Lookin at 01 Pathfinder, couple questions

[MountainM]

So I'm looking at buying a 2001 Pathfinder SE, manual transmission

 

Car is in not bad shape, the standard rust along the window trims, and one of the step up bars rusted on the underside pretty good.

 

Can that weather stripping be replaced easy?

 

Also the engine sounds like it has a bad belt or a bad tensioner because is was a little squeeky on start up.

 

The other noise that I couldn't tell what it was, was when you got driving and had load on the transmission (acceleration) it growled, kind of like a muffler but, only when load was put on transmission. It shifted beautifully and shifted in and out of 4x4 no problems.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions? I am planning on getting mechanic to take a look but wondered what you guys though.

 

Thanks for the help,

Doug

[nismothunder]

Sounds like a muffler,since its only loud when your on the gas,I would suspect a perfomance muffler or a small hole in the stock one,or rotten welds on the pipe leading in...try a little belt dressing on the belts to see if the noise goes away,if it doesnt its probly a bearing or something and not the belt it self.Wather stripping is hard to tell,I do not have a r50 so I dont know on that model.The striping on the windows is usally so-so but the stripping on the bottom of the doors is pretty easy.The one thing to do though is ask when the timing belt was last changed and if the owner cant provide proof(and I mean recights,not just his word since wtf do you know aboot him,eh)then if you still want it that should be the first thing changed,94+ nissan timing belts need to be changed every 105 thounsand miles(I dont know what km that is)and if they break then you need a new engine,or a rebuild since the valves hit the pistons and bend and cause all sorts of hell.

If you get it then welcome to the club.

I'm nismo and I'm glad to met you and help you in any way...

[adamzan]

It is a 2001 so it will have a timing chain and not a belt. For the squealing nismo is right try some belt dressing and if it goes away then you probably need to adjust or replace the belt. No big deal.

 

I don't know anything about transmissions other than how to use them so I can't help you there.

 

The weatherstripping is easy to replace but very expensive and last time I priced it out you could only get it from the dealer.

 

I would just remove the step bars to be honest.

[dududuckling]

Check the transmission if it shifts beautifully. I've had bad luck since I first bought it, but I just got a new transmission. And see if he has done the fuel filler recall (I think it covers all R50), but you can always do it. I believe its free of charge from the dealer. Like Adam said, the weather stripping is expensive, I have to replace mine, but its alright for now. And see if there's any rust hole or sign of rust around the wheel well... I can't think of anymore problem I've had with the R50.

Edited January 14, 2010 by dududuckling

[MountainM]

It does shift very nicely. So that metal stripping that bubble rusts I have to get from the dealer and is expensive? This seems to be a common problem with the pathfinder of this age.

 

As for the tranmission/muffler noise if you push in the clutch and give it gas it doesn't growl at all.. so that makes me think it is something to do with transmission...

 

 

 

Check the transmission if it shifts beautifully. I've had bad luck since I first bought it, but I just got a new transmission. And see if he has done the fuel filler recall (I think it covers all R50), but you can always do it. I believe its free of charge from the dealer. Like Adam said, the weather stripping is expensive, I have to replace mine, but its alright for now. And see if there's any rust hole or sign of rust around the wheel well... I can't think of anymore problem I've had with the R50.

[GrimGreg]

A rusty unibody making funny noises, I'd be saying no thank you and keep looking for something else.

[Pezzy]

I'd defiantly have your mechanic look at that noise with the transmission...

 

The rust window mouldings is common, happens on all year pathfinders... I had mine replaced (had it thrown in when I had the truck in for repairs after I played smash up derby with a civic)... That was 5 years ago, and it's already starting again. I think they make those things with a hint of rust.

 

Have a look in the FAQs/Sticky threads for other common R50 issues. I hope you find one right for you!

[nismothunder]

 

 

As for the tranmission/muffler noise if you push in the clutch and give it gas it doesn't growl at all.. so that makes me think it is something to do with transmission...

It is indeed something to do with the transmission,if it growled with the clutch in I would say its a throw out bearing,but if it growls with the clutch out then its the tranny it self.I would check the fluid level in it to make sure it is at its proper level and if it isnt I would fill it up,since its cheaper to fill it up before buying it then buying it and finding out a seal is junk and it pee's tranny fluid all over stuff...It sounds like the truck wasnt maintained properly or a lot of people lerned how to drive stick with it.

Old trannys(big truck ones)growl and stuff even after rebuilding(my t18 is a loud fooker and it has maybe 10k on a rebuilt)but I would exspect a low fluid level in that truck make it growl...

[nismothunder]

I just thought hey your in the far white north did you let the truck warm up before taking it for a spin,most trannys are louder in winter when there cold?

[MountainM]

it did not get really warmed up before hand.

 

It growled while being in gear and being driven. So you think its low fluid. It shifted gears nicely and the clutch felt really good...

 

Is this a truck I should stay away from?

 

Thanks,

Doug