2013–2020 Nissan Pathfinder

2013-2020 Nissan Pathfinder — Check Engine Light / OBD2 Diagnosis

By Ray Delgado ✓ Certified Mechanic · Published Sep 21, 2026 · Updated Oct 14, 2026

🔧 Easy 15-30 minutes $25 DIY

Save $95 by doing it yourself! Shop cost: $120

Quick answer: Check Engine Light / OBD2 Diagnosis on a 2013–2020 Nissan Pathfinder is rated Easy and takes about 15-30 minutes. You'll need 2 tools for this job, and parts cost about $25. This guide walks you through the full job step by step, including the mistakes to avoid.

Quick Video Tutorial

Parts You Need

Total Cost

$25.00

Part Name	Part Number	Price	Buy
OBD2 scanner	—	$25.00	Amazon

About prices: shown prices are typical retail averages and change frequently; cheaper alternatives may be available. Confirm the current price before buying.

💡 Pro tip: Order all parts at once to save on shipping

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps carefully

Confirm warning severity

Note whether the light is steady or flashing, and how the transmission is behaving. Flashing means a severe misfire — stop driving hard. Light plus shuddering, slipping, or limp mode = the CVT is the suspect, and that needs prompt professional attention.

Connect the OBD-II scanner

Prefer a reader with live data: fuel trims, oxygen-sensor voltages, and misfire counters narrow down this V6's common faults far faster than a code alone.

Read and record codes

Write down all confirmed, pending, and permanent codes plus freeze-frame data before clearing anything. If any transmission or CVT-related code appears — especially with shudder or slip — note it carefully, because CVT diagnosis on these years is dealer-level work.

Check the likely cause

A code points to a system, not a guaranteed part — test before replacing. Any CVT judder code or slipping symptom belongs at a Nissan specialist, not in a home driveway.

🔧 Mechanic's note — Tom Becker

I budget extra time for this: That coil-swap test is the best free diagnosis in misfire work — move the suspect coil to another cylinder and see if the code follows it. Takes five minutes and tells you exactly whether to buy a coil.

Repair, clear, and verify

After the repair, clear the codes and drive several cold-start trips with mixed city and steady highway; keep the tank roughly 1/4 to 3/4 full for the EVAP tests. Rescan afterward — a returning code means the fault is genuinely still present.

All Done!

Test your repair before closing everything up. If something doesn't work right, double-check your steps.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Replacing parts based on a code without checking wiring, connectors, or vacuum leaks
• Clearing codes before recording confirmed, pending, and permanent codes
• Using a scanner that cannot communicate with the vehicle protocol
• Treating a stored code as proof that the named sensor itself failed

Tools You'll Need

OBD-II scanner compatible with the vehicle Flashlight Notebook or phone for codes and freeze-frame data Safety glasses

Related Trouble Codes

P0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected P0301 Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected P0171 System Too Lean (Bank 1) P0101 Mass Airflow Sensor Range/Performance P0174 System Too Lean (Bank 2) P0562 System Voltage Low P0302 Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected

⚠️ Safety First!

• Informational DIY. EZ Car Fix is not a shop.
• A flashing check-engine light can indicate a damaging misfire; reduce load and seek professional service promptly.
• Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• Do not clear codes before recording them and the freeze-frame data.