2002 Apache Blue

[ApacheX]

Recently bought my 02 Xterra. She's full of blue and metal splotches from where a custom cover peeled off her paint. Found her for a steal because of the paint damage. Makes her look like a blue cow on he left side. I want to repaint her soon, but I'm working on the major maintenance first.

ApacheX (aka The Blue Moo)

(Turkey and lift not included)

First, the maintenance. No good modding a car whose timing belt is about to snap.

Maintenance
- new radiator, hoses, & clamps
- new spark plugs & cables (old plugs were filthy)
- Duralast battery
- oil, fuel, cabin & air filters
- timing belt service (from belt to camshaft and all the bolts in between)

Next up:
- repair alternator front bearing - DONE! 11/4
- fix problem with CC - Parts Acquired 11/4
- fix problem with fog lights - DONE! 11/4
- fix my radio (only the front windshield speakers are working)

Mods (bear with me, I'm a poor sucker)
- rear tail light guards
- temporary small front bumper (Westin)
- Calmini 3" lift kit
- cb radio, antenna, & Midland mobile set
- K&N filter

Next up:
- side steps
- ARB bumper
- lights
- lockers (one day :tears2: )

She's a work in progress, but I love her unreasonably. :sure:

 

[ApacheX]

U/C!
Check back for more updates.

 

[Prime]

Looking good! I'm curious to see tour patchy paint. I've got a few of those as well, though not in very large areas.

 

[J Everett]

Hey! I have friends that live in Denton! Welcome to Xterra Nation!

 

[ApacheX]

I cleaned up my leaf springs and control arms on my Calmini lift kit a couple weeks ago. Thought I'd post a few pics of the process. I used some Rustoleum black undercarriage spray to make the used lift kit look new. Also sprayed a degreaser to clean them up.

My husband helping me polish one of the control arms.

The tarp kept us from turning the lawn black.

The degreaser worked wonders on the control arms, and you can see how gorgeous and black the Rustoleum turned the leaf springs. It's too bad I didn't take a before and after pic. They were pretty rusted before.

 

[ApacheX]

We used this Rustoleum Undercoating paint for the leaf springs.

 

[ApacheX]

On a side note, we just got back from Palo Duro Canyon on my husband's 4Runner. He bought a 100series Land Cruiser in Amarillo, and we turned it into a trip. Pictures of the trip are here at imgur.

 

[ApacheX]

Maintenance progress: It turns out that our problem with the fog lights was that... THERE WERE NO FOG LIGHTS! We're scratching our heads and feeling stupid for hunting for blown fuses and reading online threads for known fog light issues. Sometimes the simplest solution really is the simplest solution.

We found out that the CC stopped working because we need to replace the CC switch under the driver console. I'll explain how we diagnosed that later.

 

[ApacheX]

Replaced the Alternator & Headlights

Finally replaced my fog lights! My Xterra is a 4-eyed machine again. :angel:

Unfortunately, I was hearing a high pitched squeal from the engine after it heated up (usually after highway driving), so I did some maintenance today. I knew the alternator's front bearing was giving out, so I assumed that was the problem and took the chance to replace the factory alternator with a re-manufactured one from O'Reilly Auto for $173. At 200,000 miles, it was time. This is the one...

Gorgeous and shiny, right? Right.

Accessing the alternator is a pain. It's hidden in a nook next to the driver side front tire. Jack the car, remove the tire, squeeze yourself and your limbs into the size of a coca-cola bottle, and locate the alternator past the control arms, shocks, and little bars determined to block your way. It's not for the faint of heart. I have small hands, so I ended up doing most of the installation, but my husband was kind enough to remove the old alternator for me and deal with the crusted bolts that wouldn't come off. I was in a hurry, so sorry about these wretched pictures.

Omar disassembling the alternator from its lair:

The alternator is located just above the shock in this photo. Unfortunately, I wasn't paying attention to what I was picturing, so I just missed it. It's about at Omar's elbow here:

Here's a closeup picture (not mine) of the X alternator.

(Picture from http://www.thenewx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1349)


Now that that's done, my Xterra is almost completely rebuilt, engine-wise. Next up is the cruise control switch, which I bought from O'Reilly's for $16, and then the Calmini lift kit. While working under the car, I realized that my front shocks (factory) are completely worn out. The fact that my shocks were COMPLETELY gone (dried fluid everywhere) says a lot about how bad my previous sedan handled on the road. I didn't even notice a bumpy ride on my X. I thought it was an improvement. :erm:

 

[granitex]

good work, but just to let you know, you dont have to take off the tire, you can get it all from underneath the front of the truck.