Did some work on the Xterra this weekend. I pulled and tested the evap purge valve and it seems to function normally, it's likely my CEL for that was just a plug that wasn't seated properly. While I was in there I re-routed the new breather hose so it isn't kinked. No longer will the evaporative emissions vent suck up dust from the back wheel, that hose has been extended all the way to behind the driver's tail light and a filter is capping it. Hopefully this is the last time dust gunks up that system.
I finally got around to installing the diff breather extension, I hadn't really bothered before because I live in a desert. That now vents behind the passenger tail light, but I still need to get a small filter for it. The inside of the old breather was completely caked with crud, I doubt it was functioning at all - which is probably why I'm seeing seepage around the hubs. It's likely that both sides of the rear end will need new axle seals. (It probably also explains why the parking brake is useless right now, I bet the shoes are covered in axle grease that was pushed out past the seals.) I don't have a press, so getting that done is going to be a bit of a PITA, I will probably pull the half-shafts and clean/replace the parking brake shoes myself, but I will need a shop with a press to put the new seals and bearings on.
I still need to put some anti-foulers on the O2 sensors, apparently Nissans are super picky about the O2 sensors and which brand catalytic converters go in. I know the cats are good, but I keep getting codes thrown for low efficiency. The problem is that I need to hit up my friend with a mill so we can actually make the spark plug antifoulers fit correctly. It seems my current catalytic converter code has cleared itself for the time being, so I might be able to get emissions done this month and get registered, kicking that particular can down the road a bit.
And one last bit of good(ish) news, the suspicious "clunk" in the front end while on our last off road trip was likely a loose tie rod end and not the steering rack as I feared.
So the list of repairs needed now looks like this:
Catalytic converter seems to have sorted itself out, will use O2 sensor spacers to reduce false codes
Evap canister purge valve Sorted
- Axle seals
Steering rack New tie rod end, probably within 6 months
- Clutch pedal assembly
- Power steering pump (seems to have stopped making noise, might have just been a dirty or slipping belt)
With this list, the cost has dropped significantly so the X will live on, which makes me happy, because there are very few vehicles out there that would make suitable replacements. The only one I was even a little excited about is the GX460, but all the aftermarket stuff for that vehicle is 50% more expensive than the same gear for a 4Runner and you only get one or two choices. I'm sorry, but rock sliders should not be nearly $1,000.