Anyone own a Nissan Xterra?

[civil_war22]

I have a 2001 Nissan Xterra and it has been a absolute pain in my butt. First had to replace a brake light sensor then other day went to put gas in it drove about 100 miles and it started sputtering and died on me at every light. Got it limped home checked fuel and fire and had fire and not sure on fuel. It would start but run really rough. Now comes the crappy part. In all I bought a new filter ( not the problem) then bought a fuel pump( not the problem) then bought a distributor and guess what!! It fixed it. Now I just need a timing light so I can set the stupid thing. Don't have a wrench to set it to TDC so I have to wait till tomorrow to have my mechanic buddy do the easy work!! All in all spent about 800 bucks in one day on a rather easy part to replace! I would exchange a crappy day detecting for a day like today;(

 

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[clv]

Another problem they have is coolint getting into the transmission cost about 5 grand to fix. It's a nightmare. I drive an old ford ranger now.

 

[civil_war22]

Yea I have heard of that problem. I'm seriously thinking about keeping her till I can find something else. I wouldn't trust a junkyard trans either since most of them end up doing the same thing later on down the road. My problem is now I don't have a wrench big enough to turn crank and I am lost on what to do seeing how I can't turn crank to adjust to TDC

 

[jamey]

some autoparts stores will lend ya one,i used to work for nissan never did like those trucks

 

[civil_war22]

Yea I waited to late to run by oreilly here. I will have to find a wrench to turn crank and then adjust distr from there. I don't have a timing light or a wrench. Geez what good am I

 

[clv]

I ditch that vehicle as soon possible. Older Ford explorers are a good choice and can be bought fairly cheep. There are so many of them.

 

[civil_war22]

Exactly

 

[AugustMoose87]

I have a 2001 with the VG33E V6 engine, and I have to say, I have been happy with mine (owned since 2005). I have had a handful of issues, but nothing out of the ordinary - knock sensor went bad, U-Joint on the drive axle wore out, timing belt failed (my fault for trying to hold off due to time/money issues). The only "major" issue I've had is I'm still fighting with the G-Sensor (An accelerometer used to control the ABS system). It does also help though that I've always been mechanically inclined, and between my Dad, Grandpa and jobs (mechanic, park ranger) I've had access to nearly every tool I could ever want.

What engine does your X have? I know next to nothing about the 4, but I've learned a lot on the V6. I need to double check, but I want to say on the V6, everything is set up so that you can only install the distributor in the correct position, meaning you shouldn't have to check your install with a timing light.

 

[civil_war22]

It's the 3.3 I messed around and couldn't get it on TDC and when I went to put it distr on number one wire it was off cause I wasn't on TDC. So now I'm gonna have to get a wrench and put it on there and then set distr to number 1 wire

 

[AugustMoose87]

I just verified it in my Nissan Shop manual - there is no way to adjust/screw up the timing when replacing just the distributor cap on that engine. It only goes on one way, so if there is still something happening (runs rough, pings, etc) that makes you think the timing isn't correct, you may be looking at a problem with the timing belt.

 

[civil_war22]

I replaced the entire distr. the whole kit and all. That's why I have to do what I have to do;(

 

[AugustMoose87]

Ok, I'm a moron... just re-read and saw you replaced the whole distributor, not just the cap and rotor. Previous comments withdrawn.

I can tell you it is a 12mm socket to rotate the crank pulley to TDC.

 

[civil_war22]

Ok dang I'll have to try that

 

[civil_war22]

Well ended up in an arguing match with the dealer and told him he fixes it or I'll take my parts off and return them and he can be stuck with a piece of crap that and threatened to call BBB on him after that he calmed down and was very helpful even followed me to a shop and it's being taken care of

 

[civil_war22]

Anyone else had any issues with these vehicles? It now shifts out of first normally but then goes in to second gear and skips and then goes into third normally. Could that be a vaccum leak or what? Mechanic told me I had one when I took it in but not sure if he meant that one

 

[AugustMoose87]

I can say I've never seen that issue... But to my knowledge, a vacuum leak shouldn't cause that issue... vacuum would cause the engine to run rough in all gears, not just 2nd... What do you mean when you say it skips??

 

[civil_war22]

It goes into first gear smoothly and then hits second and goes to about 3 grand almost like i jut stopped it to the floor and it hit the kick down gear. It's quite odd cause none of this started till I replaced the distributor and as soon as that was changed this all started same day

 

[AugustMoose87]

Auto or manual transmission?

 

[civil_war22]

It's auto!!!

 

[AugustMoose87]

Man... you got me scratching my head here... Any codes?