Thread: 03 Supercharged Xterra owners/experts chime in please

I am looking for some info on these. I have a friend that is trying to make me a good deal on one.

Not actual pic,but it looks exactly like this.same color,and package


The crazy thing is that I have known this guy for a couple years and always secretly admired this particular X.....You dont see many with this package on it.It is an SE Black/Black,2WD,automatic trans,has 150,000 miles,original owner,garage kept,never towed a trailer and never off road,fully loaded with leather,and super clean in and out ....in fact,I almost bought one just like it in 04 but waited for the new 05 with the 4.0 and ended up with my Frontier instead.
.....so last weekend,I was at his house and since he has a baby on the way,I asked if he was gonna keep the Xterra,or get something new.He said,yes actually he was looking lately,so I told him to hit me up if/when he sells/trades it.

Well I shit you not,he calls a week later(Today) and apparently it now has tranny issues(wont go into reverse).
He knows I am a Nissan Nut,so he asked if I was interested if the price was right.If not,he is gonna trade it at a dealership if I dont want it,but he called today to ask me.I couldnt believe he had problems so soon...I felt bad.Like I jinxed him or something
He took it to a couple shops and they all say it either needs a trans or rebuild,and he is not gonna fix it..
I am considering it ,if the price is right.,but have a few questions.....

I do know they get pretty bad gas mileage...like 16mpg or so(same as my 4.0L Frontier 4x4)
1.) are the trans the same for SC and non SC?(auto)
2.) Any other known problems with these trucks that I should be aware of? I have been reading on the X-forums and other Nissan forums but putting out feelers here too
3.) Any mods that are worth a darn for the SC engine? Its pretty gutless compared to my frontier stock to stock.I do know that.
4.) how hard is it to swap the trans if I can locate a decent one?

...I do know that the supercharger was rebuilt or serviced or something in the last couple years,and it has been well maintained and not abused.
Thanks for any help,it is appreciated. I know this is a SR forum,but you never know what info might be available here.

The SC model is not that much more faster/powerfull or impressive than the na model. I find them weak for towing a car & trailer. Those xterras are like a work horse. Just watch out for the plastic top part of the stock rad. I replaced the stock rad with a custom aluminum setup. You won't have any problems with the transmission. You can change the pulley for a little more go out the Sc. I just tossed out a good spare transmission for it.

Timing belt done on it? One thing I noticed is a lot of the older X's were selling dirt cheap on craigslist due to timing belts letting loose. I really don't know much about them so I could be talking out of my ass, lol. Its just one thing I noticed when I saw them for sale around me which is what kind of pushed me away.

I never had a problem with the timing belt at all.

Not saying they go through them but I would feel more comfortable knowing it was changed at recommended intervals. They look like solid machines.

I would say it depends on the price he names for it as is. The 1st gens, even supercharged, are pretty disappointing when compared to the 2nd. I have been doing my research as well and just picked up an 07 Off Road edition 6 speed manual 4x4 last week. Great improvement all around.

In your case, you'd have to ask yourself is it worth for you to grab it cheap and replace the transmission. Do you really need it? A 2WD suv that gets rather poor gas mileage? Especially when you already have the cars for better mpg and a Frontier. If it were me, and I had the time, which I most definitely don't, I would grab it, replace the tranny, and immediately put it up for sale or help a different friend who may be in need out.

Just my 02.

My wife has an '01 SE 4x4 (non-SC), and she really likes it. They aren't very roomy, but the looks are interesting. The engines tend to be reliable, and I hadn't heard of many tranny problems either (I don't troll the X forums as much though). That truck probably requires premium fuel, and my wife's NA only gets ~16mpg on a good day. I would expect the knock sensor code to pop up, but you may have dealt with that on your truck (knock sensor on the SC apparently pulls fair amount of timing).

As others have said, the timing belt may be due (over-due). Unless you really won't the truck, or it is a good deal, I would probably shy away from one with issues. Just my $0.02.

Josh