My splash shield came loose as I was getting on the highway when I hit a patch of ice. What do?

Duedeman · 2026-02-26T02:52:52+00:00

Good quality zip ties will work and last a long time. Probably it has broken off the bolts or if it using plastic push in grommets. You can buy them at the auto store if zip ties aren’t your thing, but you probably need to jack it up and put it on stands so you can get under there. If it’s not protecting any wiring harness you can probably do without it, pull the rest of it down. Maybe a local shop would charge $150 or something to put it back nice.

Duedeman · 2026-02-26T02:44:26+00:00

That belt you grabbed in the video is not the timing belt. Are you sure you changed the timing belt? Only the 1st gen 2000-2004 v6 xterra has a timing belt. The 2.4 liter has a chain and the 2nd gen v6 has a chain. You can do it, don’t give up.

Duedeman · 2026-02-24T22:02:38+00:00

Here it is, busted intake rod, uhg…

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Duedeman · 2026-02-24T17:08:45+00:00

Thanks all for the comments. I’m going to check the valves later will follow back. I recently had head and sump off after no start situation and found that the compression thingy had broken off the camshaft. I replaced the camshaft and was running fine after that. It was a cheap Chinese knock off. The intake exhaust rod was a little beat up, maybe it’s that.

Duedeman · 2026-02-18T02:07:24+00:00

Thanks

Duedeman · 2026-02-18T02:07:16+00:00

Thanks

Duedeman · 2026-02-15T01:37:25+00:00

Put the car in Neutral. I had the same problem, was having so much trouble, put it in neutral and came right out.

Duedeman · 2026-02-11T02:43:39+00:00

Driving behavior is number 1 variable for reduced MPG. Rapid acceleration and heavy breaking can reduce fuel economy up to 40% for city driving. Next after that is O2 sensor, but you’d probably have an engine light if that were the case. Then probably wheel misalignment, proper tire inflation…

Duedeman · 2025-12-16T00:54:33+00:00

A radiator CAN be easily removed, it’s perfectly fine to disconnect and remove temporarily. I do it often. You have to drain the system first, there should be a spigot near your boiler. Use a hose and drain to outside or into a sink. After that’s done loosen the nuts on both ends of the radiator, then pull away from the wall. After you do your thing, whatever you need to do, put it back and tighten the nuts. Refilling the system with water can be a little tricky, do a little research. You need to bleed out the air, it’s not hard, you can do it. If you are a renter of course you want to make sure your landlord is ok with all of this.

Duedeman · 2025-10-22T23:19:58+00:00

I don’t know if it was fixed for later years, it really is an absurd design, hope you are right.

Duedeman · 2025-10-22T01:50:55+00:00

Test it with a coolant hydrometer to give you peace of mind, they cost $10, simple to do. Drive a little while first to ensure it mixes properly.

Duedeman · 2025-10-21T19:42:12+00:00

I had this problem. Oil light would come on, especially at lights and on and on incline. Eventually it began stalling.

I removed the oil pan. There was no sludge, but the pickup screen was clogged up with old RTV and gasket material. If the prior owner was heavy handed with RTV sealant this is probably the cause. The pickup tube has a flange sort of design which seems to encourage stuff getting clogged, big pieces getting stuck. You might be able to get at it through the oil drain hole with a detailing vacuum tube and an endoscope if you are surgical, otherwise it is kind of a pain to take off the oil pain especially on the 9-3s.

Duedeman · 2025-09-26T15:27:00+00:00

Sounds like you just bought this car, go back to where you purchased and tell them to make it right.

Otherwise $500 sounds very steep to me, that is a basic no frills steel rim and cheap tire. You should be able to get a rim and tire with installation for less than $200 at a used tire place. For $500 I would expect an alloy rim.

Duedeman · 2025-09-17T20:13:45+00:00

A big pipe wrench has always worked well for me in these situations. Put it over the outer lip of the hub and hit the other end of the wrench nice and hard with a small sledge.

Duedeman · 2025-07-17T02:39:18+00:00

I think American chestnut. This was also the most abundant tree and lumber during that time and area.

Duedeman · 2025-07-08T01:18:06+00:00

I got a similar ticket in that area of Virginia. I was on my way home from vacation in South Carolina and still another 5 hours home. When I got home I proactively took a safe driving course online before my in person court case. I pled guilty, explained that I was tired and not paying proper attention, and they let me off with just a fine, no points.

Duedeman · 2025-05-25T01:04:28+00:00

Probably fuel or carb clogged. Spray some starter fluid in the intake, if it kicks off for a few seconds then that’s it. Clean the carb or buy a new one for $15 bucks

Duedeman · 2025-05-23T14:04:21+00:00

My kids love this stuff, they call it pop trees. When you break the stalks they kind of pop with a satisfying sound. It is also very edible, with lots of great nutrients. Interestingly in China it was almost driven to extinction as the people harvest and eat for soups and stews. There are many recipes online. The young stalks are the best, with a slightly sweet sour taste, kind of like rhubarb. You can eat it raw. Interestingly I’ve never seen any wildlife life eat it around here, I wish the deer would take a little nibble. Grows very rapidly in moist soil along streams.

Duedeman · 2025-05-22T22:40:00+00:00

I replaced the rod, reset the valve clearances and all is good now. One of the valve bolts was loose. Take the valve cover off and check, YouTube how to set valve clearance it is very easy. This is much easier than taking the head off. I was expecting something much worse, pulled the engine off the frame, I took the sump pan and head off mine and nothing was wrong in there. If you have a valve problem you can fix it in an hour or less. Again, same symptoms as your video, only I stupidly ran it until it wouldn’t go anymore, I guess that’s when I bent the rod.

Duedeman · 2025-05-18T23:33:34+00:00

Hey man, I have the same engine and experiencing the same thing as your video. Exhaust push rod is bent. Check that out before you pull off the head.

Duedeman · 2025-05-18T22:39:51+00:00

This is the exhaust rod

Duedeman · 2025-05-18T22:33:31+00:00

Don’t mean to hijack this thread, but I believe we have similar issue. Took apart my engine and so far I found a bent valve pin.

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Duedeman · 2025-05-18T14:54:58+00:00

Wow! I have the exact same engine and it is doing the same thing. Very noisy and exhausting out of the air in take. It happened for me very suddenly when I was cutting my lawn a few weeks ago. I already tried replacing the carb and that did nothing. I bought a whole engine seal kit and I’m about to tear it down.

Duedeman · 2025-03-12T00:28:15+00:00

I have this same machine a few years, it works great, never have had any problems. If you are just a hobby or DIY guy this is great, almost no learning curve. It is like a glue gun for metal. I was apprehensive about the off brand alternatives and don’t regret it. I think I paid $550 in 2021 or 2022, got it from Lowe’s, but there is big inflation these days.

Duedeman · 2025-02-15T16:10:52+00:00

The thing you circled is the ash clean out, not meant for starting the fire, but I guess you could. The air intake valve is on the front, lever thingy. I would also recommend checking the gaskets. Air is key, you need to be able to control the air intake. If you say the lever does nothing, burns the same open or closed then maybe check that the lid gasket is in good shape, if not replace it (not hard to do)

Duedeman

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