Questions for 95' Pathy Owners

backpacker · Aug 3rd, 2003, 06:30 PM

I just bought my 95' Pathfinder and there was no owners manual. I have a bid for one on eBay, but the auction does not close for another 6 days. So unitl I can get a manual, I had several questions I wanted to see if someone could take the time to answer. 1) I can't quite figure out the alarm system. I don't have the remote controls and I don't really need them to unlock the doors since I don't plan on using the alarm. The problem is the alarm still seems to be on, even though the switch on the console is turned off. I know the switch is factory, but I am not sure about the alarm. Someone may have reaplced it along the way, but I think it is located under the driver's seat and I can still see the box there. I can see a siren/horn mounted on the drivers side fender well, under the hood. If the car is locked and I unlock the door with the key and open it, nothing happens for about 30 seconds. Then it starts beeping, the lights starts flashing, and the alarm will go off. The only way to stop it, is to start the engine. Is this normal and how is it suppose to work? I may have to try and disconnect the alarm and starter cut-out mechanisim to get it to stop. 2) What does the temperature guage normally register when warmed up? If I am looking at my gauge, cold would be 5 o'clock and hot would be at 1 o'clock. It is a slow warmer, and the normal temperature seems to be around 4 o'clock. Sometimes it will register around 3 o'clock for a short period of time, such as sitting in traffic, but then it goes back to the 4 o'clock postition. I have never seen an engine flucuate this much and wondered if this was normal or if it sounds like the thermostat is bad. 3) How do you determine if it really has ABS brakes? It's an XE model with front disc and rear drums. I don't really see anything around the master cylinder that would look like some type of controll unit or pump like you would sometimes see on other cars. I tried them out this morning and the front wheel locked up, so it does not respond like ABS. The reason I am asking is when I start the engine, there is an ABS light on the dash that illuminates and then goes off like the rest of the lights. 4) Does the rear window washer use the same tank/pump as the front windshield washer? When I tried to use the rear window washer, I heard the pump in the front working, but very little fluid came out. I could not find a tank in the back to pour in washer fluid. I did notice that after a few minutes, there as some fluid running out from under the tank in the front, so I am wondering it the jets may be clogged or there is a broken hose. Just wanted some insight before I start tracking it down. 5) (last one) This has the strangest cup holder I have ever seen in the console. It is broken, but you have to open the lid and flip down the holders. The way it appears to be made, you would have to leave the console lid up to put cups in it. Is this right, or am I missing something in this design? Also, has anyone found any good aftermarket cup holders that might replace the console lid? I know it's a lot of questions, but thanks for any help/

jadcock · Aug 3rd, 2003, 07:14 PM

I can comment on a few here...

The temperature gauge on mine stays right on 3:00, usually. If I coast down a long hill, it'll fall (cool) to about 3:30 and if I'm stopped in traffic, it might climb (warm) to 2:30 until I get moving and get that fan spinning fast. If I turn the engine on after a short heat soak, the gauge will momentarily register at about 1:30 or 2:00, but then fall back down to 3:00 or 3:30. I like the way the gauge seems to match the actual coolant temperature. The "gauges" in most cars are simply programmed to read dead normal unless there's a problem. Coolant temperatures usually do fluctuate more than one might imagine. For example, the "gauge" on my Cadillac reads dead on normal all the time. It also has a driver information center, here you can display a digital reading of the coolant temperature and "normal" is actually about 190 to around 230. If it goes cooler than 190 (like it might coasting down a long hill on an interstate), the gauge bumps just down from normal and if it sits in traffic without the A/C on (so the electric fans are stationary), it'll bump up past normal when the temp climbs to about 230 (when the fans kick on). I like the Nissan gauge.

The trucks and some models of the Pathfinder have rear ABS only. Your fronts may have locked and the rears didn't -- and the ABS modulator didn't kick in. I think the ABS modulator is mounted on the right frame rail. I have is on my truck and it appears to be something with the brake system. I never get an ABS light at startup though, so the light may be burnt out or the system somehow disabled. The ABS is disabled, by the way, when you're in 4x4 and going slower than I think 5 mph.