Originally posted by Psilocybernetic:
Hey I'm Jason from Atlanta. I just bought a 2003 Xterra ...I either have the XE or SE
Welcome aboard
As a previous owner or the dealer may have made changes to undo modifications or to repair problems, you could have SE parts in an XE, or XE parts in an SE - since they are interchangeable.
The biggest difference between the XE and the SE, really, is the existance of a Limited Slip Differential in the rear. The SE has one, the XE does not.
The two ways to check - the easiest to to look at the rear differential, right near the fill plug. The SE will have a orange oval sticker on it stating to use LSD additive.
The harder way is to secure the front wheels with blocks, then jack up the rear of the vehicle os the wheels are not touching the ground and secure the axle with jackstands. Then put the transmission in neutral, release the parking brake, and spin one rear tire. If the tires spin in the same direction - you have an LSD and an SE. If the tires spin in opposite directions, you do not have an LSD and you have an XE.
As for wheeling - the 2wd isn't going to go places where a 4wd is going to go, obviously, but if you go in realizing you're going to get stuck, and have a tow strap and (more importantly) a group of people who don't mind pulling you over things you can't do under your own power, it'll do OK.