Nissan Pathfinder 2003 V6 R50. The engine shook like a wet dog then lost power...

[BushInOz]

We have travelled from Adelaide to Brisbane to visit our son. We plan to return via South East coast. So far, the car drove perfectly. Driving around Brisbane was fine too. Yesterday (Saturday) went for a drive to see grandkids playing soccer. Returned home. While the engine was still hot, started the car as usual. Still in Park gear. Turned on the A/C. The car engine shook like a wet dog then stopped. Turned off the A/C. Restarted the car. Started Ok. Put gear in Drive. Very reluctant to go up the drive. Managed to get on to road but lost power. Parked by the side of the road. Checked engine oil, gearbox oil, coolant level all OK. Called RAA. Their Road Service guy arrived. He started the car. Turned it off. Said to me, "Your engine is very sick". Then he asked me to contact the nearby mechanic on Monday morning to make a booking, and call RAA back for a tow truck.
HE did nothing else! No diagnostics using any code readers.
Please help. What can I do in the meanwhile. I have purchased new platinum plugs last afternoon but it is raining at the moment (Sunday morning).

[Slartibartfast]

Sudden loss of power has me thinking timing. Is yours the 3.3 or the 3.5? (Not sure when the 3.5 started down under.) The 3.3 has a rubber timing belt. IIRC they run like crap a tooth out, don't run two teeth out, and will eat the valves somewhere past that. The 3.3 is a little less interference than the 3.0, so you've got a decent chance of the valves being OK, but I would not push that luck by starting it again before confirming that the belt hasn't skipped a tooth at the crank. Roll the engine to TDC, pull the covers, count teeth between the dimples. 40 between cams, 43 cam to crank.

 

If it's the 3.5, I've got nothing.  

 

My dad's Tundra jumped time a while ago because a mouse found its way in behind the timing cover. The engine got lucky, just needed a wipedown and a new belt. The mouse was not as lucky.