So I'm planning on buying a 93 se and it possibly has VTC issues. The car is located in Minnesota. I was told that the engine just started making the clicking noise. I'm planning on flying out and picking the car up and I was wondering if it is the VTC's would the car be able to make a 850 mile drive. I really want this car more that I want to breath air (maybe that was a slight exagerration but it gives you an idea how bad i want it). And can anyone tell me how much it cost to fix this issue. Thanks any suggestions will be a great help. Oh and if I grounded them off would the car still be drivable? Thanks

 

roughly bout 500 dollar fix if thats the problem. have you even seen this thing? just make sure you know what youre flying to go buy, thats all.

good luck.

 

ground em for your trip home.
also check the oil level, mine will clack if the oil level falls.

 

It is highly unlikely they will fail on the trip. Also, $500 is a low estimate to fix them.

 

I drove mine for thousands of miles with badly ticking VTCs and never had a problem, other than the noise. I would think if it is just starting to tick, it should be fine for quite a while. Just keep up on the oil changes and use the toyota filter.

I can only recall two people that have posted about VTC failure and engine damage. Probably half of the VE owners on this board have a little bit of VTC ticking or drove theirs clattering for a long time before fixing it.

Unless you do it yourself, having the VTCs rebuilt and installed or replaced with new ones and installed will cost you over $1k. I have called every Nissan dealer within 300 miles and the cheapest quote I got was like $1400. In fact, TripleGMax, tell me where that is I can get them replaced for $500 and it would be worth it for me to drive my car to Ohio from Oregon and back to have it done.

 

Hmm ONE new vtc assembly is more than $500 now days. Just the VTCs are over $1,000. Add another $1,000 for labor.

 

the $1400 quote I got was for having mine rebuilt

a lot of dealerships won't even go that route.