Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I put Yokohama Geolandar AT Plus IIs on my 2003 and really like them. Others have mentioned a different model of the Geolandar as well as the Michelin LTX.
The problem with replacing the Duelers is that there isn't a big selection of tires in the OEM size -- you have to move to a more standard size in order to have a better selection of tires.
Jim
Second, my owner's manual lists 2 different engines, but I thought all PF's came with the same 3.5 DOHC V6. Do you know what the differences are?
Thanks in advance!!
Congrats on your purchase! I'm not sure if all '03 PF's came with the LSD, but it's easy to tell if you've got it: the rear differential shoul have an orange "Use LSD oil only" sticker on it.
Also, not all PF's come with the VQ35 engine. The 3.5L engine was added only in North American Pathfinders. The rest of the world still gets the VG33E.
without a sound meter it is very arbitrary. I used my conversation voice during highway speeds as a rough gauge. I know, it is not very accurate but the conversation was easier (very slight, it may be psychological as you stated) to listen to after the install. It is relatively small/incomplete test install.
I would hesistate to tell you that it would make a further difference if what you already installed did not make a difference. Wind noise is still bad on windy days. Can't do anything more to help that. I am going to install new Dueler A/T Revos tires tomorrow. I think that would make the single largest impact in noise reduction.
We will see. I will post my review after some holiday travel this week.
I was thinking about the Yoko Geolander H/T-S GO51, Goodyear Forteras HL, Michelin Cross Terrain, and the Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revos. For the price, treadwear, wet traction, looks, and most improtant to me, road noise/comfort, the Revos can't be beat according to the numerous tirerack reviews. I have used their reviews on another passenger tire purchase and wasn't dissappointed at all.
BTW I couldn't fine Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revos at tirerack.com. I put in 02 QX4 and it poped up with the same OEM tire I think. When it comes to a new tire, low noise/comfort is also my first consideration.
I am assuming your '02 QX4 has more sound insulation because it is a luxury brand. If you do mostly on road driving then that might not be the tire for you. I read they make a whirling wind noise from 5-50 MPH. Silent >50MPH. It is because of the aggressive tread design (All Terrain tires). Looks great though even though no 17" size for yours.
Alternative for you could be the Goodyear Fortera HL or the Yoko Geolander H/T-s GO51. Both are rated as low noise highway SUV tires.
Since it is my fiance's car I have racked my brains over this decision and think I will go with the Luxury Highway Goodyears. Poor treadwear ratings (compared to others in category) from tirerack though. Might be taking advantage of 60K treadwear warranty. Will sacrifice treadlife for less noise. Will install today.
Dueler A/T Revos are a better tire in the wet/dry but too many reviews about noisy tread(humming wind noise) at low speed. Best all terrain tire out there. Not for our highway traveling though.
Hope Nissan addresses wind noise problem in current Pathies for the next generation model.
Got the 255/70/16, $587.60 Discount Tire with $50 mail in rebate. Raised the car up noticebly, ~1 inch at least. Fills the wheel wells out nicely. Aggressive sidewalls are nice. The Yoko Geolanders H/T-s were my close second choice.
Sorry to hear that QX4 and Pathy 17"s wheels are limited in tire selection.
I heard Brown Bread deadener was the best value insulation out there. Heard it can reduce interior noise by 7-8 Decibels with full install. It is also cheaper.
I hope they fundamentally incorporate more insulation on their $30K vehicles next time. Wind tunnel testing wouldn't hurt either. : P
http://members.cox.net/mainpages/index.htm
Watch out for decreased breaking ability with a larger diameter tire (1 inch change in dia between 65's and 70's makes a big difference). Also gas mileage has dropped by close to 2 mpg and acceleration and throttle response has been compromised a bit.
Overall a great tire for anyone who will be driving in all weather and terrain conditions.
Best tire I've ever put in the mud, I had the rear tires buried just below the hubs and pulled out without using 4wd.
If I had to do it all over again, I would probably go with the Yokohama Geo's (appropriately sized of course). I hope this helps.
1) Open-air cone intake, mounted inside the engine compartment. Click here for an example pic. This type of intake allows a higher volume of air to flow, but because it's mounted in the engine compartment, it draws warm air instead of cool air.
2) Cold air intakes (CAI) are usually a type of cone filter with a modified intake tube. The filter is typically mounted outside the engine compartment in a protected area, such as behind the bumper or inside the fender. The advantage of a CAI is that it draws cooler air into the engine. Cool air is more dense (i.e. more oxygen molecules per volume) than warm air, so you get more power. The disadvantage of a CAI is that it is often more vulnerable to water ingestion (a very bad thing for an engine!), especially during off-road use.
K&N makes a variation of this type of intake (I'm not sure if they have a 3.5L V6 Pathfinder application), but they call it a FIPK (Fuel Injection Performance Kit). It's basically a cone filter mounted inside the engine compartment, but it is mounted in a protective box that insulates it from engine heat.
Key point...rotate often!! I do every oil change (5K) Good Luck!
http://www.frankencar.com/products/pathfndr/intake/index.htm
Here's some pictures that someone has of it installed:
http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~hamilton/intake.htm
Tell me what you think. Thanks in advance.
Also, I don't have the factory fog lights installed, with all the Pathys out there, has any manufacturer caught on to this, if you take out the fog light and the piece of plastic next to it, you can fit in one heck of light, multi-function too.......now that would be a cool look !!!
Here's the reason: a performance tuning shop will probably need to install it for you. Most standard auto repair shops and the dealer won't even touch aftermarket mods. Expect to pay a couple hundred dollars for labor. If you have any engine problems later, you'll need to understand whether the addition of the intake is the cause or not. A dealer or other shop could potentially point the finger at the intake mod, and because you don't know what was involved with its installation, you wouldn't know any better. (You may even have to go back to the performance tuning shop for any future repairs.)
Also, the K&N filter requires periodic maintenance (cleaning and re-oiling). This means you have to remove the filter from the vehicle and reinstall it after washing it. If you don't wash it and re-oil it properly, you risk ingesting higher levels of dirt into the engine.
Basically, if you want to add this mod, you'll either have to become more of a "handy man" when it comes to your truck or have a deep pocketbook to pay a specialist to work on your truck.
Also, approximately how much does a FIPK (Fuel Injection Performance Kit cost?
http://www.epinions.com/content_97635307140
According to this guy, LSD isn't even available in the '03 models. Does that sound right to you?
I've just a K&N filter...Don't have to clean for they say 50,000 miles...
Re: LSD
I'm not sure about that site you linked to, but another way to tell if you have the LSD is to put the truck in NEUTRAL GEAR on a level surface with the engine off, block the front wheels, jack one rear tire off the ground and release the parking brake. If you cannot rotate the tire with your hands, then you have the LSD. Alternatively, raise both rear tires and spin one tire by hand. If the other tire spins the same direction you have LSD. If it spins the opposite direction, you have an open diff.
Fortunately (or unfortunately! ) the Pathfinder doesn't use a torsen unit.
Yoko Geolander H/T-s GO51 were a close second(less expensive, 98/tire, 500 UTQC). If you need offroad traction than Dueler A/T Revos (120/tire, 500 UTQC) are the best.
The Foteras have a higher UTQC rating, 540 vs. 440 on the LTXs. Forteras look much better due to the aggresive sidewalls.
Has anyone noticed any problems with this system?
Thanks
One time I drove a friens's Sienna to airport to pick him up. After only drove a few minutes the warning light came on. Stopped at a gas station and found no air equipment. Started car and went on to another station, and found the warning light was off. So I took no notice of it and drove all the way, the light never came on again. Later my friend said it's kind of useless. Maybe the system is just too sensetive...
tidester, host
Which message?
my 02 le has a full size spare?
Yes, it does.
the 2003 LE? they do in my 95 explorer, but I am not sure if they do or not in the path. can someone clarify this for me please. Thanks!
I can tell whether the switch has light in it or not. Look at the switch closely and if the symbol is solid white, there is no light in it; if it's translucent then the inside light will come out through the symbol when it's turned on.
Somewhere I read discussion about the steering wheel control illumination. Some said it'll distract driver other said it'll not. I can use them by touching, no problem. However I'd still want them illuminated for a bit more convenience.
I don't know if I'm being ultra-senstive to rattles, or if it is unusual for there to be a rattle like this in such a low - mileage vehicle that has only been driven on-road. I would expect noises like this in a 80,00 mi vehicle but in such a new vehicle it makes the entire structure feel cheap.
Other than this annoyance I love this vehicle. Anybody else out there have a similar problem? What are my chances of getting a dealer to at least attempt to fix this thing? It seems like a little adhesive to affix the superior aspect of the steering wheel cowling to the structure underneath would do the trick, but I hate to mess around with this myself if I don't have to.
Can anyone lend some advice?
Are you talking about the part of the steering wheel that you beep the horn with when you push down with your thumb ? If so, my 2003 PF also "jiggles" a bit, but I actually have to move it with my thumb and first finger and I think this is normal, it doesn't make noise with daily driving. Try going to your dealer and compare with showroom model.
Regards
John
For example, if one's Pathfinder came with 255/65R16 tires (including the spare) and one gets new replacement tires of a larger size (eg. 265/70R16) without replacing the spare tire as well, there will be a diameter mismatch between the running tires and the spare tire. This mismatch could adversely affect the 4WD system.
If tire diameter mismatch is unavoidable (eg. because one didn't up-size the spare tire), it's best to place the odd-sized tire on a front wheel and use the truck in 2WD mode only (while on pavement) to prevent undue wear and tear on the LSD and/or the 4WD system.