duke777

I am hoping it is just the pan gasket and will continue to keep an eye on things. I have had the truck for about 5-6months, it was babied (i hope) by the PO. The tran fluid i just changed out was in really good shape. The transmission itself has not been german car smooth, it has its quirks like a little uncertainty about which gear it should be in at around 50 mph - OD or 3rd - cruise at a constant speed and it'll stay in OD apply a little gas and it shifts down to 3rd with a jerk - this shifting goes back and forth at around 50 mph. All other times shifting is perfect. From what i have read online this is NORMAL. I typically dont use the OD until i hit the freeway or travel over 55mph. I am now using synthetic trans fluid and Lucas transfluid aid. We'll see how it holds up.

I had a little situation this weekend that was kind of weird. Woke up late for a motorcycle track day and had to hussle from NY to Pocono Raceway. I had my bike on the back (tongue weight 300lbs) and traveling some pretty hilly (for the east coast at least) roads. I had cruise set at 80mph and going up hill it dropped down a couple gears and be at around 4500rpm going up the hill - no more than a minute. It was overcast and I could not tell if my truck was smoking or if it were just morning fog - well it was smoke, but it did not last just two instances when i saw smoke then no more. I get to the track and there is oil all over my bike, truck rear wheel well and the under side of the truck - right side of the bike was covered and the right wheel well and mostly the right side underneath truck from Transmission oil pan back. And the fluid was red. The level of the fluid was fine. I drove home and had not problems. I changed the fluid, filter and gasket the other day and it drives fine, but looks to be still leaking oil - barely - or could just be residual oil that i did not clean up from the initial blowout. Thanks in advance for the help, yet again.

you have to just wade through all the crap but this is a sure fire method to find something close to what you are looking for http://crazedlist.org/index.cgi (sorry wade)

Firstly, let me say this site has been amazingly helpful thanks to all. I just bought a 96 Pathfinder with 95k mi - 1 owner and service intervals followed and everything documented. New KRB struts at 78k and i have OME springs and shocks on the way. New link kit too. Bumps in the road can be felt through the steering wheel. Becomes more perceptible once the car warms up Also since this is my first pathy i dont have anything to compare it to, but the steering seems slightly loose. Could this be bushings? Ball joints, bearings or none of the above? CHeers

I looked more closely at the receipt for the work done and the struts were replaced at 78k with GR-2. I think i may opt for the OME rear coils and shocks since they have not been changed yet. And probably do the front coils to match. thanks for the help.

I just bought a 96 SE with 95k - the "struts and/or shocks" were changed at about 60k (" " confusing b/c that is what it said on the receipt). For transporting my motorcycle I just bought a MX hauler that puts about 300lbs on the tongue with the bike. What can i do to reduce the sag in the truck when carrying the bike. I am assuming i would want to do the front while i am at it. I am doing minimal if any off-roading so nothing too robust and inexpensive is very important - i will only put about 6k mi a year on the truck. Thanks

I may not have phrased my thoughts properly, but thanks everyone for the responses. I am thinking that since the timing belt was changed at 52k then it should be good for another 105k miles since maintenance intervals are every 105k. However, the things that are usually changed when the belt is changes: the water pump, hoses etc - are they going to make it till roughly 150k when i will be time to change the belt again? Premium Maintenance plan on the nissan site says to replace the water pump at 105, but not for the other service plans. Thanks

I just bought a 1996 pathy for 4300 95k mi, garaged, back to the dealer every service interval etc. Pleased as punch. The PO stated relatively new tires, struts / shocks and brakes and the timing belt changed @ 90k. After buying it I search through the trucks repair history and notice that only the fan belts were changed at 90k and not the timing belt. Oddly though it looks like the timing belt was changed at 52,000 mi? I have searched online and have read some recommendations for 60k timing belt intervals - not sure if that was for the 1st gen trucks. My question is should i still look to change the timing belt around 105k -120k because the items listed below that are usually changed when the timing belt is changed will be in need of servicing and since it is rather invasive I may as well change the timing belt if i am down there. Make sense? 21501-0W501 Radiator Hose Upper 21503-0W001 Radiator Hose Lower 14055-0W000 Coolant Bypass Hose 14055-0W??? Small Hose to Thermostat 21200-V7206 Thermostat 21010-0W028 Water Pump 13042-0B001 Camshaft Seals 02117-88023 Drive Belts Thanks in advance Rich