Home and Auto Diagnose My Car - Page 3

CaliforniaChief · 05-10-2016, 01:18 PM

Chiefs Planet has proven itself to be the place for great information in regards to my fixes around the home and with the car.

Help me out.

My 2008 Nissan Pathfinder essentially has AIDS. 3 years ago we had to replace both the tranny and radiator (intermix issues). Now weird things are happening.

I've already shared about how the fuel tank shows empty well-above half tank (it just plummets to below empty and the electronic display says "Low Fuel.")

Now I've noticed that the horn doesn't work and the controls for the radio in the steering wheel don't work either. The car runs fine (for a Nissan) other than that. Well it rides like a large truck but that's probably suspension stuff (and it's a Nissan).

Where would you start?

eDave · 05-10-2016, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bunk

It took 29 posts for someone to suggest antifreeze?

Antifreeze is a fuel additive you putz.

Chief Roundup · 05-10-2016, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

They have instrument cluster ground problems. If he had said that's what he was driving I would agree with you

but even on yours I would say it's the sender if it just dropped to empty at a certain level.

It it's ticking in time with the flasher something is back feeding which points to a ground issue. I would say that the cruise quit when you used something else also.

When the cruise would cutoff I was going down the interstate in the right lane just cruising all by myself. After it doing that to me twice in the same manner within about 75 miles I just stopped trying to use it altogether. It seemed like a good way to cause an accident, it slows down quick when you are running 75 and just let off the throttle kind of a thing.

**SAUTO** · 05-10-2016, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

When the cruise would cutoff I was going down the interstate in the right lane just cruising all by myself. After it doing that to me twice in the same manner within about 75 miles I just stopped trying to use it altogether. It seemed like a good way to cause an accident, it slows down quick when you are running 75 and just let off the throttle kind of a thing.

Oh yeah they slow down fast lol.

But I would say you used another accessory and didn't realize the two were connected. That accessory back fed to the cruise ground and kicked it out.

CaliforniaChief · 05-10-2016, 04:30 PM

I believe cruise is working, at least the indicator that it's on illuminates when I click the "on" button on the steering wheel.

Of course out here there aren't many opportunities to actually test the cruise control.

**SAUTO** · 05-10-2016, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

I believe cruise is working, at least the indicator that it's on illuminates when I click the "on" button on the steering wheel.

Of course out here there aren't many opportunities to actually test the cruise control.

It's a different circuit.

CapsLockKey · 05-10-2016, 04:49 PM

Does it have any aftermarket electronics in it like a stereo or remote start?

CaliforniaChief · 05-10-2016, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapsLockKey

Does it have any aftermarket electronics in it like a stereo or remote start?

No.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 05-10-2016, 05:44 PM

Would you guys quit it. First of all don't listen to JasonsAuto. He's pretending he's a mechanic but he's not . I know him real well , he went to medical school only to be a gynecologist so that he could look a pussy all day and failed. He ended up a proctologist and has a pretty good business now.

Back to your Nissan with the fuel problems. The gas in California is notorious for being watered down . This will cause the fuel sending unit to become rusted. Once that happens it will cause your vehicle to do all sorts of weird stuff. You need to get a sample of gas from your tank and check it for water. If you don't have a water guage then just taste it. You can tell if it's watered down. If your not sure after tasting it then hold a lighter right above the fuel tank opening to check . If it's watered down there won't be any light show.

Dayze · 05-10-2016, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by listopencil

The problem is that your tranny identifies as a drive train. Is it still under warranty?

let's just go ahead and shut down the thread.

nothing else can be done to add to the quality of this post.

except maybe including chopsticks somewhere in a witty post.

EWOK · 05-10-2016, 05:53 PM

I would check the wiring to the steering column, I have seen many issues with broken wires at the connectors due to the tilt steering wheel. AS for the fuel gauge, I agree with JasonsAuto about the sending unit.

stumppy · 05-10-2016, 06:00 PM

My first guess would be the clock spring. It's what allows you to maintain an electrical connection between the turning steering wheel and the stationary steering column.
And the fuel gauge problem is probably the sending unit (attached to the pump module) in the tank.

stumppy · 05-10-2016, 06:03 PM

Typical clock spring

Passepartout · 05-10-2016, 06:03 PM

Possibly the fuel gauge problem could be it for you. As well as that of the engine. Always look for the engine! That is my guess.

**chiefforlife** · 05-10-2016, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

Sounds like a bad clock spring in the column.

Also a bad fuel sender

Thats where I would go first...

CapsLockKey · 05-10-2016, 06:36 PM

Just a quick Google search found that nissan issued a recall for faulty fuel gauges on pathfinder.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...erns/index.htm

05-10-2016, 01:18 PM
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12422899	Diagnose My Car Chiefs Planet has proven itself to be the place for great information in regards to my fixes around the home and with the car. Help me out. My 2008 Nissan Pathfinder essentially has AIDS. 3 years ago we had to replace both the tranny and radiator (intermix issues). Now weird things are happening. I've already shared about how the fuel tank shows empty well-above half tank (it just plummets to below empty and the electronic display says "Low Fuel.") Now I've noticed that the horn doesn't work and the controls for the radio in the steering wheel don't work either. The car runs fine (for a Nissan) other than that. Well it rides like a large truck but that's probably suspension stuff (and it's a Nissan). Where would you start?
Posts: 17,319

05-10-2016, 04:30 PM	#34
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12422899	I believe cruise is working, at least the indicator that it's on illuminates when I click the "on" button on the steering wheel. Of course out here there aren't many opportunities to actually test the cruise control.
Posts: 17,319

05-10-2016, 04:49 PM	#36
CapsLockKey Starter Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $1951445	Does it have any aftermarket electronics in it like a stereo or remote start?
Posts: 879

05-10-2016, 05:44 PM	#38
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1690477	Would you guys quit it. First of all don't listen to JasonsAuto. He's pretending he's a mechanic but he's not . I know him real well , he went to medical school only to be a gynecologist so that he could look a pussy all day and failed. He ended up a proctologist and has a pretty good business now. Back to your Nissan with the fuel problems. The gas in California is notorious for being watered down . This will cause the fuel sending unit to become rusted. Once that happens it will cause your vehicle to do all sorts of weird stuff. You need to get a sample of gas from your tank and check it for water. If you don't have a water guage then just taste it. You can tell if it's watered down. If your not sure after tasting it then hold a lighter right above the fuel tank opening to check . If it's watered down there won't be any light show.
Posts: 40,360

05-10-2016, 05:53 PM	#40
EWOK Starter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: phoenix Casino cash: $4751365	I would check the wiring to the steering column, I have seen many issues with broken wires at the connectors due to the tilt steering wheel. AS for the fuel gauge, I agree with JasonsAuto about the sending unit.
Posts: 73

05-10-2016, 06:00 PM	#41
stumppy New and Improved Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, Mo. Casino cash: $1478590	My first guess would be the clock spring. It's what allows you to maintain an electrical connection between the turning steering wheel and the stationary steering column. And the fuel gauge problem is probably the sending unit (attached to the pump module) in the tank. __________________ “As a nation, we can endure damaging policies for a four-year term. But we cannot survive a president willing to terminate our Constitution”
Posts: 21,113

05-10-2016, 06:03 PM	#42
stumppy New and Improved Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, Mo. Casino cash: $1478590	Typical clock spring Attached Images __________________ “As a nation, we can endure damaging policies for a four-year term. But we cannot survive a president willing to terminate our Constitution”
Posts: 21,113

05-10-2016, 06:03 PM	#43
Passepartout May Day and Spring 2024! Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Seymour TN Casino cash: $9855239	Possibly the fuel gauge problem could be it for you. As well as that of the engine. Always look for the engine! That is my guess. __________________ *May Day and May Fever!*
Posts: 386

05-10-2016, 06:36 PM	#45
CapsLockKey Starter Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $1951445	Just a quick Google search found that nissan issued a recall for faulty fuel gauges on pathfinder. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...erns/index.htm
Posts: 879