2005 Nissan Xterra

[RawrImAMonster]

Picked up this yesterday: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/navigation_multimedia/dnx572bh/">http://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/navigati ... /dnx572bh/</a><!-- m -->

I got it from the local Crutchfield since you have to buy it through an authorized dealer to get a warranty. I ended up getting a really good deal. They took $85 off at store, plus I get a $150 mail in rebate, plus they were running a promotion this month for a free $80 backup camera with this particular head unit.

All in all it will end up about what I would have paid for it through amazon, but I actually get a warranty and I get a free backup camera. Hope to install the headunit tonight. I'm not sure if I will get around to running the cables for the backup camera just yet, but we'll see.

[Senor_Taylor]

Looks like a newer, better version of my Kenwood HU. Hope you like it!

[RawrImAMonster]

Turns out crutchfield doesn't know what they're talking about when they say something will fit. There is basically no way to get this headunit to fit right with the RCA plugs they give you. They are right in the way of the cars frame. I have the head unit sort of in there, but it's not lined up right until I can get some 90 degree adapters for my RCA plugs.

The other problem I'm having is that the speakers pop when I turn the car on or off. Maybe the amplifier ground isn't good enough? I'll be doing some research today.

[Jake]

All that Crutchfield means when they say "yep, it'll fit" is that it can fit your dash opening.

Putting my Pioneer in the Yukon required all the cables go in precisely one location behind the dash. It was a pain but the E36 is worse for installs.

[RawrImAMonster]

Also I can't figure out how to get the damn thing to accept an auxiliary input for the life of me.

Edit: Actually I think I might just have to put it on video mode and ground out the parking brake wire. That might do it.

[Tyler.M]

so much work for a little bit of oontz. car audio can be such a pain

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[RawrImAMonster]

Mostly the head unit was just for navi since I'm moving to an unfamiliar city soon and I didn't want to deal with one setting on the dash or stuck to the window.

This thing had a bit of a rough idle and every once in a while it would throw a misfire code so I changed the spark plugs. This was the day before I was supposed to take it on vacation to the outer banks and a music festival. After changing the spark plugs, it ran like absolute shit. No power, misfiring a bunch and all that. So I tore the intake manifold off a few times (necessary for plugs) looking for a vacuum leak or something I forgot to hook up. Everything looked like it was attached fine and I couldn't find any leaks spraying carb cleaner along vacuum connections. Around 10:00 that night, I give up and take the BMW on vacation instead.

The Xterra sat for the week while I was gone. I did nothing else to it at all and now it runs perfectly. Smooth idle, full power, no misfires. Any guesses as to what happened?

I'm hoping this doesn't decide to come back randomly.

[RawrImAMonster]

Misfire was back for around a minute this morning. At this point I'm thinking (hoping) it's just bad gas. I'm going to put a can of seafoam in it and fill it up somewhere else later today and hope that takes care of it.

[RawrImAMonster]

Just to update, this thing is still intermittently running fine then running like shit. Last night I got a code other than multiple/random cylinder misfire and it seems to point to the drivers side air/fuel sensor.

From what I can tell these cars have a pre-cat wide band a/f sensor and normal post-cat o2 sensor. So, I'm guessing the a/f sensor would probably cause the problems I'm having. They're only 75 on Amazon (half the price for the exact same part vs Advance/AutoZone) so I'll probably order one and throw it on.

[Senor_Taylor]

If the A/F sensor is bad, wouldn't you throw a catalyst innefeciency code as well? (PO420). I've had the A/F go on both my Tacomas and they threw that code because the Initial reading was lower than the o2 sensor after the cat, making the cat seem non-functional.

[RawrImAMonster]

Hard to tell with that kind of stuff. My a/f sensor arrived today so I'll probably throw it in tomorrow and see where I'm at. Looks like I can get to it without taking anything apart. It's nice to have a car that's easy to work on for once.

[RawrImAMonster]

Well, it looks like that air/fuel sensor did the trick. It has been running smoother and getting better gas mileage since I put it in. Install was somewhat of a pain just because the old one was somewhat rusted in, but once that was out the new one went in really easily.

Hopefully this thing proves to be reliable now.

In other unrelated news, I was able to get the headunit mounted properly with the 90 degree rca adapters and the popping was eventually fixed by two ground loop isolators on the rca cables. Running the wire for the backup camera ended up being fairly easy using a straightened out clothes hanger and some tape. It works as expected and I'm sure will come in handy street parking once I move to Richmond.

[RawrImAMonster]

I put new rotors and pads on the back of this thing since the old rotors were corroded over and I'm pretty sure both sides are rubbing. The wheels were almost too hot to touch after a drive from Broadway to Harrisonburg.

There isn't any sort of adjustment you can do on normal floating calipers like this is there? I'm thinking the calipers might be sticking, which may be the reason the back rotors were corroded over anyway.

[ScottyB]

you can remove the caliper and grease the slider pins with a high temp grease. you don't need much and it should last a good long while as long as the rubber bellows on the pins aren't torn open.

if the caliper can't move back and forth on the pins i could see how it might not be able to properly grip the rotor or might drag on one side instead.

[RawrImAMonster]

I noticed that the bottom one on both of the calipers wasn't moving at all so that might be it. Are they both supposed to move? I'm also thinking the rubber boots weren't in the best shape.

Might be time for new calipers.

[ScottyB]

by bottom one you mean the caliper isn't sliding on the lower of the 2 pins? if that's the case, just take off the caliper and regrease the pins. new boots are like $5. no need to replace an entire caliper unless the caliper.

[RawrImAMonster]

I mean I was hammering on it and couldn't get it to move on the passengers side last night. I'm not sure if grease would fix it at this point. I'll have to recheck the drivers side, but I don't think it was moving much either. It might be salvageable.

[Senor_Taylor]

Hammering on it? I'm hammeredn right nkow.

[ViPER1313]

Hammering on it? I'm hammeredn right nkow.

Lame, definitely not DJ in China hammered.

[Jake]

Hammering on it? I'm hammeredn right nkow.

Lame, definitely not DJ in China hammered.

Ahah, I remember DJ-in-China hammered.