You're dad is a mechanical genius. The fact that this is at your garage and not his shop tells me he knew exactly what he was doing. I can practically hear him with toothpick in mouth, "I'll just have JR fix it."
In South Africa you could still buy this exact truck up to 2021. It's called the NISSAN Hardbody NP300 and it came with a 2.5 Turbo diesel engine. You always do a great spread of different cars! Keep it up JR! FANTASTIC!
This is by far the most popular class of vehicle in Australia, used for all the same stuff merkins say they need big trucks for, over much larger areas. Its called the Navara here
@@mycosys People buy what they want.. for all sorts or reasons. Nobody wants a smaller truck, that can tow less, do less, and gets the same fuel efficiency as the bigger truck. Smaller trucks seem to be getting more popular again.. Maverick is a good seller, The Tacoma always has been, but more for the off road crowd.. and daily drivers. The Full size trucks like F150 are the best selling.. F150 sells a huge amount of trucks..726,000 sold last year. The USA and Austrailia are about the same size coast to coast.. So not really a bigger area.
Cosmetics aside, the 3.3Vg33E is a pretty solid engine. I have the NA version in my 04 Xterra. If you treat it right (timing belt) you can drive it for a long time
The old Nissan Frontiers were pretty bulletproof. While there are alot of small things that you are nit picking, There's a good chance that if it is a one owner, it was fairly well maintained. The thing does have almost 200k on it. The fender flares (not a "wide body kit") were standard on all frontiers except the base models after the face lift. I have a 2022 Frontier ProX (2wd) and I love it, and hope to have it for many years to come.
Good old D22 Navara... I'm really surprised that name didn't come up. They were quite popular in Australia and remained on sale alongside the D40 for many years.
VG33's run forever if cared for. The knock sensor code is common but is a lot of work to get to. I don't recommend sensor relocation cheat-hack on the S/C version since its far more likely to see knock. TPS sensors need adjusting from time to time. Oil pressure senders are known to leak, and the P/S pressure sensor O-ring can leak too.....both cheap and easy fixes. I did a heads-off reseal on a 99 QX4 with over 270K miles and it was beautiful inside. All new OEM seals/gaskets and she purrs like a kitten and don't leak a drop.
I had the first year of the 4-door Frontier (not with the gaudy plastics) and absolutely loved it! One of the best trucks I've had. Was able to fit a full sized street bike in the back and take my kids on vacation as well. Only reason I sold it was I needed to tow a bigger trailer. I've looked for another one, but they are all beat, if you can find one at all.
It reminds me of my mom's 96 Pathfinder. The shifter the window controls, and even the interior door handles. I grew up in the back of that car and it lasted us 10+ years. It may be a fixer upper and might need a new head gasket after 200,000 miles though.
Knock sensor code probably will not clear and abs comes on and off randomly. I'm looking forward to seeing this series of videos on this truck. Thanks man👍
Lol, I was looking at the Frontier so hard that I didn't even notice your truck in the background! I had to go back to watch it again once you mentioned it. I sold Nissans back when these came out. Cool little trucks
I bought this exact Model and color back in 2001, and Im still driving it. It had a few repairs but nothing that cant be fixed, its still going strong, Very reliable truck.
I really miss JR having an actual garage with lifts and tool boxes. Watching him in his tiny garage just makes me sad like watching a great athlete that could be playing in the pro version of their sport instead playing half-heartedly in some washout foreign league or triple a version of their sport.
These were called the Nissan Hardbody here in South Africa. You can still buy them new here as the Nissan NP300 with a 2.4l engine. Very reliable and hard working bakkies
@@vincedibona4687 In South Africa, it is usually known as “Bakkie,” while elsewhere in the world, “pickup” or “pickup truck” is more common. It’s a vehicle with an open load area. The word originates in the African word, Bakkie, which refers to a tub or a small bowl
A cool midsized truck! I have the Frontier and the Xterra with the 4.0L . They make good power and ok fuel economy. They use to be the best value for the money but now they are priced to compete in the midsize market. I look forward to seeing you work your magic on this one. More please!
I've got a 2009 Frontier Nismo (basically Pro-4X) with the 4.0L and 6 speed manual. It's a great truck, never gives me any trouble. It's a king cab because I wanted the regular sized box.
For the knock sensor code, check the front suspension. Believe it or not it was common on these early nissan trucks to have suspension noise that can trigger the knock sensor. My Mentor was a former Nissan tech for 30 years back in the day and he told me it was super common on old Pathfinders and Frontiers. Just a thought.
I work for Terminix a pest control company and drove one of this trucks for years from 2004 to 2022, put at least over 300k miles on it, never had major problems with it, company is pretty good about servicing their fleet trucks, they are gas guzzlers though even for a 6 cylinder, funny you should mention the Ford Maverick, it is the new truck Terminix bought for their new fleet trucks. great little truck I even bought one for myself no complaints so far.
That truck with a diesel engine in it is a very popular truck in Chile, where i live now. I Chile we really like the smaller pick ups with a diesel engine .
Funny how the places that actually do huge areas, Australia, Brazil, Chile, most of Africa, this is the most popular class of vehicle, not the road hogging multi ton tanks that get stuck everywhere the Americans seem to love.
A bitty truck like this in diesel before the Great Diesel Screw-Uppening of 2007 would be the bee's knees. I had the 1997 ext cab version of this I-4 2.4L & 5sp manual. Got 27mpg with real gas on the highway. With a diesel it would have been even better.
Keep them maintained and they will last a long time. I've owned a few of these with the 3.3 and they will run for a long time. Timing belt and water pump kit and keep the Fluids fresh and it will keep going. The funny thing is, they always have the same issues. Knock sensor codes, abs light, leaking power steering. That has been my experience. Oh ya, valve cover gaskets turn as hard as a rock and leak horribly.
Knock sensor is a common code for these trucks. For the non supercharged engine it is not really needed but it is IS NEEDED for the supercharged engine. It is under the intake manifold on a non supercharged engine and you have to remove it to get to the sensor so it is a real pain to change. If you go that far you probably need to change spark plugs and valve cover gaskets. Also there is a recall on 2001 gas tanks for rusting internally so make sure to check if that was done. The 2001-2004s were known for rusting gas tanks so at minimum you need to change the fuel filter. If you are eligible for the recall you still get a new free fuel tank installed by Nissan!
I swear to god I ran my d22 sc truck with the knock sensor code in for a month and it was doing some wild stuff taking off and cutting power and then doing it all over again all the services you listed were done to my truck along with a catback system and it now runs heavenly
It is not bad from afar or viewed from the You tube channel. I have a 2002 Chevy S10 with the 4.3 V6. I guess a mini- truck. I have had it since new. Runs great. Love it. Thanks for the video.
I have a 2019 Nissan Frontier SV crew cab. Absolutely love it. Tons of options and does everything I need. Considered pretty basic by today's standards. The frontier has came a long way since 01.
I have an 01 2.4L Xterra with a manual (RWD); the thing is an absolute tank. $550 with a clean title, it's now running a Frontier transmission, intake manifold, timing covers, valve cover, and EGR valve. All direct-fit. It's also running an Altima intake cam and NGK plug wires. Runs like a champ with 0 leaks or codes since the rebuild. Passed emissions too. I just love having cheap parts available from junkyards, and the KA engine is a great platform to learn DIY maintenance with.
In the Philippines, this particular pickup is known as the Frontier. Unlike in North America, we don't have the gas versions, only the diesel variant, in either 4x2 or 4x4. The roof rack is a factory option here, but that's rare, due to the fact that its fairly expensive (around up to Ph₱500, not sure) and the that front roof rack cover covers up the sunroof (which is another factory option).
When it comes to Nissan/Datsun, the King Cab is the regular extended cab, my step-dad bought a 1979 Datsun King Cab pickup new, and I remember going with him and my mom to buy it….. Yes, I’m getting old. Lol!!! It ended up being the first vehicle I ever drove totally on my own when I was 9 and it was a 4-speed and I didn’t stall it! It set into motion my love for manual transmissions because I was so proud. The 4-doors are crew cabs.
9:20 In 1998, the entry level city-car Renault Clio 2, had from factory on its base model: - LCD odometer; - Lock / unlock remote control; - Driver and passenger airbag; - Fully protected passenger cabin, with composite side fenders, for energy absorption; - ISOFIX to mount child seats; - Etc... It was a real leap forward in both safety and features accessible to everyone.
I own a 2005 Frontier (the next Gen)… I love my stupid truck way more then I should, it’s just a perfect truck. The 4.0 is very punchy, it gets decent MPG, rides well, hauls things with no issues, easy to fix when things go wrong. Just a great little truck…
This is why I got rid of my Pathfinder, when they are running they are amazing, but so many hard to access sensors and electronics that love to fail. Good luck!
Navara D22 here in Australia. We only got the non supercharged VG33, and ZD30TDi versions. Ironically, Add a C to the end of Navara, and it spells Caravan in reverse🤣👍🇦🇺
I have one of these, same exact build plus the 4x4. It's dead right now cause I was working overseas and didn't drive enough, but its a reliable little monster I'm not worried about sitting. The weird slot in the center console is where the 4x4 selector is, its a manual transfer case selector. Check the vacuum lines, I had to plug a few, they are SUPER brittle by now
I actually bought a Nissan Frontier King Cab 4X2 new back in 1998... Still have it and drive it 428k miles later. The truck you have there is a Crew Cab since the King Cab denotes an extended cab for Nissan with 2 doors and 2 jump seats in the back. The Crew Cabs are pretty useless for cargo, but the King Cabs have about a 6 foot bed and can be configured to haul 4x8 sheet goods if you don't mind them hanging off the tailgate. It just takes a 2x12 cut down to fit in the pockets by the head gate so that the sheet goods don't touch the wheelwells.
Searching for something to love about this one, but man, it ain't easy. Rare ≠ valuable. The obvious choice in this class is Tacoma, You'd be hard pressed to find a good one for Nissan money but could make the argument it's better to put more into a Taco. I'd even consider a Ridgeline before the Frontier. The Nissan just doesn't have the same quality. I agree it's too bad we don't have compact or midsize trucks anymore, but I get the reasons why.
I’d love to put a 302 (5.0L) V8 in my 11 Ford Ranger XLT super cab 4X4 It currently has the 4.0L V6 and a 5spd auto transmission with a LSD, tow pkg, full skid plates, running boards, custom wheels, custom 2 tone paint, Silver over Red metallic, rear air shocks (I can haul a full yard of dirt, gravel, wood, etc). Also custom Red upholstery trimmed in black. I used to get 19mpg with the cruise set on 75mph on the freeway. I decided to add a K&N intake, Free Flow exhaust headers, and a FlowMaster exhaust. With these mod’s I now consistently get 23mpg. Nonetheless I’d Love to put in a 302. I don’t Need the 302, but I Want a 302. Then I’d have to change the transmission and a Ford 9” rear end for the additional hp & torque. Since I did the mods for the intake and exhaust I’ve raced 2 Chevys with the 5.3 and 5.7 V8. On both occasions I couldn’t pass the chevy’s but they couldn’t pass me either…, well not until their governor kicked in at 105mph. Then my Ranger walked away. We mainly use our Ranger for work around our property. It’s 12 years old now but has only 35K miles. Not only does it haul a lot in the bed, but it also hauls ass when needed. I’m pushing 60 years old, but I still want more hp, torque and lightening fast speed. The original owner was 62 when he bought it new. I bought it on 2/14/19 with only 20K miles. In 19 KBB said it was worth $22K, but I bought it for $18K. Today w/out the mod’s and custom 2 tone paint and custom upholstery, LineX spray in bed liner, skid plates, running boards, etc, it books out for $25K. Last summer I had 2 different individuals offer to buy my Ford. One offered $28K and the other one offered $30K. If I sold it, I’d have to replace it with another pickup that is just as good if not better, which would cost me more than $30K. If I don’t end up putting in a 302, perhaps I’ll sell it when I turn 70. By then I’ll probably buy a new Toyota Tundra hybrid.
As much as I'd like to say it's a bad idea, or it's not worth it, I'd take this over 95% of most modern vehicles. There was a dude who used to come into a shop I worked at. Same exact truck but gold color. Maintained it from new, at 280k he put a new supercharger on (rattly noise) and at 305k he had to put in a transmission. Pretty sure he is still driving it to this day. This generation of Nissan held up surprisingly well. And they drive pretty decent, comfy....I'd have it.
I have a 2000 frontier with the 3.3. Great truck, lots of deferred maintenance I continue to chip away at, but it’s a super reliable daily that makes me smile every time I drive it. Also I promise when they changed those plugs, they skipped the #6. It’s a pretty tough job. You should do that on camera, would be hilarious to hear you curse Nissan engineers for 15 mins lol
I have no idea why they didn't just put the naturally aspirated 3.5 VQ engine in it with 260hp and the same amount of torque. It was being made in 2001 they just weren't sending them to the USA.
@@jacquesc3166 The VQ35 still has as much torque as the 3.3 supercharged at low rpm though plus the transmission that mates with the VQ35 is a 5 speed automatic that's heavy duty because it was designed to haul around big vehicles like the Infiniti Q45.
@@Cartier_specialist Does the 3.3 SC have variable cam timing? If you claim the 3.5 has the same low end torque, their decision had to be engine bay / space related. That VQ35DE is pretty sizable for a 3.5. Also pretty sure the 5AT was not available before 2003 in the 350Z, still a 4AT for most other Nissans at the time. I've been driving a Jatco 5AT for 13 years continuous between 3 vehicles, it has long gearing and 1st is longer than most other 5 speed ATs of the eta.
I owned this truck's predecessor the D21. I owned a 1991 base model with the 2.4L four making 134 hp. Great gas mileage. Wonderful vehicle. Regretted giving it up when i lost my job in 1993. I still miss it.
VG33 knock sensor codes are notorious on Frontiers and Xterras with that motor. On an SC you need it, if you hit up some xterra forums theres write ups on relocating it. On NA motors the general consensus is just doing a resistor fix. Good luck.
Also you can cut the wires to the old knock sensor and put a new one in but at a different location. That way you don't have to pull the upper and lower intake.
The Frontier and Xterra both came with supercharged options. My Xterra is a KA24DE model (4 cylinder) which was also an engine option offered on the Frontier, only the Frontier offered that motor with a 4WD option, whereas the Xterra was only offered in RWD. It sorta surprised me that they would offer a supercharged version as a RWD only model.
I had one… 2004 SC, looked new, handled great, interior was just like new also. I flipped for $12,500 and had bought it for $8,500. Only few things a did to it, lift kit, brand new A/T tires and a paint correction.
I've been driving a 2003 Nissan Frontier since I bought it new in 2002. Now, my Frontier is optioned very differently (4wd, no supercharger, extended bed), but to me that one looks like it's been abused a bit. For the size, the Frontier was a really good model. Hopefully you can resolve all those errors. I look forward to seeing where fixing this vehicle leads. (Also, my truck has lived most of it's life in a garage. What a difference THAT makes... :) )
hey im thinking about getting an 03 frontier crew cab long bed soon, what are the pros and cons of your truck in your opinion. Im looking for a smaller/midsized truck and im having a hard time finding any 4x4, but i found this frontier which sparked my interest so i may pull the trigger. thanks boss
I love my Supercharged Nissan Frontier. It gets shit gas mileage, requires premium, and I'm constantly worried that the engine is going to pop, but it keeps going and it makes a hell of a cool supercharged whining sound once you replace all the intake resonators with an aftermarket intake, its like a mini Dodge Ram TRX. I pulled a car hauler with my RX-7 on it, and it did just fine, the interior is super nice, the sound system is amazing, I get compliments all the time, its got the crew cab with the long box, which is a super rare combo and extremely useful, I can haul a motorcycle without a bed extension and close the tail gate, its got a mechanical 4x4 system with locking front hubs which is amazing, never gotten stuck with it, it just crawls through anything including 3 feet of snow.
The radio is a Kenwood/old Nissan thing. Every old Nissan I’ve put a Kenwood in, the Kenwood has just crapped out after a few weeks. Happened in my Z31, my 98 Quest, and my Infiniti M30. Was not a wiring issue, I’d unplug my Kenwood, plug in my Pioneer, and it’d just work, flawlessly, I’d even pull it to reinstall the factory radio when I was ready to sell the vehicle. I have friends that I trust in car audio and they all swear by Kenwood, I’ve just never had luck with them in my old Nissans for some reason
In europe we call it Nissan Navara, the 2 door version is called a pickup, and the 4 dor version a King Cab. Strange that the name Navara didn't show on your list 😉
Will turn to 245K today on my ‘05 Accord EX 4 door 4 cyl. auto. Last fall got 34 MPG on a 1200 mi trip from Cleveland to Southport NC. Everything still works. Needs a new windshield and the headliner is getting loose. One spot of rust in front of the right rear tire. I still love this car, and hope to get 50K more miles out of it. N.E.OH Bob
My friend has one of these and ever since they add more ethanol to fuel. He has to use octane booster to keep the knock sensor from tripping a code. Went down a huge rabbit hole to fix it before trying octane booster.
I had the same supercharger installed on my Miata, some folks thought it was pretty small for the 1.8 liter engine. I did find a 2005 Frontier Nismo 2WD king cab a few years ago with the 4.0, 280 hp at that time was way above the competition. Only 50K on this garage queen.
I had a 2004 SVE Supercharged. Solid truck. Knock sensor code won't be a knock sensor. It'll be the supercharger. Look up 'spoons in a blender'. Also, a smaller supercharger pulley makes a big difference.
I love my Nissan frontier. Had it since new in 99. If you do a tuneup…… one of the spark plugs is hard to get out bcs of where it is. Other than that it’s pretty easy to work on. Best of luck!
I have the 03 supercharged Nissan Frontier crew cab long bed and I absolutely love it. The vg33 is an extremely reliable motor. Yeah it had some flaw’s when I first purchased it but it is 20 years old and I expected it. Thankfully my fiancé is a mechanic and a Nissan lover. Both of our vehicles have the vg33 and they have been nothing but reliable.
Maybe one day Americans will get the Hilux. I think that would crush the small work truck market segment in the US just because they are so tough and reliable.
My mom did the same shit back in early 2000s. Sold a perfectly good ES300 for a garbage Jaguar S-type. It was a nightmare to own and she dump it 4 years later. She learn her lesson and got a 2007 G35 after the jag, that G35 is still around with well 200,000 miles.
This is the kind of cars we like to see on your channel JR. You should fix that up for your mom. I would love to see what a few days with you does to this truck. Put an intercooler on it.
Fun fact is Nissan Global still offers the d23 Nissan frontier mini truck...it's called the Nissan Navara. I'm glad I never got rid of my D22 king cab Frontier with the 4 cylinder
I have a 2002 Frontier with the base 4 cylinder , bought it in 2007 and have no intention to get rid of it. It’s been rock solid over the years, just basic maintenance really. Although the thermostat must be a thing because I ended up replacing it when the engine didn’t get warm and it threw a code. The king cab was the 2 door extended cab with 6’ bed, 4 door crew cab came with either the 4’ or 6’ bed. There was also a standard cab 6’ bed but they didn’t seem to be popular.
I have the same one. 2001 SC crew cab with manual tranny 2x4 with a bed extender and hard top bed cover. Its missing the supercharger belt cover. One common issues with the VG33E /VG33ER engine is they are know for a bad knock sensor.
I bought a brand new just-above base-model D22 Frontier XE back in 2004, the very last year they were sold in the US. That truck had the JATCO Slam-O-Matic four-speed w/ OD, and the KA24DE. I actually regret selling that truck after two years - it was trouble-free, but that automatic was HORRIBLE!! One of the roughest shifting transmissions I’ve EVER owned!
My father-in-law had a 2nd gen, quad cab, and long bed. After he passed, we were getting to sell it, and I thought it was a Titan with how big this "midsize" truck was.
Ironic you missed 'Navara' which was the title of the Wikipedia article you were reading XD This is the most popular class of vehicle in Australia, still, FWIW. Recent #1 sellers are the Hilux and the Ford Ranger. Mum had a 2001 Nissan X-Trail at the time (you didnt get them in the US, its like a smaller monocoque XTerra, she had the manual not the awful CVT) - the interior was incredible for the time, 'storage heavy' as you say, with cubbyholes everywhere, rear power, tiedowns etc. Things we take for granted today but which were kinda groundbreaking at the time. It was popular enough here that for years she could have sold it for more than she bought it.
It's just too bad most small dealerships do that to people and usually do halfass repairs to vehicles. However I don't think you could go wrong with an S10/S15 or their Blazer/Jimmy counterparts if you can find a decent one at a reasonable price. The 2.5 liter engines were pretty good with no real issues and the 4.3 was OK but not exactly easy on gas. Then even Ford Rangers were and still not a bad choice either except the ones with the 4 cylinders that had double the spark plugs for emissions control. That was not exactly very wise choice for Ford to make.
If a vehicle sits around a lot, you are generally facing a dead or weak battery unless you pull the fuse on the radio. First place I would look, or maybe the power cord isn't even connected as people have been there before you got to it.
$25,244 from 2001 in 2022 dollars is $41,000! That's nuts man I thought for sure it would be less. You could get a fully loaded new frontier or maverick for that these days surely?
Top end new Frontier with every option tops out ~$41k. Been a while since I checked the Maverick, but last time I built one, the highest one one you could get with every single optional accessory and dealer add-on was in the 36-37k range
$2500 will get you a parts car, a car with a blown motor, or a car with a bad transmission in my area (I've been looking for weeks). I think your Mom did ok for the price and lack of rust on this thing, all things considered.
Ha, my current beater I got a year ago is a first year 98 King Cab (no back doors) with the 4cyl, auto, and no other options (manual everything) in the same completely ruined Aztec Red. It's slow and gets terrible MPG, but it drives surprisingly good, there's nothing to break (it helps it's only got 89k miles), and its cheap and easy to work on, so I love it. It's true; unless you're in China and buy a new Dongfeng Rich, you can't get trucks like this anymore.
I had a 2001 Nissan Frontier King Cab 4x4 with the brush guard and bed extender mine was bright yellow and I loved that truck. It was a casualty of divorce I miss that truck.
🛻22 year old truck: in normal times dealer would give $300 in trade, sell at auction for $600. Then the used car dealer would retail for $1500 after the repairs shown.🛻 Normal sale prices will start no more than 6 months from now.
Surprised it's other name wasn't on that list, called a Navara in the UK/Australia although we never got a supercharged one. Because we never get the fun engines here... :(
My wife owned a 2003 Xterra Supercharged. Same engine and frame setup. I did like the car and it had way over 200,000 miles on it. It wasn't slow but it also wasn't fast. Being 4WD didn't help. One thing I can tell you is that supercharger does you almost no favors. Makes everything harder to work on and a some parts a little harder to find and a bit more money. For instance the belt tensioner is going to cost you 300% more than the normal one for the V6 and your only going to find it at Nissan. One day the Xterra lost reverse and it was time to move on. I couldn't justify a trans swap on something this old with that many high of miles... it wasn't for me and I couldn't keep sending the wife out in something that wouldn't go backwards, especially when she had a broke arm and was traveling alot. The thing was a tank and I earned respect for the platform but the biggest drawback was the fuel ... at least with our 4WD model I couldnt get more than 11MPG in town with easy driving and maybe 14 on the highway if you kept it under 70. We also ran the premium fuel which was taxing. Her next ride was a 2018 RAV4 and it is a great car with all the creature comforts, just as fast if not faster, and can go double the distance on the same gas money.
I'm in Ghana, West Africa and can still buy these brand new here. About $30k, engine options are a 2.5 TD with a 5 spd ànd all the colours of the rainbow as long as it's white. 4x4 as well. Not badges as a Frontier, of course, but as the NP300
I had one of these...crew cab, long bed with black cloth interior with the "SC" logos. THIRSTY truck and premium fuel only...when the knock sensor begins to fail it will kill the boost but still dump the same amount of fuel and not trigger the check engine light...the truck will move but with MUCH reduced power...only when it goes into FULL failure will it trigger the light.. two dealerships I took the truck to (under factory warranty) could not figure it out....and the knock sensor tends to only last 30,000 miles.
Once again JR thank you for the good content you give us on a daily I am commenting all the way from South Africa . It's funny how on your side of the world the Nissan Frontier is not a popular truck but I must say in South Africa it's a very loved and popular Truck and it's referred to as A Nissan Hard body especially the that 3.3 engine we love it.🇿🇦
