So I bought it today, going to get the title transfered Monday. The engine is in great shape for 145.5K miles, but being I have no real service history Im going to do a tune up on it.
So my main question is.. it has a keyless entry, but the control doesnt work. First thing Im going to check is the battery. The previous owner thinks that it was just dropped one too many times, but if thats the case is there anyway to just take it to a Nissan dealer and pay for a new one or something? The system in the car is still working and everything, just the control unit is busted. And being a Gadget Freak, I would love to have such a thing just to have it.
The only other thing I can think of needing help with.. any list of reguler service I should do on it? A while ago I found one for a Supra that was layed out perfectly by milage. LINK Anything like that around for my 200? Im horrible with google and cant find squat.
Well, one of the best things to think of with an SR20DE is an underdrive pulley. The car will cool better because the waterpump will go into cavitation if it gets revved too high. I would also check for a leaking front crank seal ( "Front" is the one with the pulley) as this is a common problem with Nissans of this era.As far as maintenance goes, check the usual: battery terminals for corrosion, belts, hoses, fuel filter, PCV valve, plug wires, vacuum lines, etc. Run a tank of good gas and fuel injector cleaner through it, 50 miles of which should be at highway speeds to clean everything out.
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1998 Nissan Frontier XE/2wd/5spd 1 owner, 264k miles
1985 Olds Cutlass, 350 Chevy, owned for 14 years
WANTED: 1968-1973 Datsun 510 or 1991-1994 Sentra SE-R http://www.myspace.com/junkyardengineer
Well, one of the best things to think of with an SR20DE is an underdrive pulley. The car will cool better because the waterpump will go into cavitation if it gets revved too high. I would also check for a leaking front crank seal ( "Front" is the one with the pulley) as this is a common problem with Nissans of this era.As far as maintenance goes, check the usual: battery terminals for corrosion, belts, hoses, fuel filter, PCV valve, plug wires, vacuum lines, etc. Run a tank of good gas and fuel injector cleaner through it, 50 miles of which should be at highway speeds to clean everything out.
Well Im in Maryland, close to baltimore and DC, so its not too hard to do the highway thing. Before I bought it I looked under the car for rust on the frame and the CV Joints, while I was down there I looked to see if there was any pools of anything, nothing. The oil wasnt clean, but it wasnt gunky either. And the oil cap and inside of the engine wasnt bad either, just can use a cleaning.
As I said, Tune-up. Im taking it to a shop where I use to be a cashier, they will let me be there while they do it all so I can actually look over the whole car while its on the lift. I also need to get a MD Inspection there while Im at it.
-Edit- As well as Im going to request if they will advance the timing for me on it. My friend has a 96 200SX SE and he had it done.
As I said, Tune-up. Im taking it to a shop where I use to be a cashier, they will let me be there while they do it all so I can actually look over the whole car while its on the lift. I also need to get a MD Inspection there while Im at it.
-Edit- As well as Im going to request if they will advance the timing for me on it. My friend has a 96 200SX SE and he had it done.
Just remember if you advance the timing, to use 92 octane gas or better.
Just remember if you advance the timing, to use 92 octane gas or better.
Yup. But I dont mind, seeing it will run better anyway, and its really only a few bucks more. Plus Im plaining on driving from MD to CA, so I want it running the best it can by the end of the month.
But yeah, the main thing Im wondering about is the whole keyless entry. Id like to just replace the remote if its broken, I just want to know if its possible.. looking around now on google.
But yeah, the main thing Im wondering about is the whole keyless entry. Id like to just replace the remote if its broken, I just want to know if its possible.. looking around now on google.
Let the car be without remote keyless entry for a while, you can live without it. In my opinion you cannot decide whether the engine is in great condition for people like us (not pros), especially if there is no maintenance record or whatsoever. Maybe the oil hasnt been changed for the last 20k and the guy changed it a week ago before selling it. You mentioned that the engine oil is not in the greatest condition. That can be as a result of a week of cleaning. Think about the junk inside. Dont misunderstand, maybe it is in a great condition however this is a possibility also. My point is dont concentrate on a small thing like remote keyless entry while you should have been looking into the engine. Even for a Nissan, 145k is not a small miles.
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I dont know when people will start to understand that Mechanical Engineers are not Mechanics...
I looked inside of the engine, its fine. Only a little dirty, no junk biuld up.. Trust me, I spent two days reading abuot what to look for. Now that Im actually awake for the day Im going to go look around about getting it cleaned and putting synth in it during the tune-up. Im not Frantic about the keyless entry... Id just like to know what could be done about it. Im not dying to get it fixed right away, Id just like to know if it can be at all.
And I am happy you are all trying to help me so much about it, but really.. I already have a list of things to do with it once I get it registered and everything. Im not a complete dumbass. lol Im just not sure about Long Term maintanence for this car, such as stuff thats listed on that site for the Supra.
And I am happy you are all trying to help me so much about it, but really.. I already have a list of things to do with it once I get it registered and everything. Im not a complete dumbass. lol Im just not sure about Long Term maintanence for this car, such as stuff thats listed on that site for the Supra.
It sounds like you got a good deal then. Just complete what others have suggested in terms of maintenance. Then, enjoy your SE-R for a long time. I cannot help about keyless entry however, no experience..
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I dont know when people will start to understand that Mechanical Engineers are not Mechanics...
lol Yeah I have plunty of friends that know enough about cars that I learn just being around them. One knows practically everything about Nissan and owns a 1996 200SX SE, and the other is a all around car person, so I go to them with a car Im thinking of buying.
I checked as much of the frame and body for rust as I could. The only bits is a small line where the panels were hit. Easy fix when I fix those.
I checked the oil and oil cap and inside the engine from the oil cap. The oil wasnt thick and black (though dirty) and no build up of grim on the oil cap or inside of the engine, though there was of course a thin layer of black on the insides. Easily cleaned when I switch over to Synth anyway.
Checked the CV joints, still covered and no rust.
Checked all fuids, full and relitivly clean, though Im doing a tune-up to replace them all anyway.
Spark plugs clean.
Starting up the car and letting it run, no smoke from the exhaust what so ever, not even white. (was a relitivly warm day outside, Id say high 70s, around 80F.)
The interier is as good as it gets, no tears or anything, though its obviously a Little warn. Only the leather on the shift knob is become unknited and undone. Again, shift knobs are cheap.
All the lights and power options and AC works. AC is even cold Right away. The Radio.. I didnt really check though it was on when I turned the car on. Im going to replace it when I can anyway. If the tape deck doesnt work (IPOD ANYONE?! haha) then it just means I replace it sooner then later.
Thats about all I can think of.. I did a short test drive, though I currently cant drive stick too well (Technically cant drive at all, legally.) but I didnt find anything wrong. He drove it a little, no slipping or anything. Though speedbumps make it hard to get past 3rd.
And THANK YOU! Thats awesome. Now I just need to call a dealer monday and ask if anything can even be done about the keyless entry that doesnt require reinstall. lol
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