This is my first thread, my name is Carolina,try to forgive my crappy English because I’m from Argentina. I have some doubts about my maxima.
According to the car documents, the year model is 1993. But I’m not sure, because from the pics of Us max’s I never saw one that looks exactly the same. Either the grill or the wheel is different. I don’t have a VIN number either. All I know is it has the SOHC VG30E and the gearbox is the automatic RE4F02A. I don’t know if it’s a GXE or a SE because it has things belonging to both (I assume GXE). My father bought it in september 2002 and since last year it has been mine.
I have lots of problems but the most urgent would be:
I don’t know the mileage (actually, the speedometer is only in kilometers) because it has been broken for about 2 years. I think I should replace the timing belt. We never did, and it is making a rubber-belt-like noise. The thing is, I have been told that the water pump runs inside with the timing belt. A friend told me the water pump was broken, but finally was the A/C tensioner that made a “ggggggh” noise. So, should I replace the timing belt alone? If I do, I’ll have to wait for the water pump to break and have to open that all over again.
Or should I replace both timing belt and water pump?
The thing is, here the original japonese water pump costs $ 196, a bad taiwanese costs $ 100. The original timing belt $50 And in the workshop for doing the work they charge me $ 100.
I am thinking of buying the water pump on ebay or something like that and have it sent here, it would be cheaper.
Could you check this links out and tell me if they are good, trustworthy
brands and if they fit perfectlly in my car? I live far away it would be a disaster buying something that doesn’t fit. Or if you know better ones it would be great too!
Thanks for all the help you can give me and for reading also, it is long, I aprecciate!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-94...QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.instockauto.com/item.wws?...F1501360%2Ejpg

http://www.instockauto.com/item.wws?...01016E26%2Ejpg

 

I would definantly get that timing belt replaced asap! The engine will be a big pile of scrap iron if your belt breaks...

None of the water pump links you are looking at ship to argentina..


No vin # ?

 

Since only a few countries got the VE then the matter of an SE having the VE doesn't apply to you. I am gonna guess GSE (lol) since you have a cross breed of both.

Don't go cheap on timing components and the waterpump. Sadly since you are away international shipping will be $$$$ I think you'll save the most by just buying the japanese one available in your country and replace it asap. Once the belt goes you will have to do a rebuild and that is sometimes worth more than the entire car.

 

The thing is that I want to know if there is a good water pump on ebay or some other, having the link, I have a friend that can bring it here wether or not the one who sells it shipps to Argentina. So the only thing I need is the link of a trustworthy water pump and timing belt, I show it to him and he gets it to me by fedex or ups or something like that.


This is all I have in the documentation
Nº engine vg30-338541N
Nº chasis HJ30-012765
Model HLJ30GAERCS-F1
Tipo sedan
Year 1993

 

If you have a friend in the us,just send him/her some$$,have then buy the parts at a local parts store...


Your vin # should be here..


And here..[this is located under the hood on the firewall]

 

I had a pic but I lost it, in my car, that is empty. There are only the two nails it's incredible

where the vin numer should be in, it says "chasis number HJ30-012765"
above that "model HLJ30GAERCS87"

In trans axle RE4FO2A
and in Plant T


It's like the vin number but all mixed up, I don't know

 

I recommend getting the water pump from the dealer. If you get it from one of the discount dealers its about the same price as aftermarket and its better quality for the most part.

But yeah replace the Tbelt adn do the water pump at the same time. Also the bearings for the tensioners arent very expensive so go ahead and buy new bearings and replace them as well.

Usually other countries have different models. Yours may be an S model or L model (seen those models on a car in another country I think).

 

Sounds fishy to me..

 

For me too. After 4 years of having it I am starting to get some info, and not thanks to the vehicle documentation! I had a friend who lived in the US and he told me that vith the vin number only he could know lots of things. Here it doesn't exist. They pay more attention to the engine codes.
Next time I see a max I will look inside for the metal plate with the vin code. Perhalps I'm the only one who doesn't have it.

 

what about the tag in the drivers door jamb?

 

There is none...

 

Back on the Water Pump issue. There is no good water pump on ebay or somewhere in the net? I just need the link. I think finally they are much cheaper and better than the ones I can get here. I want to find one to be able to change the T belt.
These water pumps GMB and ATSUJI are good or bad?

Another question. Does this fit in my car? And it's good? Because here the original is at least $400 and a taiwan crappy option $70. Mine makes a lot of noise by steering.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/INFIN...77452118QQrdZ1

 

Sound like you bought a "IMPORTED CAR"... from someone driveway to your city. Crappy for someone and good for you ... I guess

 

I am not sure I understand what you mean.. You suggest it's a stolen car? How would it be bad for someone and good for me? What do you see good about buying a stolen car?
Here doesn't exist the VIN number system. I've done the paperwork myself and it's all legally OK.
Try not to throw incorrect theorys in vane...

 

First of it was a joke second you had a pic showing the VIN what kind of crap is that since when did the manufacture start giving Pictures for the VIN third regardless of what your country's policy is it was still made in a plant that puts VIN # on the car for tracking regardless of where it will be shipped to!!! Its also a fail safe in case your car is stolen to identify it since you are not the only person in the world that owns that car. that way the can match up the VIN. NOW more than likely someone took several smashed cars and built one and didn't bother with the VIN because none of the #'s would have match and since nobody cars about that in your country it would be a waste of time which is why it is more like to buy a car that is made out of many cars in other countries where VIN don't mean crap where as in the US if they all don't match nobody will buy it because the resale value usually ain't crap!

So before you start any theories learn to take a joke second it would be good for you because you would have bought the best under rated Sports Sedan ever (in my opinion) and crappy for the person because they had the best Sport Sedan ever stolen. SO RELAX

 

VINs are not always assigned to cars.
if a car is going to a market that doesn't require it, they really don't care to spend the money putting them on.
he still has a serial # for the car which is enough to track whether it would be stolen or not

 

Hey welcome to the org, my suggetion would be to find out pricing and shipping prices with Brian (internetautomart) he sells good parts at good prices and I think he might be able to do international shipping.

Just a question, your car blue or black? looks pretty decent to me

Oh and Brian, I think CaRo is a she..right?

 

Hey Caro, I'll buy your grille from you and trade you mine in return. Come on, who doesn't want a nice chrome grille.

 

.

 

First of all, as I don't know you and you don't know me, how can I possibly know it's a joke? I thought you were making fun of me or accusing me of stealing it or something.
Apart from that, I think my car is not imported from US, but is made in Japan and exported to Argentina, so, if it never entered the US is not so crazy to think it doesn't have the VIN number. The other numbers are from my country. The engine has a unique number (some numbers apart the VG30)
and the chasis too so it can be identified without having the VIN.
It's all right, it was a misunderstanding, very comon in forums!

Thanks!
Yes, it's blue, dark blue.

And yes, I am a she. I've said my name above, it's Carolina!

 

They let girls drive down there???

J/K

Welcome to the forum...

 

I wouldn't talk too much GreenMax. For some reason only god knows, they let you have a license.

 

kcidmil

 

He has a license? I thought they didnt get one and he just drives any way

Id go with trying to buy from brian (internetautomart.com) and shipping it. And estimit cant hurt.

~Alex

 

Yeah he has some pretty good deals!

 

Yes, in fact if you are a woman the car insurance is cheaper, much cheaper, all based in staistics!

Yes, I saw it several times, but there are so many types of parts that I'am afraid I could order the wrong part and it's kind of complicated to change it!
And I can't seem to find the timing chain (that goes with the water pump) and the C.V. Joint.

 

If you have a VG30E motor, you don't have a timing chain, but a timing belt

 

Till you have that one bad apple. There was a girl back in High School that wrecked 10 Eclipses in 1 year. 2 within in the same month.

 

Yes, yes. Sorry I always confuse in english timing chain with timing belt. Thanks!

Poor eclipses

 

you figure after 3 that might be a sign that you shouldn't own 1

 

I figured after the first 2, it would have been a sign to her parents not to let her drive, and to quit buying any car period.

 

even a better piont!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sorry to hijack, but can't figure out how to start a new thread.

93 Max GXE, just went over 200k, having a problem where the headlights stay on when the car is off, can pull the fuses and make them go off but this is really annoying. Anyone had this problem?

 

have you tryed the relay?

 

where would that be? I was able to get them off, involved a lot of wiggling the arm on the steering column.

Thinking i might have to open the steeting column up to look for loose wires/contacts, or bad relays

 

relays are under the hood

 

turns out it looks like the lighting switch on the combination switch shorted out. Thanks to everyone for their help. All i have to say is the FSM is the best, significant help and worth getting.