We bought our 2007 Yellow Xterra 4x4 new. All maintenance done by me with factory fluids on time. It now has 277,000 miles on it and the only drivetrain part that wasn't installed at the factory is the starter which I rebuilt at 240,000 miles. Transmission fluid changed every 30,000 miles with Nissan Matic S. It is still so reliable that we just drove it from Texas to Denver, ran trails all over Colorado down to Silverton CO, and back home. IF you maintain them, they will run forever.
I had that issue happen with my 2006 Frontier. You definitely need to replace the radiator as well. The coolant basically destroys the seals in the transmission. If you don't, it's just going to ruin the next transmission you put into it.
When you swap out that transmission make sure you install an aftermarket transmission cooler (if it hasn't been done already). The second gen X Terra's have a transmission cooler integrated into the radiator, and they are notorious for failing. When that happens, coolant mixes with the trans fluid and ruins the transmission.
Nissan changed the type of trans fluid in an attempt to prevent it from eating through the radiator. Seems to have worked on mine. Got 107,000 miles, still pulls hard (2005 4x4)
Just bought one of these the other day with a "locked up" engine. Going to see if i can recover existing engine as it does turn over some with each start attempt. Verified both belts move. Bought for $475.00. Looking forward to the project myself, even if i comes down to engine replacement. Was actually just researching features of this vehicle when i saw your video notification come up regarding this purchase you've made. Looking forward to future content!
Its because its brother, the frontier stopped being made this year. the xterra was dropped because of poor sales but if it didnt i wouldnt be surprised if were still being made today. the middle east got a new one but it looks quite a bit different
When I first bought my ‘09 Xterra, the first mod I did was installing a transmission cooler bypass on the radiator. Thankfully no transmission problems yet at 152k miles.
I bought a 2015 Xterra Pro--4X new in October 2015 when I heard they were going to be discontinued. Now at 94,000 miles, it still drives like new. The SMOD issue was resolved in 2010. I've only had two small warranty issues since I bought it. It's been through blizzards and Las Vegas summers.
Hey man. Some tips for you that you may already have discovered. The TCU in the transmission is mated to the ecu and a new transmission is not plug and play. You will need to swap the tcu from the old valve body to avoid this if it isnt toast. These transmissions themselves are oddly expensive compared to other nissan vehicles of this vintage. I've found that you can use the transmission from an 08ish g35s/g37s and swap bell housings, tail housing, and torque converter. They can be found for a couple hundred all day. The trans has a hard time dropping out with the catalytic converters in most cases. Most of these trans are damaged by a radiator issue introducing coolant into the cooler channels. Best thing to do is check in the reservoir for a milkshake. You can simply bypass the cooler if you want to save some money, but the right thing to do is replace the radiator.
+1 on everyone saying cracked transmission cooler, but also make sure to check the timing chain guides. Early 2nd gens all had problems with plastic TCG's wearing down and causing a loud whine that sounds like a supercharger. It sounded like there was a whine when you started it up, so it might be due for timing chains
As an Xterra owner myself (2011 P4X) these things are crazy reliable. Now 05-10 had the radiator issue (SMOD: Strawberry Milkshake of Death) which is 99% probably the fault here. Change the radiator to the updated one with the trans swap. Once that's fixed, this thing will run forever. I just reached 180k and I haven't had a single issue with mine, still looks and runs like new. The biggest repair I've had to do was swapping the leaf springs. As long as you do the regular maintenance, these things are bullet proof. Mine goes to blue square trails and have trailered 6k lbs across the state (PA) incl. Off road. A literal beast!
@@robretondo9709 Wasn't covered at all for me - took to dealership and nothing. There was a lawsuit in the works but nothing never heard anything about it.
I have a 2000 Xterra that cracked the cooler in the radiator and it put all the engine coolant in the transmission which in turn caused it to burn up. It's a common issue and an expensive fix, mine has 228,000 miles and i love it. She has had a ton of work done but is a solid winter SUV and i live in the Northeast so i keep it around.
i had a 1st gen 5 speed for 6 months, paid $350, blew the head gaskets so bad coolant was coming out the exhaust, junked it and got $420 from the junk yard.
Man, you make me miss my 2010 Xterra even more. I loved that beast. Back seat area was a bit cramped, but the X was a quality build. When I got it, I had to replace the oil cooler seal to stop that leak. After that, it was just routine maintenance until we lost it in a wreck. Honestly, I think it could have been salvaged, but I didn't have the means to get it home to rebuild. I want to track this rebuild to see what you do. They are known for SMOD problems, and I wonder if that happened to this one since the trans fluid is new. It will be interesting to see what you do.
A lot of times the fluid will get replaced with the hope it will fix it. And sometimes it will, but not for very long since the damage has already been done by the time people usually catch it.
I loved my 1st gen xterra. That was the most reliable vehicle I have ever had the pleasure of growing up with. The vehicle was absolutely abused and we only got rid of it due to the head gasket blowing around 200k.
My grandma has a first gen supercharged one, she got everything you could on that car, beefier rims, big push bumper up front and light guards, that thing is a beast and ever since I was a little kid it’s been one of my favorite cars
An idea JR ! ! You should take a photo off all your flips and cars in your fleet and dedicate a big wall space to put them on , imagine in 15 - 20 years time looking back on them and remembering all the stories that was attached to each car .or people asking you about each car . You will appreciate it in the future that you done that , kind of like a time capsule sort of thing . 👍🏻
Check that radiator part number and see if it's the newer, superseded part. The trans cooler would crack inside the radiator and fill the trans with coolant, killing the trans in that generation. Hope all is well, here's to flips!
I have a 2007 SE 2wde. Dad bought it new off the showroom floor in April 2008. He passed Oct 2008 and I got the truck. Only had 3100 miles when dad left. It now has 254,000 miles. Except for normal maintenance it has been a fantastic vehicle. 92000 miles it needed 1 front wheel bearing. $80 and half hr to fix. I did replace the radiator at 130,000 miles as a precaution. I didn't want the strawberry shake of death. I have had to replace coil recently and driver side cats, BECAUSE OF COIL FAILURE. I did just rebuild the front end, ball joints, tie rods, etc. Not too bad and pretty cheap. I never had any weird issues with the truck. It is now semi retired and relaxing in its old age. The 2wd models aren't that heavy at maybe 4200-4300 lbs. By the way, they are known for having soft feeling brake pedals, even from new. Brakes always work though.
It sounds like the secondary timing chains and guides need to be replaced. The early 4.0L engines suffered from this problem. That's the whiney noise you hear on a cold start and when the engine RPM's increase.
Run it briefly without the belt before doing that though, if it stops the noise it's something else. I assumed that was the issue with mine because it was happening at the right mileage point, but it turned out to be the alternator. Would've saved me a ton of time and work if I had bothered to do that first.
In case you missed the last comment, the trans cooler lines in the radiator degrade and leak, mixing antifreeze and trans fluid. Radiator is an easy replacement and Nissan had changed to a different trans fluid that wasn’t as hard on the radiator. These are great rigs when sorted, especially in 4x4. I have a 2005
I worked For Nissan During that Radiator plegue! Those transmissions are pretty strong on those Xterras and Frontiers but the radiator trans cooler ended defective mixing coolant into to the trans lines killing the Transmission.. if you catch them early a good flush and a valve body swap cures the problem. A radiator Swap is definitely a must on this one if you replace that transmission.
Precision Transmission has a cool video showing what that additive does to every rubber seal in your transmission. [swells them up a ridiculous amount.]
Yeah.. That's true. But it sometimes helps to renew o-rings, you just have to be careful not to put a hole gallon in it. I used to get the same results adding brake fluid to the tranny. Just a cup... Same story. It's not a solution, it's just "cheap" fix
It's not really a proper fix, but if you have a car where you can't justify a transmission replacement, it's worth a shot. I had a 2000 Cavalier with the transmission that was clunking and slipping quite a bit. Lucas kept that car going for another 30,000 miles...
@@elijahwatson8119 exactly... That's the idea. Sometimes it's just not worthy to spend a lot of time and money in a car... Or u just can't afford it. Lucas additive can get you out of slipping or bad shifting transmissions.
Hey cousin!! Check to make sure it does or doesn't have the strawberry milkshake trans fluid where the line into the radiator contaminates it.. fix.. flush flush flush. Bypass the line. Replace the valve body and tcm and back on the road u go. I had to do it on my frontier
It also sounds like there may be some timing chain issues on your Xterra. You can hear that whiny sound when you give it gas. Very common problem for that year. Best of luck JR, love your channel.
I had a yellow 2000 Xterra (Gen 1) and that turned heads. I drove it like a truck. Off-roading, towing, snow, beach, everything. I sold it with 198k miles on it. The new owners drove it away. Great vehicle.
Junk Yard Tip: If you aren't sure what year the vehicle is, simply open a front door and look at the tag on the seat belt strap near the floor mount. The Year of Manufacture is on the tag.
Had an 2007, ran great for the 12 yrs I had it. Like others are saying, there was a voluntary recall on the radiators for cross contamination of tran fluid and coolant. Make sure to check it.
That would go for $9k in Chicago right now, no joke. Used car prices have skyrocketed since this disaster. Keep up the great work JR and team. Always fun to see a new video. If you’re ever in Chicago you’re welcome to come for dinner. 😀
We got an 05, we've had both common fail points happen to us. The transmission went out(4900) and the timing chain just went back. The piston slapped all the intake valves on both sides. Still in the process of fixing it.
I had a 2003 nissan pathfinder LE. I actually cried when I sold that thing. One of the best vehicles I ever owned. Love the exterra. Not sure why nissan thought it was smart to make less reliable vehicles after 06.
Thumbs down to all the people that bitched about his shop updates, it would have been cool to see an episode on fixing the heaters but hey I guess it's more important to people to see flipped Nissans than it is to learn something new.
I had a 1989 4wd Pathfinder that never went off road and the transmission never made it to 100,000 miles. I looked at a slightly newer Pathfinder and on the initial check, the transmission shifted really rough, standing still! No more Nissans since. I did have a 1976 DATSUN station wagon that drove forever with no troubles, although it was a stick shift.
I have a 2011 Pro-4X. It's a great off-road SUV. They never upgraded those rear tailgate struts! They work in the summer. When the temperature drops below 40, they keep the tailgate open just high enough for me to bang my effing head on it multiple times in the middle of the winter, before I remember. I even replaced mine with new ones, and they still failed in the winter.
If you need any Xterra help, just let me know...I run an Xterra FB page, and have years of experience with Xterras, as well as having replaced the trans in my 2006 due to the common SMOD issue...
Can I stick a 2013 trans in the 06? Seems like they all interchange as long as you run the adapts right after install with the scanner, but it hard to find really good info on that. The interchange is all over the place. 🤷♂️
@@WatchJRGo the tcm is integral to the valve body. Will need programming. Also replace the radiator. 05-08 are notorious for cooler failing and allowing coolant into transmission.
Just so you know, what usually kills those transmissions is the internal transmission cooler in the radiator bursts and floods the trans with coolant, which then strips the clutches of all of their friction material...we refer to it as SMOD (Strawberry Milkshake Of Death)...also, chances are the timing chain guides are bad, the chains had a factory defect that cut through the plastic guides, which affects the variable valve timing, so you'll need new chains and guides...the cure for the transmission issue is to replace the radiator, flush the lines and secondary trans cooler completely, and replace the transmission...like I said, if you need any information, I've been there and done that with Xterras...
Also, you're going to want to remove the front catalytic converters to get the trans out...the bellhousing won't fit past them unless you REALLY force it and potentially damage the cats or crack the manifolds...
I'd put money on the radiator either being brand new, or they bypassed the radiator trans cooler and tried to flush the trans and limp it by for awhile before it finally died...my 2006 had SMOD and I was able to limp out another 20,000 miles from it before the trans just stopped shifting...if you buy a used trans, only buy one from 2010 and newer, as those didn't have the SMOD issues the earlier models did, so you don't have to worry about buying a bad trans...
Through 2007, the automatic transmissions had a serious problem. Someone radiator fluid would leak into the AT fluid, I assume through a busted heat exchanger to help cool the AT. There's a fix for it that owners have been doing for years, but once the AT is beyond fixing, it needs a new one.
I’ve rebuilt hundreds of these units. The cooler in the radiator cracks and they mix coolant & ATF. The coolant ruins the seals, frictions, and the TCM connected to the valve body. Replace the radiator, flush the auxiliary cooler, and make sure your replacement unit has the correct programming in the TCM. I’m not far away in Omaha if you need anything.
I love my Xterra 2007. Bought it 2 years ago in Florida, good running vehicle with only 125, 000 miles. Recently, drove it from the east coast to the west coast, car camping along the way. I ve had the brake pads replaced, it is a great running SUV.
my experience with an 09 4wd front wheel drive transfer case seal 80K Both rear leaf springs broke center leaf at 100k TPMS doesnt want work (just use rubber stems) Clock spring 150K Radiator hose clamps rotted 150k Evap system is getting clogged (hard to fill) 150K Both Hub unit bearings at 165K Needs new ball joints at 170K Bushings starting to wear 170K Rear trunk actuator stopped working 170K The frame is very solid - A miracle in the rust belt - I now fluid film it not to bad all considering. Its heavy, but has good idiot proof traction control and ABS system will save your rear in a wet slippery situation.
This and the Frontier are virtually the only good things Nissan has made since the days of Datsun back in the 80s, in my opinion. I love how these were unchanged for years. I love the idea of buying a 2019 Frontier and look back through the lense of time to 2005. So satisfying.
They are pretty easy to work on for sure! I changed the clutch on my 350Z myself and when I wrecked the front end years back I replaced all the front end myself. The radiator support is completely modular and I just took the old one off and put in a new one, used radiator and a bunch of other parts that needed replaced, refilled fluids, bled, and was good to go. Really like some of the build simplicity in Nissan vehicles.
I wish Nissan would bring back the Xterra. I have been driving my 2008 Toyota 4Runner 2WD for over 15 years without any problems, so I agree with you about the 2WD Xterra. The difference is that My 4Runner still works and looks like new, without any effort.
Man, I love that Xterra! One of those classic smaller SUVs along with the Toyota Rav4, which my sister has and it just keeps going and going. That one appears to be in nice condition otherwise. A very good buy.
We bought our 2007 Yellow Xterra 4x4 new. All maintenance done by me with factory fluids on time. It now has 277,000 miles on it and the only drivetrain part that wasn't installed at the factory is the starter which I rebuilt at 240,000 miles. Transmission fluid changed every 30,000 miles with Nissan Matic S. It is still so reliable that we just drove it from Texas to Denver, ran trails all over Colorado down to Silverton CO, and back home. IF you maintain them, they will run forever.
Hey JR Those cars are notorious for defective radiators and the transmission gets infiltrated with coolant
It will definitely benefit from a better radiator and transmission cooler
I remember my moms radiator exploding lmao
@@rubennajera6735 Better an external transcooler.
I had that issue happen with my 2006 Frontier. You definitely need to replace the radiator as well. The coolant basically destroys the seals in the transmission.
If you don't, it's just going to ruin the next transmission you put into it.
Bingo
YESSS A FLIP!!! Let’s go! I can’t wait!
Right was getting so tired of god damn warehouse videos lol
When you swap out that transmission make sure you install an aftermarket transmission cooler (if it hasn't been done already). The second gen X Terra's have a transmission cooler integrated into the radiator, and they are notorious for failing. When that happens, coolant mixes with the trans fluid and ruins the transmission.
like this so he sees it
The ominous SMOD
Might just install a new radiator if it hasn't been replaced. 🍻
I love my 1995 Pathfinder 4wd but I’ve always had a soft spot for the 2nd gen Xterra
Nissan changed the type of trans fluid in an attempt to prevent it from eating through the radiator. Seems to have worked on mine. Got 107,000 miles, still pulls hard (2005 4x4)
LOVE my Xterra! I have a 2015 Pro-4X and it's the best SUV I've ever owned. I've had it for 3 years now and it has never let me down.
I’ve had a 2014 Pro4x for 6ish years now. The worst part about my truck is the gas mileage.
@BadgunmusicII there is not a suv in the same category tjat does any better!
Bought my 2008 back in Jan 2024 $4k 144 k miles truck chassis and real tyranny with real timing chain ,Nice size SUV ID BUY AGAIN HEARTBEAT
Just bought one of these the other day with a "locked up" engine. Going to see if i can recover existing engine as it does turn over some with each start attempt. Verified both belts move. Bought for $475.00. Looking forward to the project myself, even if i comes down to engine replacement. Was actually just researching features of this vehicle when i saw your video notification come up regarding this purchase you've made. Looking forward to future content!
Maybe the AC compressor is seized.
Google the radiator transmission issue, you will want an updated radiator or aftermarket trans cooler.
Do a VK56 swap. You won't regret it.
So weird that a car that old doesn't look that old... Maybe I'm getting old... Shit...
I know what you mean. I was a seinior in H.S. when these came out. 21 years ago! time goes fast i guess
@@scottcol23 You are right, when you are young you cant wait to get older and when you are older time flies like crazy
Its because its brother, the frontier stopped being made this year. the xterra was dropped because of poor sales but if it didnt i wouldnt be surprised if were still being made today. the middle east got a new one but it looks quite a bit different
Banana yellow ones are xonkers
They made the same exact xterra no refresh until 2015 and its truck brother the frontier until 2020.
When I first bought my ‘09 Xterra, the first mod I did was installing a transmission cooler bypass on the radiator. Thankfully no transmission problems yet at 152k miles.
JRGO flip vids are comfort food for me. They're so good.
Fun fact: These sit on the Titan fully boxed frame and you can Titan swap suspension and the V8:)
I bought a 2015 Xterra Pro--4X new in October 2015 when I heard they were going to be discontinued. Now at 94,000 miles, it still drives like new. The SMOD issue was resolved in 2010. I've only had two small warranty issues since I bought it. It's been through blizzards and Las Vegas summers.
Hey man. Some tips for you that you may already have discovered.
The TCU in the transmission is mated to the ecu and a new transmission is not plug and play. You will need to swap the tcu from the old valve body to avoid this if it isnt toast.
These transmissions themselves are oddly expensive compared to other nissan vehicles of this vintage. I've found that you can use the transmission from an 08ish g35s/g37s and swap bell housings, tail housing, and torque converter. They can be found for a couple hundred all day.
The trans has a hard time dropping out with the catalytic converters in most cases.
Most of these trans are damaged by a radiator issue introducing coolant into the cooler channels. Best thing to do is check in the reservoir for a milkshake. You can simply bypass the cooler if you want to save some money, but the right thing to do is replace the radiator.
I love how the projects keep piling up. Then eventually everything gets knocked out one by one. Love the videos, keep up the great work!
Me: Hmm, I haven't thought about an Xterra in years.
Also Me: Searches furiously for an Xterra on Marketplace and Craigslist.
Do it, you'll be sorry you did it.
@@jzenick I have a 2005 with 142,000 miles for sale for $5000
Way to much I got an 05 with 117k 6 speed manual 4 wheel drive and paid 4k for it
+1 on everyone saying cracked transmission cooler, but also make sure to check the timing chain guides. Early 2nd gens all had problems with plastic TCG's wearing down and causing a loud whine that sounds like a supercharger. It sounded like there was a whine when you started it up, so it might be due for timing chains
As an Xterra owner myself (2011 P4X) these things are crazy reliable. Now 05-10 had the radiator issue (SMOD: Strawberry Milkshake of Death) which is 99% probably the fault here. Change the radiator to the updated one with the trans swap. Once that's fixed, this thing will run forever. I just reached 180k and I haven't had a single issue with mine, still looks and runs like new. The biggest repair I've had to do was swapping the leaf springs. As long as you do the regular maintenance, these things are bullet proof. Mine goes to blue square trails and have trailered 6k lbs across the state (PA) incl. Off road. A literal beast!
Can you just change the radiator?
@@carlosaguirre7723 before the trans goes bad, yes. But once transmission is broken, it has to be replaced.
Probably had radiator transmission line failure and roasted the trans. So double check that radiator while in there
Mine had same issue - the radiator plumbing is the Achilles heel for that thing..dam radiator crack and mixed the fluids..miss my X
@@CoH_88 I believe Mercedes used the same Rad didn't they I think correct me if I'm wrong I saw it first on LSC.
Exactly this. '05-'08 Xterras and Pathfinders are ticking timebombs.
@@CoH_88 it's already been addressed by recalls and warranty work, so idk how it forced ya into needing to sell it
@@robretondo9709 Wasn't covered at all for me - took to dealership and nothing. There was a lawsuit in the works but nothing never heard anything about it.
My friend’s Xterra’s rear bumper was so rusty his back plate fell off while driving lol
I have a 2000 Xterra that cracked the cooler in the radiator and it put all the engine coolant in the transmission which in turn caused it to burn up. It's a common issue and an expensive fix, mine has 228,000 miles and i love it. She has had a ton of work done but is a solid winter SUV and i live in the Northeast so i keep it around.
I have 300k miles on my 2006 and still going strong. I love my X ❤
i had a 1st gen 5 speed for 6 months, paid $350, blew the head gaskets so bad coolant was coming out the exhaust, junked it and got $420 from the junk yard.
Man, you make me miss my 2010 Xterra even more. I loved that beast. Back seat area was a bit cramped, but the X was a quality build. When I got it, I had to replace the oil cooler seal to stop that leak. After that, it was just routine maintenance until we lost it in a wreck. Honestly, I think it could have been salvaged, but I didn't have the means to get it home to rebuild. I want to track this rebuild to see what you do. They are known for SMOD problems, and I wonder if that happened to this one since the trans fluid is new. It will be interesting to see what you do.
A lot of times the fluid will get replaced with the hope it will fix it. And sometimes it will, but not for very long since the damage has already been done by the time people usually catch it.
Great buy. I still have my 2005 Xterra SE. LOVE IT! Have never had any issues with it. It’s still going.
Got a 2010,been my driver for last 5 years,love it in the snow.
Car content!! Yay!! Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed the shop build but I’ve missed car content.
I loved my 1st gen xterra. That was the most reliable vehicle I have ever had the pleasure of growing up with. The vehicle was absolutely abused and we only got rid of it due to the head gasket blowing around 200k.
My grandma has a first gen supercharged one, she got everything you could on that car, beefier rims, big push bumper up front and light guards, that thing is a beast and ever since I was a little kid it’s been one of my favorite cars
An idea JR ! ! You should take a photo off all your flips and cars in your fleet and dedicate a big wall space to put them on , imagine in 15 - 20 years time looking back on them and remembering all the stories that was attached to each car .or people asking you about each car . You will appreciate it in the future that you done that , kind of like a time capsule sort of thing . 👍🏻
For a second I thought you bought itfrom Sarah-n-Tuned.
Check that radiator part number and see if it's the newer, superseded part. The trans cooler would crack inside the radiator and fill the trans with coolant, killing the trans in that generation. Hope all is well, here's to flips!
So happy to see some cheap flips. Its what got me into your channel and it's what I enjoy the most.
REALLY wish JR would get back to basics
@@210SAi I mean,, I understand you can only do so many engine swaps but still, I enjoy watching them.
I have a 2007 SE 2wde. Dad bought it new off the showroom floor in April 2008. He passed Oct 2008 and I got the truck. Only had 3100 miles when dad left. It now has 254,000 miles. Except for normal maintenance it has been a fantastic vehicle. 92000 miles it needed 1 front wheel bearing. $80 and half hr to fix. I did replace the radiator at 130,000 miles as a precaution. I didn't want the strawberry shake of death. I have had to replace coil recently and driver side cats, BECAUSE OF COIL FAILURE. I did just rebuild the front end, ball joints, tie rods, etc. Not too bad and pretty cheap. I never had any weird issues with the truck. It is now semi retired and relaxing in its old age.
The 2wd models aren't that heavy at maybe 4200-4300 lbs. By the way, they are known for having soft feeling brake pedals, even from new. Brakes always work though.
It sounds like the secondary timing chains and guides need to be replaced. The early 4.0L engines suffered from this problem. That's the whiney noise you hear on a cold start and when the engine RPM's increase.
Run it briefly without the belt before doing that though, if it stops the noise it's something else. I assumed that was the issue with mine because it was happening at the right mileage point, but it turned out to be the alternator. Would've saved me a ton of time and work if I had bothered to do that first.
my mom had a yellow 2wd xterra it was the absolute easiest car to find in a parking lot
In case you missed the last comment, the trans cooler lines in the radiator degrade and leak, mixing antifreeze and trans fluid. Radiator is an easy replacement and Nissan had changed to a different trans fluid that wasn’t as hard on the radiator. These are great rigs when sorted, especially in 4x4. I have a 2005
They changed the trans cooling pipe which goes through the radiator from aluminum to brass in 2010.
I love these flip videos. This is why I subscribed over 2 years ago.
“This is going to be one of the easiest transmissions jobs...” dude, I’m pulling for you to be right.
Steven Heffelfinger I had to remove both primary cats to get to the top bolts of the bell housing.
@@MrIsrael211 I used a 24" extension without removing the exhaust.
Most common problem with that model is that the trans cooler built into radiator would Crack and allow antifreeze into the trans and vise versa
First time I ever went to Colorado in 2000, I rented a 1st Gen one of these. Got around the mountains like it was nobody’s business.
I worked For Nissan During that Radiator plegue! Those transmissions are pretty strong on those Xterras and Frontiers but the radiator trans cooler ended defective mixing coolant into to the trans lines killing the Transmission.. if you catch them early a good flush and a valve body swap cures the problem. A radiator Swap is definitely a must on this one if you replace that transmission.
Precision Transmission has a cool video showing what that additive does to every rubber seal in your transmission. [swells them up a ridiculous amount.]
Yeah.. That's true. But it sometimes helps to renew o-rings, you just have to be careful not to put a hole gallon in it. I used to get the same results adding brake fluid to the tranny. Just a cup... Same story. It's not a solution, it's just "cheap" fix
It's not really a proper fix, but if you have a car where you can't justify a transmission replacement, it's worth a shot. I had a 2000 Cavalier with the transmission that was clunking and slipping quite a bit. Lucas kept that car going for another 30,000 miles...
@@elijahwatson8119 exactly... That's the idea. Sometimes it's just not worthy to spend a lot of time and money in a car... Or u just can't afford it. Lucas additive can get you out of slipping or bad shifting transmissions.
Hey cousin!! Check to make sure it does or doesn't have the strawberry milkshake trans fluid where the line into the radiator contaminates it.. fix.. flush flush flush. Bypass the line. Replace the valve body and tcm and back on the road u go. I had to do it on my frontier
It also sounds like there may be some timing chain issues on your Xterra. You can hear that whiny sound when you give it gas. Very common problem for that year. Best of luck JR, love your channel.
The XTerra is an awesome SUV. I bought mine used. Its a 2000 SE, runs great and I have been putting miles on it for a few years now.
Look everyone. With the money he saved on his haircut, he was able to afford a Nissan Xterra! Cool!
Lol
Stop, stop! He's already dead
😂
Too soon...but that was bowl quality bad.....
He says in this video that he fixed the haircut issue. Let's move on
A hood strut company should really sponsor your channel.
Just bought one for $1500 with 180k miles but with a new transmission. Solid deal that I may convert to a microcamper/overlanding rig
I had a yellow 2000 Xterra (Gen 1) and that turned heads. I drove it like a truck. Off-roading, towing, snow, beach, everything. I sold it with 198k miles on it. The new owners drove it away. Great vehicle.
Sarah-n-tuned, anyone?
Truck probably had SMOD. Swap the radiator, too.
I have a 2001 xterra with 245k miles on it and still working very good! 💪🏻
Shop is looking great and it is so nice to see you back to fixing cars. I am sure you are enjoying the heat.
Junk Yard Tip: If you aren't sure what year the vehicle is, simply open a front door and look at the tag on the seat belt strap near the floor mount. The Year of Manufacture is on the tag.
That's handy to know
I hope you open up that transmission when you take it out and show how bad the inside is
Had an 2007, ran great for the 12 yrs I had it. Like others are saying, there was a voluntary recall on the radiators for cross contamination of tran fluid and coolant. Make sure to check it.
That would go for $9k in Chicago right now, no joke. Used car prices have skyrocketed since this disaster. Keep up the great work JR and team. Always fun to see a new video. If you’re ever in Chicago you’re welcome to come for dinner. 😀
I've never heard favorite and xterra in the same sentence lololol
Many commenters on the new Frontier are hoping that Nissan comes out with a new Xterra.
Interesting because they are very popular for offroading and overlanding.
This was the first time I heard a barber blame the customer for a bad haircut.
I love my xterra! Love this video. Awesome man.
We have a Nissan Xterra (2003) that we love. Yes we have had to do some work on it, but my husband wouldn't trade it in for the world!
Pretty sure the 4Runner is everyone’s favorite SUV, But... fun video. :)
The Xterra "Truck Of The Year'd" twice! I didn't realize other people loved this thing as much as me 😍
Many feel that the XTerras, with the yellow factory paint, are pretty cool.
Great. Again right as I’m going to bed.
😂 my bad, it's a short one!
@@WatchJRGo you call 16 minutes short? Lol 😂
@@WatchJRGo worth the watch. Gonna be an easy flip.
@@WatchJRGo twss?
We got an 05, we've had both common fail points happen to us. The transmission went out(4900) and the timing chain just went back. The piston slapped all the intake valves on both sides. Still in the process of fixing it.
It's a real fun truck to drive, just sucks it keeps breaking
I had a 2003 nissan pathfinder LE. I actually cried when I sold that thing. One of the best vehicles I ever owned. Love the exterra. Not sure why nissan thought it was smart to make less reliable vehicles after 06.
Everyone of these has transmission problem when they get higher miles but they will run forever...
Awww, puppy!!! 😍
A good boy for sure 🐕
@John Doe I think if he had a dog, the dog would enjoy the car rides more 😂
@John Doe o absolutely!
My brother in law had one of these and loved it. Was great for Michigan winters.
I bought an 02 supercharged Xterra with 111k miles. Well taken care of. I love it!
Thumbs down to all the people that bitched about his shop updates, it would have been cool to see an episode on fixing the heaters but hey I guess it's more important to people to see flipped Nissans than it is to learn something new.
Thing has more actual awards than I have participation awards:(
Finally a video not (bragging) about the biggest shop on You Tube . I was about to unsubscribe. Good to see a car video again.
I had a 1989 4wd Pathfinder that never went off road and the transmission never made it to 100,000 miles.
I looked at a slightly newer Pathfinder and on the initial check, the transmission shifted really rough, standing still!
No more Nissans since. I did have a 1976 DATSUN station wagon that drove forever with no troubles, although it was a stick shift.
What about the $1 BMW?
He's been awaiting to hear from you! You don't want it for a dollar!?
Same here, just wondering what happened. Oh well I thought this was his new buy it for a dollar. Lol
He will be pulling another name some day. It’s ready to go.
you need a partner in California these vehicles in North Cali cost a fortune
I'll drive it to SJC...How much will it fetch
Drove my 2002 Yellow off the lot with 5 miles on it... I still drive it today and besides an exhaust manifold leak, its running just fine still.
Finally working on cars again!!!!! I like watching the diagnoatic process which didn't happen here, but still excited to see this flip through!
No Motul or LiquiMoly transmission fix? Or ATP AT-203?
Always thought the Xterra was cool... great marketing campaign... I was reading about these earlier today, did you know there's a new one?
Nissan is a former shell of itself
@@rsprockets7846 Agreed
Is that 100%Jake enjoying some coolant? What a car guy!
I have a 2011 Pro-4X. It's a great off-road SUV. They never upgraded those rear tailgate struts! They work in the summer. When the temperature drops below 40, they keep the tailgate open just high enough for me to bang my effing head on it multiple times in the middle of the winter, before I remember. I even replaced mine with new ones, and they still failed in the winter.
When the truck started, it sounds like the chain guides are done, very whinny engine.
If you need any Xterra help, just let me know...I run an Xterra FB page, and have years of experience with Xterras, as well as having replaced the trans in my 2006 due to the common SMOD issue...
Can I stick a 2013 trans in the 06? Seems like they all interchange as long as you run the adapts right after install with the scanner, but it hard to find really good info on that. The interchange is all over the place. 🤷♂️
@@WatchJRGo the tcm is integral to the valve body. Will need programming. Also replace the radiator. 05-08 are notorious for cooler failing and allowing coolant into transmission.
Just so you know, what usually kills those transmissions is the internal transmission cooler in the radiator bursts and floods the trans with coolant, which then strips the clutches of all of their friction material...we refer to it as SMOD (Strawberry Milkshake Of Death)...also, chances are the timing chain guides are bad, the chains had a factory defect that cut through the plastic guides, which affects the variable valve timing, so you'll need new chains and guides...the cure for the transmission issue is to replace the radiator, flush the lines and secondary trans cooler completely, and replace the transmission...like I said, if you need any information, I've been there and done that with Xterras...
Also, you're going to want to remove the front catalytic converters to get the trans out...the bellhousing won't fit past them unless you REALLY force it and potentially damage the cats or crack the manifolds...
I'd put money on the radiator either being brand new, or they bypassed the radiator trans cooler and tried to flush the trans and limp it by for awhile before it finally died...my 2006 had SMOD and I was able to limp out another 20,000 miles from it before the trans just stopped shifting...if you buy a used trans, only buy one from 2010 and newer, as those didn't have the SMOD issues the earlier models did, so you don't have to worry about buying a bad trans...
Through 2007, the automatic transmissions had a serious problem. Someone radiator fluid would leak into the AT fluid, I assume through a busted heat exchanger to help cool the AT. There's a fix for it that owners have been doing for years, but once the AT is beyond fixing, it needs a new one.
I’ve rebuilt hundreds of these units. The cooler in the radiator cracks and they mix coolant & ATF. The coolant ruins the seals, frictions, and the TCM connected to the valve body. Replace the radiator, flush the auxiliary cooler, and make sure your replacement unit has the correct programming in the TCM. I’m not far away in Omaha if you need anything.
Watch JR FLIP
Always 💪
@@WatchJRGo 💪🏻 🏎 💨
Should get Jake a haircut gift card .
I love my Xterra 2007. Bought it 2 years ago in Florida, good running vehicle with only 125, 000 miles. Recently, drove it from the east coast to the west coast, car camping along the way. I ve had the brake pads replaced, it is a great running SUV.
I own xterra as my project truck that I am planning to build into budget off roader and I love it
Thanks for reminding me to never buy a Nissan.
Late
🥇 boom!
Awesome. I remember watching you work on Honda’s on the street. And now the shop is going and the videos continue!
my experience with an 09 4wd
front wheel drive transfer case seal 80K
Both rear leaf springs broke center leaf at 100k
TPMS doesnt want work (just use rubber stems)
Clock spring 150K
Radiator hose clamps rotted 150k
Evap system is getting clogged (hard to fill) 150K
Both Hub unit bearings at 165K
Needs new ball joints at 170K
Bushings starting to wear 170K
Rear trunk actuator stopped working 170K
The frame is very solid - A miracle in the rust belt - I now fluid film it
not to bad all considering. Its heavy, but has good idiot proof traction control and ABS system will save your rear in a wet slippery situation.
Everyone's favorite SUV? I hate these things. I thought the Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0 inline 6 was everyone's favorite SUV.
Glad you mentioned the hair cut.... much better now. Reminded me of those bowl cuts when mom and dad were broke.
This and the Frontier are virtually the only good things Nissan has made since the days of Datsun back in the 80s, in my opinion. I love how these were unchanged for years. I love the idea of buying a 2019 Frontier and look back through the lense of time to 2005. So satisfying.
They are pretty easy to work on for sure! I changed the clutch on my 350Z myself and when I wrecked the front end years back I replaced all the front end myself. The radiator support is completely modular and I just took the old one off and put in a new one, used radiator and a bunch of other parts that needed replaced, refilled fluids, bled, and was good to go. Really like some of the build simplicity in Nissan vehicles.
Are there any parts around? I couldn't even find any LED tail light offering online. None
I have a second Gen 05’ with a 6MT and it still runs like a champ...love my Xterra
I wish Nissan would bring back the Xterra. I have been driving my 2008 Toyota 4Runner 2WD for over 15 years without any problems, so I agree with you about the 2WD Xterra. The difference is that My 4Runner still works and looks like new, without any effort.
I just bought one of these 2008 red with a stick shift. 150k miles.
Man, I love that Xterra! One of those classic smaller SUVs along with the Toyota Rav4, which my sister has and it just keeps going and going. That one appears to be in nice condition otherwise. A very good buy.