I'm not sure where to post this but this seemed like a good place.

Does anybody know where the breather lines for the Tranmission, Transfer case, and the front and rear diffs end?

I remember asking this once but never getting a clear answer.

If we can find the ends we can extend them up to the top of the engine compartment or higher.
Then after fording the only problems would be the wheel bearings.

I would like to know this as well.

They are already quite high up. The front diff heads up near the top of the engine compartment.
The rear diff and transfer case breathers go above the frame.

Fording deeper than the bottom of the door is a huge problem for all the electrical components inside the Xterra. It's far from water proof. The breather tubs are the least concern.

OK, but exactly where do they terminate? Especially tranny, T-case and front diff. Any pics for us, Ian?

Manual Transmission and Transfer Case lines end at the back middle part of the engine bay.

Look for the cooling hoses going into the cab of the truck at the center of the fire-wall. It's hard to see and even harder to photograph but the vent lines end below these hoses. I had to remove these hoses to gain access to the vent lines when I replaced my cluth.

I can try to get a picture but it's unlikely.

Why don't you guys just climb under your trucks and check it out?

I've been under my X and looked for the end of the front diff breather and couldn't quite find it. I lose it partway up the back of the engine when looking from below, and I can't find it looking from above.
I've never even seen the tranny or t-case diff breather, not that I've really looked.

The rear breather is easy:



Brent

I looked and looked and the only things that seem to resemble the vent hoses end up somewhere above the tranny on the firewall, about where you said. Do they end up in a couple of steel tubes pointing downwards?

That's them!

That's what I was wondering.

They were near there in the Pathfinder but they came higher up the firewall.

Plus all the lines came together into one.

I was just wondering becasue even thought I've never been deeper than the doorsills I'd still be a little more at ease if I knew where they were.

The rear diff line is a little to low for comfort, for me at least.

Then drill a hole in the body and route it into the cabin.

When was the last time you actually stopped your Xterra in 35 inches of water ?

I noticed soon after purchase that my 2002 does not have a rear diff. breather line although it does have a breather on the axle. Makes me wonder WTF do I have on the other gear containers.

Mudflap, can you post a picture ?

I'm interested in seeing this.

Mudflap, look at Brent's picture, is that what you have.
On the X it looks like it's comming from the Axle but hat's the diff line.

Ian, I've never had a problem but it would be easy to run the line up higher. I was thinking of up the inside of the Chassis. The front lines could be up at the top of the engine compartment.

It doesn't make much differnce but it's cheap, not hard to install and helps my piece of mind.

I haven't got around to trying to post pix here but I do have a rear axle shot in this PhotoAccess album.
http://www.photoaccess.com/share/guest.jsp?ID=A2B40522D9E&cb=PA

Ian, I tried to get a pic of mine, but yea, no breather tube on my 02 SE. it looks more like a floater shutoff valve type.

Hmmm... more cost saving from Nissan on the 2002's.

my 02 breather tube looks just like the brett's pic. Nissan didn't save any money on me

Does your '02 have the new roof rack wind deflector? I have seen 2 '02's with the old style. Mine has the new style.

Don't suppose the breather tube being eliminated has anything to do with the larger/longer muffler on the SC models?

Brent

No, CheetaraX has an S/C model, oleblue does not.

Sorry to bring back a 3 month old post, but there are some that want to see a pic of the late model 02 (made after Dec 01)changes. Besides the roof rack air dam there is this rear axle vent tube, or lack of a "tube", here is the pic.

Compared to:



Brent

So what's the solution for us 02 guys? Get some tubing and rig it similar to the older Xs?

Probably your only choice and should be fairly simple to implement... What's the story on the other lines on these late-model 02's?

I wonder if this is a bad thing my 02 also has that little breather and no tube .wouldn't that be better then a tube because a shut off valve would stop all water from getting in no matter how deep you went?