2002 Pathfinder

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How many miles do you think a well maintained Nissan 3.5L can handle?
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i have seen them outlast the chassis but i also have seen a couple with under 110,000 miles here in my engine shop for rebuilds.
Remember anything can go wrong at anytime but for the most part they are pretty good motors.Nissan is not what they were in the late 80's and 90's just like Toyota and Honda they got smart and learned how to not make their cars last forever because they are in business to sell cars.
 
Well over 200K easily however I would want the timing chain replaced as it was a problem area for that year. The Intake Valve Timing Control Solenoid Valve was also an issue but easily replaced.

I'd be more worried about underneath i.e. the front suspension, steering parts, brakes, TRANSMISSION....
 
I just drove it and it rides/drives great. Timing chains were an issue?

It's a manual transmission. I looked underneath and didn't see anything that looked unusual.
 
Originally Posted By: buster
I just drove it and it rides/drives great. Timing chains were an issue?

It's a manual transmission. I looked underneath and didn't see anything that looked unusual.


Yes the guides wear out. How many miles on this Pathy?
 
There can be a pretty major rust issue with these, I forget where but google it and check as its not immediately obvious. These are unit body trucks.
The other thing that scared me a bit was they sometimes eat set screws out of the flaps for the variable intake runner system. But if its not blowing blue smoke I guess its fine right now atleast.
I love the manual and that motor though, although 5th gear is too short for lots of interstate. Like 3500+rpm at 75 mph like my 4cyl Tracker, which makes no sense for that motor...
 
Originally Posted By: zloveraz
Originally Posted By: buster
I just drove it and it rides/drives great. Timing chains were an issue?

It's a manual transmission. I looked underneath and didn't see anything that looked unusual.


Yes the guides wear out. How many miles on this Pathy?


I checked the mileage which is 172K, I would run the VIN number over to a Nissan dealer and check to see if it has a service history.
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88
I don't think the new car-based, CVT equipped patfinders are going to do so well.


Hmm that must be your opinion because it's not fact...

Quote:
Nissan Pathfinder sales were up 214.7 percent to 6,473, setting a new April record and marking the sixth consecutive month it posted an increase in deliveries of at least 145 percent. Pathfinder sales are up 180.9 percent in 2013.
 
Well it has the free carfax report. Looks pretty clean but I wish it had more service records.
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Originally Posted By: zloveraz
Originally Posted By: Miller88
I don't think the new car-based, CVT equipped patfinders are going to do so well.


Hmm that must be your opinion because it's not fact...

I think he was speaking from a reliability perspective. Would you feel as confident buying an 11-year old Pathfinder with CVT and 172K on the clock as this one that buster located?
 
There was rust underneath, but I'm not sure it was anything bad.
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Mainly the axles.

I prefer manuals, especially on a high mileage car.
 
I don't think you would have any problems with the timing chain or components as that Pathfinder was built in Japan.

Now more than a few American Built 3.5's installed in various other Nissan's did have issues with guides wearing out prematurely supposedly caused by chains that were machined with rough edges.

The VQ35 is peppy ,and will be nice mated to that manual trans.
 
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