2001 Nissan Pathfinder SE from North America - Comments

Ah!! another recall by nissan for 97-01 nissan pathfinders & the qx4 the fuel filler neck rusts over time so you cannot fill your tank with gas or it leaks out. nissan will be starting a recall for this. it will start nov.26 2007, 372,000 pathfinders & qx4's that were sold in the northeast maine, mass, etc. & some southern states (check with nissan) will be recalled. ofcourse my pathfinder has this problem and I also have the window problem (all four windows roll up very very slow in temps under 55 degrees had the check engine light come on a day after I bought it. it was the O2 sensor and mass air flow sensor the dealer I bought it from should the receipts from nissan

it was around $700 with labor nice uh! don't even bother with the cheap 6cd player just go with after market.

Try lithium grease for the window tracks I've heard this type of grease is good for all climates.

Hey Ya'll! Finallygot someone to look at the SE light on:

P1140 IN/TIMING SOLENOID CIRCUIT B1 NO SIGNAL TO ECU

and

P1145 INTAKE TIMING SOLENOID CIRCUIT B2.

I'll look it up in the haynes manual tonight for a diagnosis.

I hope what I can find helps ya'll!

Also just got the JVC sound system, I was able to get an additional steering wheel control interface and also an amplifier interface for the vehicle. I did settle for a am/fm cd player without cassette... who uses cassettes these days anyway...

More to come...

Mayorofhippycove@hotmail.com.

Good news for those of you willing to chunk out about $300 to fix your sound system problem. I got the JVC head unit (a slightly different model than I referenced earlier) the amplifier intergration kit and the steering wheel interface kit. Took about 5 hours total to put together the wiring harnesses, remove the old stereo, install and program the steering wheel controls and install the head unit. It wasn't too bad with the supplied instructions (the steering wheel control interface was the most difficult). I'm no mechanic, and still don't think it was too difficult. Anyone interested in part numbers or help let me know.

Mayorofhippycove@hotmail.com.

As for the SE light:

variable valve timing control solenoid (bank 1)

variable valve timing position sensor (bank 2)

I priced parts thru nissan.. about $200 total for the two parts and a gasket that is needed.

Looks like the parts are easliy accessable...

I own a 2001 SE Pathfinder and have had some of the same problems listed here. I got the error message on the CD player about 2 years ago and based on the recommendation of the local Nissan dealership, took it to a guy in Northern Virginia to fix it. It cost about $200 I think. I also have a problem with the volume knob--when I try to turn it down, it makes the music louder. The repair guy said it is a common problem. I just use the steering wheel controls. I did have a MP3 connection installed by Best Buy and now can listen to my ipod. The ipod sits in a little holder in the glove compartment and I can control it with the control knob installed on top of the ashtray in the center console.

As for the windows going up slow in the winter--it happens every year.

My new problem is that I have noticed a dramatic loss of fuel efficiency in the past week. I do mostly city driving and it seems like I can watch the fuel gauge indicator literally go down as I am driving. Could it be a leak connected to the new recall? Or perhaps something to do with not having the engine tuned in awhile? I have 97K miles and think it was about 60k the last tune up.

2001 Pathfinder LE with Bose system.

Have 60K miles on this great car. Only problem is the Bose 6 disc changer. Mine lasted 6 years, and suddenly stopped working. Nissan is no help and wants way too much to repair or replace. Looking at buying Pioneer or JVC double din unit to replace the entire unit. Even with all extra cables and interfaces comes in 1/2 less than what a dealer would charge.

Hi, I have 01 pathfinder. I found the same code problem after replacing all four O2 sensors and mass flow sensor. I fixed the problem for a year. Now my gut feeling is that it was the mass flow.

These check engine lights I have heard all sound like my problem. I have not had a problem with the coils. Yes windows are slow, and the doors don't close like they did when it was new.

Hope it helps

Paul

2001 Nissan Pathfinder LE owner... I wish I would have read these comments earlier. Problems:

1. Around 50k replace O2 sensor, not too bad on price

2. Bose sound system CD player stopped working about 1.5 years ago, Nissan tells us that they will charge $900 to take out the system and send it back to Bose to fix. Now, we just use an FM transmitter for the ipod rather than fix the stereo.

3. Driver's side window moves VERY slow.

4. CEL is always on. Nearly every time the light is simply a gas cap problem. This is a defect in Nissan's system. We've done everything we can (new gas cap, etc.) and the light continues to light up.

5. At 90k, we just replaced all 6 ignition coils and the spark plugs since we had a critical misfire. We knew something was wrong when the CEL started flashing and the engine almost died. Big $$$.

Every car has its issues, seems like we have found the ones associated with the 2001 pathfinder :) I have mine in the shop as I'm typing this, 6 coils being replaced - spark plugs being replaced and a leaking oil gasket. With tax this should run me about $1500 bucks!

Has anyone contacted Nissan about the coil issue?

Oh well, I guess a 7 year old car with over 180k km on it is gonna need service sooner or later.

At least we don't have timing belts to replace :)

Just finished paying for repairs to my 01 SE Pathfinder with 96K miles. Haven't had any issues until now so I can't complain too much. Had a power steering leak, 2 Oxygen sensors and a wheel ball bearing replacement.

Yes, the CD changer broke and Nissan replaced it free of charge, but I'm waiting for it to break again. I use my iPod most of the time now anyways.

The windows roll up extremely slow in cold weather. Sometimes they don't even roll down for me when it's really cold (below 25F).

It will be paid off in 6 months and I can start putting money aside for future repairs. Other than that it has been good to me.

2001 Pathfinder SE.5 Spd. Engine light on again. 5 th time. 6 disc CD player broken, again. Uses 2-3 litres of oil every 12-15000 kms. Digital clock not working anymore. Heater fan makes irritating noise. 145,000 kms. What's not to like?

I have a 2001 Pathfinder with many problems as of late. It has 97k miles as of today. I've replaced the following over the past 2-years: O2 sensors, right/left CAM sensors, Mass Air Flow meter (MAF), #2 ignition coil, bad oil gasket.

All these repairs and I purchased it new and babied it with doing the full 30, 60 and 90k service + oil changes every 3-months.

Today, I've been rewarded with another check engine light incident due to bad coils. My Infiniti dealer recommends changing them all (even the #2 coil I did in January 2007) for the low low price of $850.00.

The dealer tells me that there is no way to determine the bad coil # because multiple are failing. Anyone know if this is true or false? FYI - Only code P1320 is registered and it's not followed by those codes that indicate the coil position.

Regarding the CD player issues... I own an Infiniti G35 with the Bose premium sound system. The CD player no longer works and it displays the message "CD ERR F3". This is probably the same component that is used in the Pathfinder SE. Funny how Nissan refused to upgrade to a unit that works properly. Check the Audio rating for most Nissans in Consumer Reports: all have a big black dot.

P.S. I am dumping this thing soon!

Hi.

I purchased my 2001 Pathfinder here in Vernon BC, several months ago and like it a lot... been a Toyota fan for many years. My mil (engine lite) came on so I purchased a "reader" and code P1145 (variable timing solenoid) was faulty. Replaced it and all my plugs and solved the problem.. (or not)

Today I booted it on the hiway and my mil light is on again.

Can't check it now as my Buddy has borrowed and not returned my reader!! A reminder to him and I get it back tonight. I'll get a reading and follow up with the news. Great machine although you people have given me cause to worry with all the coil problems. My windows work fine and it's a lot colder here than where most of you live. My remote car locker doesn't always work, but the unlock never fails. Anyone know why that is? New battery's in remotes. Thanks

Bob.

My wife has a 99 Pathfinder. Never had an issue until 90k miles. Took it in for the big service and to have the drivers seat belt fixed (would not retract) and fix a sticky gas pedal. Was told the seat belt had lifetime warranty and would replace free and gas pedal would be fixed with throttle body clean. Got the car back after paying $1,000.00 and it cut off a block from the dealership. Limped back to dealer - diagnosis: air mass meter bad, wanted another $700.00. Of course, they said failure of air mass meter not related to their work. Got it replaced at a local shop for $450.00 (took a week to find the part) and noticed the seat belt did not work and the gas pedal was sticking again. Dealer said they lubricated the seat belt and refused to replace it. They offered to clean throttle body again.

First cold morning today and car did not want to start. Now have "service engine soon" light on. Runs fine and restarts without issue. Will take to the same local shop and not dealer. Anyone have trouble with gas pedal. Can spray lubricate under dash and will work for a day or two. Can be very dangerous to back up as you have to push down very hard on gas pedal and car takes off.

I have a 2001 pathfinder as well, same problems as everyone here except that I also have an issue with the ignition still thinking the key is in the ignition when I remove it and open the door. I get the beeping sound and am unable to lock the doors. Anyone have a solution to this, my extended warranty expires in a month and want to know if this could become a expensive problem in the future or just an annoyance.

Same problems were CD player (replaced twice), windows (paid $300 to lube them and they were back to the same a week later, went back to the shop and got them to refund half of the money) and my CEL just came on, will get it checked as I still have warranty.

Solution to the ignition???

Wow, I am having the same issues. 2001 Pathfinder LE, with Service Engine light. I actually experienced some serious issues with performance specifically the truck was bogging down and would barely rev over 4000. My friend is in the repair business and replaced my catalytic converters they were blown through. The error code (one of them) is the fuel mixture is too rich. He has the truck right now and is trouble shooting again as it ran good for a week and then back to bogging down at 4000 RPM only sometimes oddly enough. I do like the truck, but this is becoming troublesome.

This forum has given me some good information and I will be back soon. Also have the slow shifting issues happening when cold. Fuel economy took a bit of a hit. Anyone have similar issues with bogging? I thought it was transmission, but the throttle backs off at 4000 when just revving in Park.