Nissan Pathfinder 2011

Nissan Pathfinder 2011 Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Nissan Pathfinder 2011 here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

• My 2011 Nissan Pathfinder won't shift into four-wheel-drive

  There are many reasons, some mechanical, some electrical, why a vehicle won't select four-wheel-drive when the driver requests it. But the first thing we'd check would be the electrical connections from the rotary dial on the dashboard and the mechanical components that dial controls.

  In the old days, four-wheel-drive was selected by mechanical levers that moved the internal bits of the transfer case to the correct position to engage the front driveshaft and, in turn, the front differential and axles. But in your Pathfinder (and many other makes and models) manufactures started using electrical switches instead of actual levers. The idea was that by electrically controlling this function, there was less effort required from the driver. The reality is that these dials are as susceptible to electrical gremlins as any other part of the car.

  Check the fuses that protect the selection dial and if that's not the problem, have the rotary dial itself checked for faults.

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• 2011 Nissan Pathfinder timing chains

  Yes, they do. It generally seems to happen at 80,000-plus km, so you should be safe for a while. In the meantime make sure you keep the servicing up to it, as some Nissan mechanics blame a lack of servicing for the failures, although it appears to be caused by wear to the chain and the tensioner.

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• Nissan Pathfinder gearbox

  Our Nissan specialist Jerry Newman services a dozen or more turbo diesel Pathfinders and he hasn’t seen any with overheating problems. The only issues he has seen are related to the variable build quality coming out of the plant in Spain, and they’re usually rattles and squeaks etc.

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