JBH

I am looking at a second Max. to buy. Someone at work has a 94 model that back in Feb. at the oil pump go out and it cooked the motor. She had a motor from a 1998 Max installed. Car runs great with no problems. When I looked at the invoice there was nothing about swapping out the computer. Is this possible? Would a 98 motor run correct with a 94 computer? Also, can some one give me some info on the 98 engine. Is it a VQ motor like my '02?
Thanks
Jason

mzmtg

iTrader: (11)

A VQ will not fit in a 3rd gen without some serious work. Go have a look at the car and tell us what is really in there.

JBH

So am I to understand that in 1998 the V-6 in a Maxima was a VQ motor?

NotNew!!NewSN!!

yea it might be a 94, but is it a 3rd gen or a 4th gen, ive heard of many people confusing the years, it only matters what gen it is though when it comes to the engine swap

JBH

went and looked at all of the books and records for the car. The car is a 1994 GXE (3rd gen). From the invoice the motor is a V-6 from a 1998 Maxima that was wrecked with 70K. So that would make it a 4th Gen motor. Is it possible the switch would work without swapping the ECU as well? They replaced all the belts and pumps on the motor while it was out of the car but there is no mention of a 1998 ECU.

tmkforever

Yes the engines in all 4th Gens (95-99) are VQ30DE's.

mzmtg

iTrader: (11)

The books have to be wrong. First, a 98 engine won't even fit in a 3rd gen. Second, even if it did, it would have to have a 98 ECU. The 94 ECU wouldnt have a clue what to do with a 98 engine.

As I mentioned, go out and look at the car and see if it has a VQ engine in it. The VG (3rd gen GXE) and VQ(all 4th gen) engines do not look anything alike.

surfermax92

I think that Nissan introduced the 4th gen maxima as a 94 1/2 model- so maybe that's where the mix-up is.

Craig Mack

The answer is simple - If his car looks boxy, then it's a 3rd Gen. If it is smooth and sleeker it's a 4th Gen.

max7

The 94 3rd gens came with a VQ! At least the SE didn't they?

JeepRage

iTrader: (1)

no, but they did have 190HP in 92-94 SE's

max7

I was always under the impration that the 94 came with a VQ! Well I don't know much about the 3rd gens though!

mzmtg

iTrader: (11)

From 92-94 there were two engines available:

VG30E - 160hp

VE30DE - 190hp

The 4th generation was introduced as the 1995 model (not 94.5).

JBH

Thanks for all the help. Can someone post me a pic of what a 1998 or a 1994 engine should look like. I am going to look at the car tomorrow morning and I would like to have a point of reference.

1FSTMAX

iTrader: (29)

VG Motor 89-94'

VE Motor 92-94'

VQ Motor 95-99.5'

mzmtg

iTrader: (11)

Hey, that's my car!

JBH

Thanks for all the help guys. Went and drove the car today. Mechanic replaced the bad motor with another 160 hp VG motor.
Owner was pretty ticked at the mechanic when I showed him the pics of what a 98 motor should look like. All in all it is still a good car and the price seems to be right so it should fit my needs for a commuter car. Only reservation I have is no one knows how many miles were on the motor when it was put in the car.

1FSTMAX

iTrader: (29)

Sorry about that