Hey all. Just purchased a used 2012 pathfinder. I'm loving it!
48000 miles and doing great.
I bragged on Facebook about my purchase and two of my friends jumped in to inform me about the transmission failures. One of them was a Nissan service tech. I said - "according to the Internet forums, it appears the issue was confined to 2005-2010 models." He replied - nope. You need to still do the bypass.
He no longer works for Nissan and is working for Toyota.
Now - I have a few questions. I've searched high and low for the answers but I am not a car guy and perhaps I just don't understand everything I read.
My understanding is that the transmission fluid needs to operate at a certain temperature. It runs from transmission into some section of the radiator. It leaves the radiator and goes into the external trans cooler. It leaves the trans cooler and goes back into the transmission.
1) I understand how it gets cooled in this process - but if that's truly the path, how can it get warmed in cold weather if it just goes right into the cooler after being warmed?
2) Does the 2012 OEM radiator still have a trans cooler section in addition to the separate trans cooler outside of it?
3) Do I need to worry about coolant leakage in the 2012 model? My Nissan buddy seemed to think yes. I don't know why he'd say that if it wasn't true. He clearly believes it is an issue. But he could be wrong. I need a true expert here...because I've read "the Internet" and I know what has been parroted. I want to hear the truth. ;)
4) Regardless of whether I need to do it or not, is there a benefit to doing a bypass in a 2012?
5) Is there a need to use another trans cooler? Isn't the OEM one a separate entity if you do a bypass? I bought a good Australian model trans cooler that should work well if I want to add it. But i may just resell it on eBay if I don't need it.
I know I'll have more questions - but these are my main ones. Just trying to understand. Thanks for the help!