catching up on lot of reading here! Great forum. While I am searching though I figured I would just ask. Is it common for the tranny mount to wear out at 48k on a 2011? This is my first Nissan and I get a reverberation/vibration at 1k RPM's...which happens to be at 35MPH....which is a lot of my driving. It is driving me nuts! Some are saying it is normal and that Pathfinders are just "trucky". But I have been driving 4x4's my entire adult life (44 now) and this does not feel normal at all.
It is a certified preowned so they are on it and trying to figure it out....but I knew a good forum would be the place for me to start.
They did find a tech bulletin and flashed the ECU. That got rid of the problem that felt like the AC compressor was kicking on and off even though I was not touching the AC.
But this other issue still lives! It is only at low RPM's/speeds....or at least most noticeable then.
I am thinking it has to be a mount because I don't hear anything that would make me think a cat is going bad or a muffler baffle is loose.
And I figure these things are so torquey that 3 mounts for the entire driveline is maybe not enough and that they wear quickly??
I am at my wits end man! It goes back in next Tuesday and I figured I would like to have some info from forum members before I go back.
I am missing my inline 4.0 Cherokee right now....but loving all this extra room for my kids and dogs!
Vibration/drone feel....
Moderator: volvite
I would say no its not normal.
Some have talked about bumping up the idle RPM to reduce the shock of the AC Compressor clicking on an off. I personally haven't done that. I did find that when I replaced my belt and tensioner that vibration was reduced. The other thing I noticed was when I replaced the fan clutch, the overall vibration in the belt drive went way down. Prior to the replacement the tensioner bounced around like an SOB at idle.
Some have talked about bumping up the idle RPM to reduce the shock of the AC Compressor clicking on an off. I personally haven't done that. I did find that when I replaced my belt and tensioner that vibration was reduced. The other thing I noticed was when I replaced the fan clutch, the overall vibration in the belt drive went way down. Prior to the replacement the tensioner bounced around like an SOB at idle.
It's not "Japanese quality".... They are made in Tennessee. The only thing still made by Nissan in Japan that ships to the US is the GT-R, the 370Z and the current Quest. Everything else is made in Smyrna, Tennessee, Canton, Mississippi or Mexico.madmat wrote:Thanks man. So it seems they all have this weird issue then? Not the Japanese quality I was expecting. I still love it though...I just need to know it is the best it can be.
And man do I love Canada!! Lots of friends up there!
If this is your first Pathfinder, you will find there are a few quirky things about them to get used to. I have an 06 with 150k miles and still going strong. Loud fan at startup, a rumble in the steering column at idle, etc.
Be sure you dont have the transmission contamination problem described in many post in this forum.
Ive changed oil every 5-6k miles, changed ATF and rear diff at 60k and 120k.
Be sure you dont have the transmission contamination problem described in many post in this forum.
Ive changed oil every 5-6k miles, changed ATF and rear diff at 60k and 120k.
Started the process of having Nissan buy it back because the dealer just keeps saying this is just the way they are and it is the nature of them.
Nissan has a process for buying a certified preowned back.
I really want to keep it but I should not have to eat ibuprofin to relax my back muscles after driving this thing or even sitting in at idle for 30 minutes.
I swear on my life based on 30 years of diagnosing problems that it is either a lose catalyst in one of the converters of a lose baffle in the muffler or the resonator.
On a side note....the Rouge loaner they gave me is just as bad if not worse! At idle you can actually hear interior plastics rattling and reach around pressing on them to quiet them.....and it only has 9500 miles on it! And the Ultima loaner they gave me the first time was also a vibrating beast.
I am highly disappointed in the quality of Nisssan right now.
Do these guys even use rubber in their friggin drivetrain mounts!?
It almost reminds me of a Jeep I once had that I switched everything over to Prothane urethane mounts. I vowed never to make that mistake again but it almost feels like Nissan made it for me
Nissan has a process for buying a certified preowned back.
I really want to keep it but I should not have to eat ibuprofin to relax my back muscles after driving this thing or even sitting in at idle for 30 minutes.
I swear on my life based on 30 years of diagnosing problems that it is either a lose catalyst in one of the converters of a lose baffle in the muffler or the resonator.
On a side note....the Rouge loaner they gave me is just as bad if not worse! At idle you can actually hear interior plastics rattling and reach around pressing on them to quiet them.....and it only has 9500 miles on it! And the Ultima loaner they gave me the first time was also a vibrating beast.
I am highly disappointed in the quality of Nisssan right now.
Do these guys even use rubber in their friggin drivetrain mounts!?
It almost reminds me of a Jeep I once had that I switched everything over to Prothane urethane mounts. I vowed never to make that mistake again but it almost feels like Nissan made it for me
Is the vibration only when you drive at that RPM or at idle when you have the revs at the same RPM? If drivining I'm thinking bad tire or U-joint?
My R51 is not that smooth around 35-40 mph in top gear. The trans is programed to up shift up for economy reasons. On my way home every day I encounter a winding road with a slight incline and if my speed is around 35 I feel a little shutter in top gear so I always shift to third and just let it rev a little for about 800 yards then the road levels off.
On that note your problem sounds much more extreme.
My R51 is not that smooth around 35-40 mph in top gear. The trans is programed to up shift up for economy reasons. On my way home every day I encounter a winding road with a slight incline and if my speed is around 35 I feel a little shutter in top gear so I always shift to third and just let it rev a little for about 800 yards then the road levels off.
On that note your problem sounds much more extreme.
Well I am going to pick it up tonight. They went through it like a TSA agent on a bearded man and can find absolutely nothing at all. I guess I just need to get used to it. It is just the nature of this beast I guess.
They did offer me a way out and into something else but I don't want another Nissan so I am going to drive this for a couple of years and see if it grows on me.
If not she is getting traded in on something but only after a longer and more thorough test drive and lots of reading.
Dadgum at my age I may need a dang escalade to be happy with the ride/feel.
My final thoughts on it are still the same though....something on these Nissans....all of the models I have driven...is just not isolated well enough...or the crankshaft is just not balanced well enough.
If I end up deciding to keep it for 10+ years (my original plan) I would love to see what a nice free flowing dual exhaust would do. In my mind it seems like that may be what it needs to relieve some of the back pressure/exhaust vibration?????
Thanks for all the thoughts all.
They did offer me a way out and into something else but I don't want another Nissan so I am going to drive this for a couple of years and see if it grows on me.
If not she is getting traded in on something but only after a longer and more thorough test drive and lots of reading.
Dadgum at my age I may need a dang escalade to be happy with the ride/feel.
My final thoughts on it are still the same though....something on these Nissans....all of the models I have driven...is just not isolated well enough...or the crankshaft is just not balanced well enough.
If I end up deciding to keep it for 10+ years (my original plan) I would love to see what a nice free flowing dual exhaust would do. In my mind it seems like that may be what it needs to relieve some of the back pressure/exhaust vibration?????
Thanks for all the thoughts all.
Madmat if you did not live so far away I would let you drive my 2012 to see if it's any different and frankly you will probably feel it's the same. The R51 Pathfinder is the most unrefined/refined SUV I have ever owned. Some things like the doors shutting the seating position the seats the power of the V6 and some other things are great. The truck does suffer from an idle vibration that someone here has stated is from a poorly designed engine mount that all R51 pathfinders, Frontier pickups, and Extaras suffer from.
You may also expieriance some start up noise that may make you cringe but it does not seem to effect the V6 reliability. The VQ40DE Nissan V6 is a real solid motor that should last you.
Yes it's a bit unrefined esp if you get in and drive a new Jeep Cheorkee and my 2012 already creeks and rattles more than my 2006 Toyota 4Runner did at 200,000 miles. But I must say it is a capable truck and for me it's a work truck I stuff it with office equipment quite often. The 4WD works great the truck is real sure footed and has gotten me out of some sticky situations.
If you tow a camper add some rear airbags and it tows better then any SUV I have owned. Overall yes it's a bit unrefined more truck based body on frame SUV. If you can put up with or get use to its quirks and creeks it should serve you well.
You may also expieriance some start up noise that may make you cringe but it does not seem to effect the V6 reliability. The VQ40DE Nissan V6 is a real solid motor that should last you.
Yes it's a bit unrefined esp if you get in and drive a new Jeep Cheorkee and my 2012 already creeks and rattles more than my 2006 Toyota 4Runner did at 200,000 miles. But I must say it is a capable truck and for me it's a work truck I stuff it with office equipment quite often. The 4WD works great the truck is real sure footed and has gotten me out of some sticky situations.
If you tow a camper add some rear airbags and it tows better then any SUV I have owned. Overall yes it's a bit unrefined more truck based body on frame SUV. If you can put up with or get use to its quirks and creeks it should serve you well.
You'd be surprised how rough they can ride, especially with the 22's. We have one in the company fleet and I'm not impressed with it at all. I regularly drive a Yukon XL Denali with the 20's and it's a much smoother vehicle, especially on the rough/gravel roads I drive often. I drive my wife's Acura MDX often as well but usually I'd much rather be driving my Pathfinder. It just feels more aggressive and willing to haul ass. The others feel too bloated and you have to keep on the pedal to maintain speed. Even with 400+hp.madmat wrote:Dadgum at my age I may need a dang escalade to be happy with the ride/feel.
Last edited by skinny2 on Tue Dec 08, 2015 8:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks you guys! She is home with me now and I will either get used to it or trade it in at some point.
I agree on the solid feel of the doors closing and the dang balls it has for such a large 4x4 full frame!
So it is a motor mount design issue? I wonder if anyone offers a aftermarket softer compound? Or if anyone has ever modified the location or even added another drive train mount somewhere??
I agree on the solid feel of the doors closing and the dang balls it has for such a large 4x4 full frame!
So it is a motor mount design issue? I wonder if anyone offers a aftermarket softer compound? Or if anyone has ever modified the location or even added another drive train mount somewhere??
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