Hey guys, new to the forum and first posting! Thank you in advance!
Problem: 2000 Nissan Pathfinder 3.3L 4wd 184,000 miles starts, idles, and drives perfect until the truck is thoroughly heat soaked. Once it's hot, the truck chokes/misfires. If you give it any throttle it's coughs, bogs down, will have no power and won't rev higher than about 3k rpms. It will continue this until it cools back down. Repeat over and over. No SES light. I had one code for an o2 sensor bank 2 sensor 2 and one random misfire.
Prior to this issue, the truck has had within the last two years: Cap, Rotor, spark plugs (ngk), plug wires (ngk), fuel filter, engine oil is maintained, air filter, thermostat, water pump, harmonic balancer, timing belt & tensioner, all new belts, egr solenoid, knock sensor, bank 1 sensor 1 o2 sensor.
I started with the basics. Double checked spark plugs for fouling and gap. Cleaned the throttle body and MAF sensor. Tested TPS and MAF and both work as they should. Vacuum tested egr valve - functions as it should. Replaced bank 2 sensor 2 o2 sensor. No change.
I began to suspect an injector. Removed intake and tested injectors. Found 2 injectors to have higher resistance. Replaced all 6 and reassemble with new plenum gasket. Same results
Suspecting ignition coil. Removed and found the bearing on the distributor completely destroyed. Removed all metal and replaced bearing. Installed new ignition coil. Doubled checked timing. Same results.
Still no SES light and now I'm lead to the exhaust system possibly choking the engine when it's hot.
I'm currently tearing down the exhaust system. I've found both catalytic converters missing large sections of honeycomb on the downstream side and the muffler rattles and weighs about 50lbs. I've got new parts coming to completely replace the oem exhaust.
I'm out of ideas guys. If the exhaust does not fix my problem I'll be at a dead end. Is there something I may have overlooked? Are there known computer problems with these vehicles? The truck had been terrific for me over the last 4 years. Again, the truck starts every day and runs perfect cold.
Thank you for your time!
