1986 Nissan 200SX: Is it 1.6 Liter?

jdanniel · Jun 24th, 2003, 09:11 AM

Hello everyone.

I just joined this board today. Right now, I just have one or two basic questions.

I own a 1986 Nissan 200 SX hatchback. I'm the sole owner, bought it new. It has 111,300 miles on it; not much for a 17-year-old car.

I've long since misplaced the owner's manual.

Does the car have a 1.6 liter engine or a 1.8 liter engine? I feel dumb for asking.

I'm not near the car this week to look under the hood, and I just can't recall how many spark plugs it takes. Forgive me for not remembering, but how many does the car take? Does it require different type plugs for intake and exhaust, or can I use the same plugs all around?

I need to replace the spark plug cables, distributor cap, and rotor. I'm pretty sure they're all original equipment. How I went 17 years without replacing them, who knows, but the car's sputtering when it starts, so I figure either have a missing plug or two, or the cables and cap have just seen their last days.

I'll post in the proper forum after the initial 48-hour period is over. Thank you. J. Danniel (Call me Jd, please.)

Lurker Above · Jun 24th, 2003, 08:15 PM

howdy jd, welcome to nissanforums. if you have a turbo, it's a ca18et 1.8 liter; if you have no turbo, it's a ca20e 2.0 liter. both are four-bangers, so you should need four spark plugs, not sure what type, sorry

tekmode · Jun 24th, 2003, 08:27 PM

id go with some ngks as for spark plugs. and the rest just get at a local autozone or something like it

jdanniel · Jun 24th, 2003, 08:30 PM

Thanks for the welcome and the reply.

It's defiinitely not a turbo, but I could have sworn it was less than a 2.0 liter engine. Too bad the manual's long gone. I probably should look for a Chilton guide.

I also could have sworn up and down that I put in six spark plugs. I'd swear it, but I'll have to look under the hood next time I get a chance.

Thanks again. Jd

tekmode · Jun 24th, 2003, 08:32 PM

I don't know how you put in 6 plugs in a 4cylinder

jdanniel · Jun 24th, 2003, 08:32 PM

Hello.

Are ngks a special type of plug that I can't get at a standard auto supply store?

tekmode · Jun 24th, 2003, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdanniel
Hello.

Are ngks a special type of plug that I can't get at a standard auto supply store?

You should be able to get them either at a dealer or pepboys.

OmegaManEX · Jun 24th, 2003, 08:44 PM

just as a heads up for everyone , nissan produced a 200sx with the 300zx engine , VG30 (V6) , for a couple years b4 the car died here in america. .... . It was the SE-V6 trim

jdanniel · Jun 25th, 2003, 04:46 AM

I just looked under the hood of my car.

There are EIGHT spark plugs.

So...what type of Nissan 200 SX engine do I have?

Jd

**Slurppie** · Jun 25th, 2003, 07:16 AM

How many valve covers?

jdanniel · Jun 25th, 2003, 07:26 AM

How many valve covers?

Not a clue. I admit I'm not much of a car expert.

All I can tell you from my little knowledge and experience is that there are clearly eight wires running from the distributor cap, and there are eight plugs, four on each side.

I'm sorry if this info doesn't help any further.

I can tell you this: I replaced the plugs myself, using Bosch Platinums, six years ago. They only have 12,000 miles on them, but they're six years old and I do only local, low-speed, low-mileage driving.

I don't think 12,000 miles is a lot for those plugs, but I live in South Florida, where the ambient temperature, humidity, and salt air from the ocean clearly has to affect what's under the hood on some level.

And I readily admit I've been lax about checking the plugs. I admit I have never checked them in any way since putting them in.

Still, I'm a bit more inclined to think the wires are just plain shot. I have little doubt that the wires are originals...which means they're 17 years old! I might be wrong about this; they might have been replaced---but certainly not recently. I doubt seriously they've been replaced in the last 50,000 miles, if at all.

I don't know if replacing the wires, and doing nothing else, will solve the sputtering-upon-startup problem, but I'm going to have them replaced no matter what.

Sorry about being long-winded. I'm just not completely understanding why my car has 8 plugs, when I know it's not a turbo.

Thanks again, everyone. Jd

intrepid · Jun 25th, 2003, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdanniel
I just looked under the hood of my car.

There are EIGHT spark plugs.

So...what type of Nissan 200 SX engine do I have?

Jd

that would be ca20, they are twin spark, although, not great engines

jdanniel · Jun 25th, 2003, 07:48 AM

Quote:

that would be ca20, they are twin spark, although, not great engines

Thank you for clarifying that...big help.

As for it not being a great engine...it's managed to last 17 years, so I can't complain.

I just hope the sputtering problem requires not much more than a tune-up...new wires and dist. cap.

Jd

intrepid · Jun 25th, 2003, 08:10 AM

Sorry, i meant performance wise, we got those engines in early bluebirds and Gazelles(200sx) and something else i forget right now.

jdanniel · Jun 25th, 2003, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Sorry, i meant performance wise

Oh.

Well, yeah, it doesn't accelerate like a Porsche.

I just want to eek out a couple more years and miles from it. I made a vow to myself when I bought the car that I would own it and drive it until it crumbled into dust.

Good thing I didn't say RUST.

Jd