull the timining cover. Any solid suggestion for sludge removal to try and help get more oil up top?

I'm sorry for bumping such an old thread. But I've got a terrible clicking coming from my engine as well. It seems like its coming from everywhere... valve covers, front, and bottom of the engine...

 

My strongest guess is that its coming from the chain guides. But because its easier to check the valve clearances first, I plan on doing so.

 

I have the feeler gauges needed to check the clearances, but if I do have to end up shimming to get back into spec, do I need any Nissan specific tools?

 

I own this generic valve adjustment tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002Q8TU0/ but will I need anything else?

 

OP after cleaning out your sludge, is your noise gone? Any chance you're still around and can share an update?

[Noisy Lifter, Nissan VQ 3.5]

So I have this tick going on:

 

I tried the ATF cleaning method that Wil suggested above. That video is after that procedure. Ticking is still there... Is it safe to say that my problem is NOT the lifters? I'm at my wits end trying to figure this noise out....

 

I'm reading some stuff that it could be the timing chain guides... any advice/thoughts?

[Ticking coming from an 02 VQ35DE ... done my research, help please!]

Hey there everyone, so I picked up a 2WD 2002 Pathfinder LE last week, 131k original miles. Its a pretty nice SUV all around but my biggest concern is a loud ticking coming from the engine. I hear it most up top, but I also hear it quite a bit from the passenger wheel well. The ticking is constant, doesn't matter if the engine is cool, warm, running at idle and when revved the ticking gets faster.

So I'm reading a number of things, the one that stands out most to me is the problem is quite possibly the valve lifters. As such, I have tried the following:

1. Drained all the oil and ran ATF in it for a few minutes at idle to see if that would make a difference, it didn't.

2. After this, I of course changed the oil with Mobil 1 Synthetic 10w30 and added a little sea foam in it... but no fix here either.

So at this stage I'm thinking my only option is to replace the valve lifters. The problem is the FSM is very vague on this. I can't figure out how many new lifters I need. I have seen people argue over whether or not the VQ35DE even has hydraulic lifters.

1. So first question is, does anyone know of a good DIY write up, or has anyone done the lifters on the 02 Pathfinder's VQ35DE that can walk me through this/answer some questions for me?

2. Primarily when I look through the FSM it talks about a shim type Valve lifter, and a shimless type. I think I have a shimless type since the FSM says shimless was produced since August 2001, and my SUV is a 2002. But can anyone help me figure this out definitively?

3. How many lifters are there?

4. Are any special tools needed to remove the old/install the new?

5. What is the likelihood that its something else and not the lifters, or a combination of other things? What else should I check?

Spending the money and putting the time/work into replacing the lifters and it not being the issue.

I really want to enjoy this SUV and I don't mind giving it the TLC it needs, but I'm not in the habit of throwing money at the problems. I need help diagnosing and if it is the lifters, help beyond the one page or so of the FSM with exactly what to order to do the job and some guidance on how to do it.

Here are two videos to show you guys the sound:

Video 1 This was the night I picked it up:

Video 2 This is after running some ATF before doing a full oil change, as you can see no improvement:

[Rewire Fog Lights (96-99) For Full Control]

For a how to for 99.5-2004 Pathfinders, Click Here .

 

Where would I find info on it this? The link isn't present. Thanks

[Lifter Swap]

So these pictures are all dead for me (unsurprisingly since its real old) does anyone know of a good DIY with how to replace the lifters with working photos OR know where in the service manual it disucsses this? Im not finding it anything on lifters.

 

Thanks in advance guys.

I gotta fix this its driving me nuts.

 

 

[Engine Noise]

Bump... OP did you ever remedy your issue?

[Lifter Noise?]

Not to thread jack, but OP I juts bought an 02 Pathfinder as well and Its clicking/ticking like crazy. Here is a video I took of it, is this what yours sounded like? What did you end up doing to fix it? did you do the lifters?

 

Sounds like a damn rattlesnake and its very loud for me.