Nissan frontier 4x4 questions...

ord.sgt.26NC

ord.sgt.26NC

Gott mit uns!
Joined
Mar 23, 2005
Location
Goldsboro
Got my daddy's truck now.It's a 99 with a v6 and 5 speed.He only put 76,000 miles on it but the wear and tear on it is more like 176,000. He drove it for a 4wheel drive truck.He didn't baby it one bit.Anywho, need to know what problem areas to look out for mechanically and rust wise. I got alot of cleanup to do underneath from all the sandy mud he put that truck in.I have a big service job to do also from front to back. those of you who know,let me know what i need to look out for or head off before it happens. This truck is gonna be my DD now.No way i can sell it.
 
The main problem areas are the center bearing on the rear drive shaft (if it's not a one piece) and the steering links, idler arm. An unlifted, stock tire sized truck has very little issues with either, but the center bearing will wear out. Best replacement, is a factory one piece from a junkyard, or I had one built several years ago for about $200. Trans is plenty stout, but it requires GL-4 oil. And GL-4 ONLY, if you change it. Amazon is a great place to purchase that. Or if you have a good boat shop near you, lower unit oil. Timing belt at 100,000 mi, and while you are at it, water pump and thermostat. Most rust I've seen is around the wheel wells on the rear. I've heard of the chain stretching in t-case, but not sure under what conditions, I'm sure hardcore. Overall pretty solid trucks.
 
ord.sgt.26NC said:
is the engine free wheeling if it breaks the timing belt?
Click to expand...

Yes. They have the round-tooth timing belts, book says change at 105k. Yours has the 2" t-case chain, stretch and failure is less likey. Kamel hit the high points. Yours will have the two-piece driveshaft with the center bearing.

99s have 2-cat federal emissions (instead of 4-cat like cali and 2000+) but are prone to exhaust manifold cracks (99-01). Luckily they are cheap (rockauto.com) and the replacements are beefier than original.

98-01s have Nissan's "Durasteel" coating which resists rust pretty well.

Clutches last a good while, when it goes it will need a pilot bushing as well as the throwout bearing. I have put a pilot bushing in mine already at 70k.

If the cluster starts to act up, it's time for a replacement as 99s and 00s had many issues with them. There was also a recall on the fuel pump sending units due to corrosion/failure at the plug. http://www.motortrend.com/cars/1999/nissan/frontier/recalls/ If it never had the recall done go get it so that you get a free pump before that one dies!

The radiator support is prone to cracks, mine has a few starting and I know others that have suffered many cracks and repairs.
 
yea,I'm worried about his clutch.His aurthur had gotten to the point he would start in second and then go to fourth so shifting wouldn't jar him but one time.Clutch feels funny to me. As for the recall,I don't know if it was done...I'll run by our dealership and find out.
 
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