i have a ve engine. I have read articles about replacing these but how would you know if they were broken?

 

Tick, tick, tick, then again with a VE you probably already have that noise... On a serious note it can be difficult to know what your listening for if you haven't heard it before. The noise is something like wind blowing through a constricted space cause that's what is happening.

If your not sure just take it to a Nissan dealership, they shouldn't charge you anything to have a mechanic come out and listen for a minute. That's how I ended up finding out about my leaks.

Odd's are you probably have a couple of broken studs, although I'm not sure if the problem affects the VE like it does the VG. If you plan on fixing it yourself be prepared for a big job. The front's aren't that bad but most people don't even bother with the rear stud's because there just isn't any room.

 

look at the maifolds, if you have a broke one the nut will be gone and it will be black around that hole. The ones that break are in the rear on passenger side.

 

how horrible is it to just leave 'em broken?

(or, on a "beater" car to just smear some JB Weld around the area?)

 

noise, failed emissions, exhaust fumes under the hood, poor fuel economy since the O2 sensor doesn't get a proper reading, more studs breaking over time- eventually causing the exhaust to fall off the car, warped manifolds that are $$$ to replace...


nah, just let 'em go. no big deal. maintenance not required.

 

Depends on how bad it was. On my car, before I got my y-pipe and before I fixed my exhuast studs I got over 400 miles to every tank so it wasn't effecting my mileage very much.

I put the y-pipe on at the same time I fixed the studs and as a result I can't really tell what caused what. My gas mileage varies a lot now. Anywhere from 350 to a tank to 400 plus but this is probably due to the y-pipe.

Bottom line, if you can fix it, you probably should as it's not good to have exhuast gases leaking into the engine bay that is in front of you. There is a possibility that some of those exhuast fumes can be sucked in by the air vent's at the bottom of the windshield and put into the passenger compartment. Although this is probably a small chance it's something you might want to thing about.

 

Hey,

Here's some links you might be able to use...

http://www.4dsc.com/articles/drivetr...ld_studs.shtml

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=284277

Check the front side by looking @ the manifold exiting below the valve cover. It is right in front of the radiator shroud (fans). For the rear put it on a lift and follow the y-pipe up to the manifold and check the gasket where the manifold meets the head. Any open holes mean missing/broken stud.

I have the same problem and it really sux after some time. Get it fixed before it gets worse.

 

I lost 1 and ignored it. lost 2 after about 3mo, got peaved. Lost 3rd 2mo later.... Took off head had them all changed. Fixed everything else while I was at it.

Studs are less than $3.50 per hole including new nut and washers. Having a quiet car without the nagging wife...$PRICELESS$...