Hello!

This weekend I will be checking out an 88 Nissan Maxima Wagon and wondered if there are any specific things I should be on the look out with this model. This will be my 1st import. All previous vehicles have been Chevrolet.

Only thing I was told about the vehicle is the rear shocks were bad but he has rear shocks in the trunk to replace them with (hopefully not a pain to change)

 

Welcome aboard, I'm sure you'll love it, since you said it's a wagon, it should be a clinch to do with the rears since the sedan is a little more involved to replace but wagon shouldn't be hard to do. Also check for the timing belt since those engine uses timing belt, see when last time it was replaced. Check out my post on my ride, I got a 87 Maxima SE in black, just three months ago.

 

get timing belt and waterpump records

 

yea timing belt is something you will want to do right away which do the water pump while you are in that far, along with cam seals and front main, the cam seal is more involved since you have to take the rear cover off and since you are in that far might as well throw in a new head temp sensor since it's a huge pain to change it with out taking the rear timing cover off, other then that cap and rotor vacuum lines fresh fluids, the rear shocks are easy.

one of the first things you will want to do before you start working on it is run codes on the ECU to see if it says there is other stuff you need to look into, buy a FSM not a aftermarket one get the Nissan one it will save you a lot of time and effort trying to find info, unfortunately there is no good online source for one you should/might be able to find one on ebay but you want the one for the year of the car, most of them will be really similar but there is small changes from year to year

 

Thanks for the responses! The plan is to meet up tomorrow so hopefully I will come home with my 1st import. I'll share pictures if I get it. My thinking on it is if the trans shifts smooth and there is no ticks or knocks from the motor I'm ok.

EDIT: Also the car is an Indiana vehicle but was told no rust

 

Got the wagon! According to the owner, he is 2nd owner who inherited the wagon from his Uncle who passed earlier this year. Pictures to come after I clean it a bit.