1995 Pathfinder questions

Best quess is a bad tach. I'd be looking for a junkyard one as I bet a new nissan one is expencive.

Yes but ussually is a sign of a worn hinge.

Yep but then the door gap might be off.

That's not a simple fix like on a chevy V8! Many times it's caused by clogged oil passages/jets from lack of oil changes.

Is it when the clutch is pushed in or let out in Neutral? If the latter, it's the transmission bearings not the clutch. The tranny bearings are a

-much- more common problem. Another hint is the tranny is quieter in 4th gear than any of the others. I've never seen a release bearing on a nissan noisy enough to hear inside the car. I've seen lots of noisy pilot bushings, they make a squeeling noise when they are dry.

Do you HAVE to buy this particular vehicle

Yeah, that's kind of what I figured. Nissan quoted the dealer about $300 for the part, but like you say, I'm inclined to try and find one in a scrap yard.

Fair enough, it's not a huge deal, and not unsurprising given that the car is 8 years old. Again, it may be something that I try to find a set of replacement hinges.

They said they were going to fix it in any case, so as long as the noise is gone when I collect the car, I'll have to consider it repaired.

Today it seemed to happen when the clutch was transitioning, and didn't happen all the time. Once the clutch was let out, the noise was gone. I asked if it was the throwout bearing, but he was insistent that it wasn't the throwout bearing. Perhaps it's the pilot bushing as you mentioned? It also does not happen all the time, although we can duplicate it without too much difficulty. Once again, if the noise is still there when we pick it up, I'll be having them fix it before we take 'delivery'.

In general the truck seems to be in very good condition, rides better than anything else in the price range, is a 5 speed. I guess you're taking a chance with any used vehicle, but I feel more comfortable with this car than with the Explorers and Blazers that we were comparing it to.

Thanks for the help! Stephen

Well, HAVE to is a strong word I suppose, but in the price range we're shopping in, it seems to be the best of the bunch. Explorers with perpetual Check Engine lights, uncertain suspension noises, and automatic transmissions. Why, does it sound like a bad choice? At this point, so long as the transmission and engine problems are fixed when I go to pick it up, I'll be satisfied.

Stephen

iBuyM> Do you HAVE to buy this particular vehicle

Stephen yes when compared to Explorer of this same Vintage this truck will be heads above shoulder.

Only reason that I asked the question is that I am very selective when it comes to buying used vehicles and generally shy away from those with issues like these as they indicate general lack of maintenance.

I could be way off track here though but my thoughts are free nonetheless.

Good luck.

I do sincerely appreciate the input, and if we had more time to shop, then I probably would pass over this vehicle. I don't like that we're under a bit of a time crunch, but have a new baby in the house, and my wife's 96 Lada Niva has given up on us. We would have preferred to wait and do some serious looking before getting something well down the road, but when it comes down to it, unforetunately just don't have that opportunity. FWIW, the truck is going to get a complete fluid change the moment we drive it off the lot, so we can at least start treating it properly.

Thanks for your help. Stephen

iBuyM> Stephen yes when compared to Explorer of this same Vintage this truck will

Just trying to be that "friend" that you are supposed to take along when you shop for used cars.

But a Nissan for sure is a far better bet and one I will chose in a crunch.

Stephen Niece wrote in news:hwEIb.10091$ snipped-for-privacy@news20.bellglobal.com:

Don't know if they had it fixed by that model year(I have a 92SE), but check about the exhaust manifold bolts. If they are the ones that WILL end up breaking, and haven't all been replaced, I'd take that into consideration.

That's exactly what that is a dry pilot bushing and it will get worse.

Nope, they hadn't fixed it by then, and it is a very common problem for Pathy's. We had ours done last year for $1200 canadian, best investment ever. They had to drill out all the old ones and replace them with larger diameter ones. The problem is the design, superheated air comes at the manifold at 90 degrees, heats it and warps it. Hinges are a problem for ours too, had them fixed by a guy who owns one and had done his around the same time.