Nissan Repair: 2002 Pathfinder, rubber mallet, exhuast pipe

Question
When driving my pathfinder uphill I will sometimes hear a grinding noise and it feels like something is holding the vehicle back.  There will be a slight vibration and hesitation that only lasts a few seconds.  Any thoughts?

Answer
Hi Chris -

First thing I would check is the exhaust system. Sometimes the double lining in the pipe gets compromised, even though the exterior looks OK. Get a rubber mallet and hit the exhuast pipe in various places. If you hear the sound, then you have found the problem.

Let me know how this goes, if it is not that, then we can go to the next possibility.

Hope this helps -
aloha
calvin