[Won't Start]

Ok, so my pathfinder has been utterly reliable, untill.....now. I drove it home last night without a hiccup, and this morning, went to start it, and.........nothing. Not even a click. The radio works, the windows roll down, everything works, except the starter. My question is, where is the neutral safety switch? also where is the starter solenoid? these are the two things I would like to check first, as they seem the most logical. Thanks in advance. Also, its a 1988 WD21.

[My Pathy]

Its an Arizona car so the entire truck is completely rust free, not even surface rust on any of the suspension or anything (Ahh, the beauty of living where you average rainfall is less than 10") Also, when you disconnect the sway bar, does it keep itself out of the way? or does it hang down and smack into stuff on the trail?

[What do you always have with you?]

OK, here goes. I carry all of this stuff either in the blue rubbermaid, or in the toolbox, or elsewhere on the rig, but its kind of a long list

 

In the Rubbermaid:

2 2ton Come-a-longs (one for me, one for my wheelin buddy)

2 tow straps

Logging chain

D rings and shackles

Tire repair kit

2 cans of Fix a Flat (the big ones)

Change of dry clothes

Trash bags (make good ponchos and other things)

Sh!t Tickets

Flares

Flare gun

12 hour military grade glow sticks (great for working on your truck at night)

3D maglight

Extra batteries

2 million candlepower spotlight with charger

jumpers

extra belts

5 Quarts of Oil

5 Quarts of ATF

Gear Oil

2 MREs (can be rationed out to 4 days for one person)

Fire Extinguisher (right at the top)

First aid kit (also at the very top)

 

On the Truck somewhere:

Full Size spare

Shovel

Axe

soon to be a high lift

5 gallon Jerry can

3 in one jumper, light, tire inflater

6 gallons water

 

In the Tool box:

Metric sockets deep and shalow

Metric box end wrenches

assorted screwdrivers

allen keys

pliers

side cutters

crescent wrenches 8"-18"

rubber mallet

ball peen

3 lb sledge

bailing wire

zip ties

assorted bolts and nuts

JB weld

that radiator/ gas tank epoxy

duct tape

wire/connectors

crimper/stripper tool

electrical tape

 

 

[My Pathy]

I bought my pathfinder for a whopping $500. It is an 88 with 244,000 miles on the odo. So far, I have done a tune up and changed the timing belt. The truck came with 31x10.50 BFG Radial Long Trails, and the bull bar in the front. So far, I have repainted the bull bar, added some Hella 500 off-road lights. I added a JBL head unit, a JL audio amp and two JL audio 10" subs in a ported bandpass box, as well as some rubber floor mats. I plan to get some disconnectable sway bars (any clues as to who makes these for the WD21? I used the search, but it didn't turn up a single thing), a locker, and a BL later on down the road. Here's some pics for your enjoyment:

[Progress Made]

So, It was slow as all hell at work today (I literally had nothing to do but clean my tool box) so I clocked out and worked on my Pathy. I changed the plugs, which I think might be the original ones, ill have to get a pic tomorrow cause there is literally a 1/4 of an inch gap, and the timing belt, also might be the original one, there were a few teeth missing here and there, and shredded rubber gummed up in all the crevices inside the timing cover. But I got it changed, along with all the belts and a coolant flush, so I have a little peace of mind now that I know the timing belt isn't going to fly off the handle 20 miles out in the middle of nowhere.

Now for the wheeling. I went down the wash behind my house for awhile untill I reached a fence, and then followed the fence up a huge and very steep hill, down another and wound through some hills till I got to a road along some phone poles. Followed that out to an established road that I would have gladly taken home, except my path was blocked by a pad locked gate. Oh well, I back tracked and ended up following a railroad track service road, and 11 miles out literally in the middle of nowhere, somebody built a huge house with no established roads in or out according to my GPS. Then As I pulled onto a familiar dirt road that I take often, a cop car passed me, and then further down the road, a chopper with its spot light has somebody stopped and the cop has his lights on, and just flags me past. so all in all a crazy night.

[New To Pathfinders]

I just got a new (to me anyway) 1988 Pathfinder. I did the normal stuff when I got it, like plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil, air filter and oil change. I was going to do an 02 sensor, except through my work they are like $110 and from Checker or Napa or other stores they are like $140. Does anyone know of a place or source to get them cheaper? The motor will idle along just fine, then every so often will stutter and miss, and then go back to normal again, so I am thinking O2. Also, does any one know the timing belt change intervals? the motor has 250,000 and I doubt it has ever been changed.

[New From Tucson]

Hi, my name is Charlie, im from Tucson, Az, and I just got a pathfinder about two days ago. I work as a Diesel Mechanic here, and a co-worker sold me his 88. I drove it home, did a tune-up, changed the oil etc. and took for a quick trip around the block. That quick trip turned into a 2 hour trip because as I made my way down my dirt road, I decided to try out the 4 wheel drive and had a blast. I think Im hooked. I plan to do a lift and tires first, followed by manual hubs and locking rear diff. A winch and other stuff will come eventually i think.