New Xterra

daredevil_93

daredevil_93

Test Drive
Location
Longmont, CO
Hey all, my name is Brian. I’m getting ready to purchase a new Xterra tomorrow, 2004, with just under 170,000 miles on it.
she definitely needs a little bit of work, as the previous owner hasn’t done the greatest job from the sounds of things with taking care of it, but I guess that’s just because she’s not much of a car person. I need to get some body panels to fix a previous accident, put in a new windshield, change all fluids, put in a new stereo deck, as it currently doesn’t have one, and figure out why my control arm is making noises. Any recommendations or suggestions on this quick little thread would be greatly appreciated, as I know nothing about Xterra‘s.0F8F9261-0626-4DAE-AD1C-0AC0B019A567.jpeg
 

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kirk

kirk

Butterfly King
Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
Allen, Texas
Welcome! Lots of first gen knowledge here, we can definitely help!

Ask all the questions you have!
 
reaver

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
Welcome from the land of potatoes!

I'll tell you what, those first gens are tough as nails, and really simple.

I bought my 03 X 2.5 years ago, and have proceeded to beat the piss out of it in the desert ever since. I've had to replace a wheel bearing. That's it. My old Colorado had been through two sets of hubs and abs sensors by this point.

I'll only get rid of my 1st Gen when I can no longer get parts to fix it.

I'd recommend changing the timing belt. If you don't know when it was done, consider it a ticking time bomb.
 
daredevil_93

daredevil_93

Test Drive
Location
Longmont, CO
reaver said:
Welcome from the land of potatoes!

I'll tell you what, those first gens are tough as nails, and really simple.

I bought my 03 X 2.5 years ago, and have proceeded to beat the piss out of it in the desert ever since. I've had to replace a wheel bearing. That's it. My old Colorado had been through two sets of hubs and abs sensors by this point.

I'll only get rid of my 1st Gen when I can no longer get parts to fix it.

I'd recommend changing the timing belt. If you don't know when it was done, consider it a ticking time bomb.
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Thank you so much for your input on this. It’s going to the shop on Tuesday, and I’m having them look at a control arm issue, and I will also most likely be having them replace the timing belt. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to get a full inspection on it, as I am not in a position to do the work myself, because I unfortunately don’t have the space at the moment. Just picked up spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, as well as oil, an oil filter, oil treatment stuff from Lucas, and a new air filter. It’s time for this Xterra to get some actual good treatment. Lol
 
reaver

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
daredevil_93 said:
Thank you so much for your input on this. It’s going to the shop on Tuesday, and I’m having them look at a control arm issue, and I will also most likely be having them replace the timing belt. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to get a full inspection on it, as I am not in a position to do the work myself, because I unfortunately don’t have the space at the moment. Just picked up spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, as well as oil, an oil filter, oil treatment stuff from Lucas, and a new air filter. It’s time for this Xterra to get some actual good treatment. Lol
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Good call. A full inspection should help you spot any other issues. I still need to get mine to the mechanic and have him go through it for its yearly checkup.
 
daredevil_93

daredevil_93

Test Drive
Location
Longmont, CO
reaver said:
Good call. A full inspection should help you spot any other issues. I still need to get mine to the mechanic and have him go through it for its yearly checkup.
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That’s what I’m kind of hoping. This vehicle unfortunately does not have a good history previous to my ownership. It’s been in I think like four accidents previously, and several panels have been replaced, so I’m definitely not expecting the car to be perfect, but I want to give it a better life than it has had previously.
Hopefully there are no surprises when you take yours into the shop for its yearly check up. :)
 
reaver

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
daredevil_93 said:
That is awesome. I plan to use this one for some off-roading in the future, as well as an all-around camping rig.
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They make great offroading and camping rigs.

What are your plans for storage? There's some pretty good plans for a drawer system on the forums here. I modified them to have a slide out table from the bottom of one of my drawers.

If you're not much taller than about 5'11", you can build a platform that allows you to sleep back there as well.

If you're looking for ideas, let me know. I use mine as a general overland rig, and have done several thousand miles of off pavement travel in it, and many, MANY quality of life modifications to it,while keeping the drive train and suspension pretty much stock, and have only gotten stuck in snow. Once.

You won't regret your purchase.
 
daredevil_93

daredevil_93

Test Drive
Location
Longmont, CO
reaver said:
They make great offroading and camping rigs.

What are your plans for storage? There's some pretty good plans for a drawer system on the forums here. I modified them to have a slide out table from the bottom of one of my drawers.

If you're not much taller than about 5'11", you can build a platform that allows you to sleep back there as well.

If you're looking for ideas, let me know. I use mine as a general overland rig, and have done several thousand miles of off pavement travel in it, and many, MANY quality of life modifications to it,while keeping the drive train and suspension pretty much stock, and have only gotten stuck in snow. Once.

You won't regret your purchase.
Click to expand...
To be honest, I’m not exactly sure what my plans are going to be for storage and things like that yet. I am mainly trying to take care of the previous owners neglect on the vehicle.
I am also visually impaired, and have a retired guide dog and a current one, so I would have to try to find a way to accommodate them as well. I’m almost considering purchasing one of those off-road in style camping trailers when I’m done with school. But I honestly haven’t quite thought that far ahead with it yet.
I would love to get into over landing with it, but I haven’t been able to find anyone who wants to do that kind of stuff with me. I was thinking about turning my 2018 Subaru Forrester into an over landing rig as well, but I just can’t quite bring myself to do that.

I know the question is probably going to pop up several times with me being on this page, but unfortunately due to my visual impairment, I don’t get the luxury of driving either one of the vehicles that I own, but anything to do with cars and the off-road and community and things like that is a huge interest and passion of mine, so I just find ways to try to make it happen. Lol
 
reaver

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
daredevil_93 said:
To be honest, I’m not exactly sure what my plans are going to be for storage and things like that yet. I am mainly trying to take care of the previous owners neglect on the vehicle.
I am also visually impaired, and have a retired guide dog and a current one, so I would have to try to find a way to accommodate them as well. I’m almost considering purchasing one of those off-road in style camping trailers when I’m done with school. But I honestly haven’t quite thought that far ahead with it yet.
I would love to get into over landing with it, but I haven’t been able to find anyone who wants to do that kind of stuff with me. I was thinking about turning my 2018 Subaru Forrester into an over landing rig as well, but I just can’t quite bring myself to do that.

I know the question is probably going to pop up several times with me being on this page, but unfortunately due to my visual impairment, I don’t get the luxury of driving either one of the vehicles that I own, but anything to do with cars and the off-road and community and things like that is a huge interest and passion of mine, so I just find ways to try to make it happen. Lol
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I'd recommend leaving the forester as is, and offroading the X if you want to go that route. Keep the forester for daily duties, especially considering current gas prices (the vg33 gets TERRIBLE milage compared to the forester).
 
daredevil_93

daredevil_93

Test Drive
Location
Longmont, CO
reaver said:
I'd recommend leaving the forester as is, and offroading the X if you want to go that route. Keep the forester for daily duties, especially considering current gas prices (the vg33 gets TERRIBLE milage compared to the forester).
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You can say that again. Lol I’m already down to like half a tank, and it was full when I picked it up on Sunday, and I really haven’t even done that much driving. Lol I’m hoping that with the new NGK plugs and wires though, hopefully that’ll help it a little bit, I’m not expecting huge numbers, but it is throwing a code every now and again. Have you relocated the knock sensor on yours yet?
 
reaver

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
I haven't, and it's had a knock sensor code since I bought it.

I'm not overly concerned though. I'll have the ability to carry 12 gallons where the spare tire used to be, in addition to the double 5 gal Jerry cans on the bumper.

Even my 2013 Frontier averages about 17 mpg on 32in AT Tires. They're just not all that effecient when it come to fuel milage.
 
daredevil_93

daredevil_93

Test Drive
Location
Longmont, CO
reaver said:
I haven't, and it's had a knock sensor code since I bought it.

I'm not overly concerned though. I'll have the ability to carry 12 gallons where the spare tire used to be, in addition to the double 5 gal Jerry cans on the bumper.

Even my 2013 Frontier averages about 17 mpg on 32in AT Tires. They're just not all that effecient when it come to fuel milage.
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I will trade fuel efficiency for off-road capability any day though. I’ve been thinking about taking the spare tire off of mine, and relocating it, but I have a lot of work to do before I can fully off-road it.
 
reaver

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
Unless you're planning on doing the Rubicon, the X is super capable in stock form. Don't let not being fully modded out stop you from hitting the trails.
 
daredevil_93

daredevil_93

Test Drive
Location
Longmont, CO
reaver said:
Unless you're planning on doing the Rubicon, the X is super capable in stock form. Don't let not being fully modded out stop you from hitting the trails.
Click to expand...
Oh I’m definitely planning on hitting the trails with it. I just need to get a control arm issue figured out. I’ve got a really bad metal on metal sound whenever sharp turns are made. And I honestly don’t quite know what it is yet, but I’ve been told it’s the control arm
 
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