Just purchased 93 Maxima SE 5Spd w/91k miles, couple of ??s
11-16-2003, 03:19 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 37
Just purchased 93 Maxima SE 5Spd w/91k miles, couple of ??s
Well first of all being new to this board,seems like it has a great group of members and a strong knowledge base. I bought the car yesterday to use as a daily driver and today I noticed the clicking sound that seems to be the VTC problem. I wish I would of her this noise the first two times I test drove the car. I thought I was getting a great deal especially with the low mileage. Today I feel like crap (I could use better words) thinking I have just bought a problem car. Looking for advice, here should I just try to sell the car myself or should I dig further into the problems? I will probably try to go by a Nissan dealership tomorrow and find out what work has been performed on this vehicle. Any other advice will be greatly appreciated, I have read alot of info on the vtc problem and every article I read fustrates me further as I should have researched better b4 purchase but thats my mistake. Fustrated New Owner needs help..........
TIA,
Henri
TIA,
Henri
11-16-2003, 03:47 PM
#2
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 541
Sounds to me like you have a great car. 93K is just broken in for Maxima engines. Search for info on the VTC issue. From what I have read, it is not the end of the world, and I wouldn't rush to sell your car just because if it.
11-16-2003, 04:24 PM
#3
There are guys here that would love to have a VE 5-speed with under 100k.
Don't worry about the VTCs right now, you have some options there and it doesn't necessarily mean spending money right away.
1) You can let it continue to "tick." This isn't as bad as it may sound. There are lots of guys (including myself) that have ticking VTCs and our cars still run strong and have no problems related to the ticking.
2) You can ground your VTCs. I am probably going to do this myself, when I get some other things done. This is an option a lot of VE owners have done that don't have money for option #3.
3) You can either have the VTCs rebuilt or buy new ones. There are varying levels of cost associated with this. The most expensive being taking it to a dealer and saying "put in new ones" which will cost somewhere near $2000. There are guys here who have bought the VTCs and done the work themselves. Do more research and figure out what works best for your mechanical skills and financial situation. There are lots of members here who have brains full of information that can help you immensely.
Above all, enjoy your car. VE 5-speeds are fantastic cars and the most sought after 3rd Gen Maximas. I have owned two of them and have loved driving and owning them both.
Don't worry about the VTCs right now, you have some options there and it doesn't necessarily mean spending money right away.
1) You can let it continue to "tick." This isn't as bad as it may sound. There are lots of guys (including myself) that have ticking VTCs and our cars still run strong and have no problems related to the ticking.
2) You can ground your VTCs. I am probably going to do this myself, when I get some other things done. This is an option a lot of VE owners have done that don't have money for option #3.
3) You can either have the VTCs rebuilt or buy new ones. There are varying levels of cost associated with this. The most expensive being taking it to a dealer and saying "put in new ones" which will cost somewhere near $2000. There are guys here who have bought the VTCs and done the work themselves. Do more research and figure out what works best for your mechanical skills and financial situation. There are lots of members here who have brains full of information that can help you immensely.
Above all, enjoy your car. VE 5-speeds are fantastic cars and the most sought after 3rd Gen Maximas. I have owned two of them and have loved driving and owning them both.
11-16-2003, 04:51 PM
#4
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,371
yeah definitly dont sell the car just because of that. ground them now then in a few weeks when you fall deeply in love and never want any other car start looking for posibilities on how to fix them i love my ve 5spd and wouldnt know what i would do with out it
11-16-2003, 05:03 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 37
Thanks everyone, I feel better. I do enjoy driving the car, thats what made me buy it and the fact that it had such low mileage. The original owners took great care of it from what I can tell. I will look into grounding the vtc and continue enjoying the car. This would be a great project car, but I have another toy for that but I look forward to having a great daily driver thats fun to drive.
Thanks,
Henri
Thanks,
Henri
11-16-2003, 08:14 PM
#9
directions to ground the vtc's at
http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte671n/mymax.html
courtesy of craig brace.
http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte671n/mymax.html
courtesy of craig brace.
11-17-2003, 05:45 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 486
Originally Posted by MrGone
$10
And is the trick to the VTC's using Synthetic 10w30 or does it not matter as long as it is a 10w30?
And is the trick to the VTC's using Synthetic 10w30 or does it not matter as long as it is a 10w30?
that is what I heard. Not sure how long it will work but it is worth a try. I recently (last oil change 2k ago) switched from mobil synthetic blend 5w30 to mobil1 5w30 and the vtc's just started ticking again about 200 miles ago. So the 10w30 should lube up a little better on our older engines. Next oil change I will try it.
11-17-2003, 05:48 AM
#13
Originally Posted by cneary812
that is what I heard. Not sure how long it will work but it is worth a try. I recently (last oil change 2k ago) switched from mobil synthetic blend 5w30 to mobil1 5w30 and the vtc's just started ticking again about 200 miles ago. So the 10w30 should lube up a little better on our older engines. Next oil change I will try it.
I probably would have tried already, but my car leaks alot of oil and Valvoline is only 79cents a quart right now
11-17-2003, 05:51 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 486
Originally Posted by MrGone
I probably would have tried already, but my car leaks alot of oil and Valvoline is only 79cents a quart right now
Then synthetic is out of the question. At that point it would leak like my wife's old NEON after I put a new head on it
11-17-2003, 10:10 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 615
Check your PM's (private messages)
I'm in the Atlanta area and can help you out if you decide to do some work on it. I bought my car at 89K and everything I've replaced on the car I've done so myself. Plus I'm cheaper than dealer rates 
11-17-2003, 11:28 PM
#18
Congrats on the find! I looked all Spring and Summer for a 5-spd VE to replace my dying VG and got no luck whatsoever. I settled for a 96se. Love the reliability and smoothness of the 4th gen but miss the styling & soul of the 3rd!
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