Bernie Lomax

Just interested in normal wear and repairs. MODS DON'T COUNT HERE!

1997 SE AUTO w/ 68,600.

Changed the front pads, regular oil changes and SLICK 50 @ 65,000. That's all.

Jeff K

iTrader: (1)

but as for wear items.

60K service, clutch(80k miles), 2 sets of front pads, one rear set and lots of tires.
Current milage is 102,700 on my '95 SE.

The car have been very, very reliable.

P.S. I would watch out with the engine adatives(?)
because the inside of our engines are very highly
toleranced and that stuff has some sort of grit to it or particles.
May not be that good for our motors. My opinion.

Guest

but as for maintainence,

tires every 25k (approx)
brake pad upgrade @ ~40k miles
tranny fluid upgrade at 17k miles, due for change now
no change plugs wires yet...
brake fluid yearly or more often depending on track useage
oil change every 3k
air filter cleaned yearly
aligned avery 6k miles or as needed
tires rotated every 6k miles

hmmmmmm i think that's all

and i just flipped over 51k on my 97 SE

Robert

Albertt

Like most of the '97 model year owners here...you might have to replace your alternator.

Guest

i've never had a problem w/ this car nor have any of the other 97 owners i talk to often.

what's your story?

btw...i'm still on the original battery...no problems...knock on wood!

RObert

compu_squid

Hey

27k Brake pads changed Stillen for OEM. Maybe I'm hard on the brakes or something 'cause the factory standard brakes squealed ("like a pig" <LOL>) @ 25k. Occasional romps through the Belt Pky in Brooklyn may explain this.

Every
3500 miles Fram Filter, Mobil 1 5w30

Replaced stock air filter @ 24k for a Stillen.

That's the huge maintenance that I've went through. The Max runs as good as when I drove it off the lot and has not given a me a lick of trouble except for the brake squeal noted above and the molding on my moon roof began decomposing as it was < 1 yr old. The moon roof molding was not covered by warranty either or replaceable. The dealer said I would need to replace the moonroof glass @ ~500 bucks. I'l do this when she starts to leak and not a second sooner

'98 GXE 29k
~C

MaxRX7

WTF, what's up with you? Which 1997 owners had to replace their alternators? I also have the original battery and have yet to have ONE problem. Knock HARDER on wood.

MAXDriver

at 12,000 miles:
- Oil change at first 1,000 miles and at
every 3,000 miles after using genuine Nissan oil filter.
- rotate tires at every 5,000 miles.

humaras

bought the car used at 20k...and have driven it for 10K in about 10 months. I have had the service engine light come on once which turned out to be a problem with the engine harness...oil change at every 2500- 3000K (depending when I have time to take it to the dealer)...had to replace a tail-light and brake pads at about 27K...and I am going to replace the tires this coming winter. OEM Yokohamas suck.
I did have a couple of scare because I couldn't start the car immediately but after turning the key a couple of times--the car started
BTW--anyone else ever had a problem like that?
aside from that...it has been pretty good to me.
=)

Bernie Lomax

My brakes were screaming, so I had the front pads changed. Now they are twice as loud! Any thoughts on this?

I have also had the same problem with the starting. It's happened twice that I can think of, and I instantly thought the starter was burned, at least thats how it sounded. Then the second try fired it up. Very strange.

What is the deal with 5W30 oil? Is that a smart move? What is it thicker?

Bernie Lomax

My brakes were screaming, so I had the front pads changed. Now they are twice as loud! Any thoughts on this?

I have also had the same problem with the starting. It's happened twice that I can think of, and I instantly thought the starter was burned, at least thats how it sounded. Then the second try fired it up. Very strange.

What is the deal with 5W30 oil? Is that a smart move? What is it thicker?

Mine was used with 45k in Dec '99. I've put 23K on it in 9 months. How scary is that!!

Eric L.

Oil changes every 3-4k miles.

15k service - $170 (dealer)
30k service - $160 (my mechanic, did like twice as much as the dealer did for the 15k service, cost less too)

At the 30k service I also had my brake pads replaced (90% worn on fronts, 75 on rears).

I also got a wheel alignment after I installed my springs/shocks with the new wheels. $130 for lifetime alignment at Firestone.

If I were to count things that broke down:

Oil sending unit leak - 26k
HVAC fan noisy - 31k
Alternator died - 32k
Headlight leaked (got foggy inside) - 33k

All were fixed under warranty.


45k service is coming up for me soon.

Albert

96SE auto.
Brought it new and now it has 107k.
Never had any problems with it.
2nd pair of brake pads.
2nd set of tires (need new ones soon).
3rd set of NGK plugs.

Switched over to Mobil 1 synthetic oil at 35k.
Have always used 93 octane.
Keep up with the maintenance and don't
use cheap parts is the way to making
your car happy.

humaras

Me too--yes, it was twice that happened. I remembered it once because I thought I left my headlights on and drained the battery. And the other time it just cranked and nothing happened. I then thought to myself-- "awwww $H&&!!TT!! why now?/" and then I said, let me try this again and it started. Would anyone know if this is a starter problem or what?
Could it be the fuel filter? or not enough fuel being delivered to the chambers? Anyone can help Bernie and I on this problem? The thing about taking it to the dealer and telling them about it is that it is so intermittent that it is hard to diagnose.

if anyone has had this, please let us know...I'd be more happy to raise some hell at Nissan USA. =)

Albert

96SE auto.
Brought it new and now have 107k.
Never had any problems with it.
3rd set of NGK plugs.
2nd set of tires (need new ones soon!)
2nd set of pads. (the stock ones sucks)

Switched over to Mobil 1 synthetic at 35k.
Have been using 93 octane all the time.
Always kept up with the maintenance and
never gone cheap with the parts.

shane

I have a 96 SE since June 98.Only repairs have been cracked tail light rt side on fender,molding on lf rear door broke dealer replaced it.The 3rd brake light shorted out and the O2? sensor replaced under warranty.Replaced tires, battery,air filter and use Castrol 10w -30 oil and Restore with the oil.Do I need to stop using the Restore for good(oil change this weekend hopefully).High test gas 92 octang I think with gas treatment and cleaners some and milage is 43655.I have 3 small dents,some scatches,and bad places on my bumpers.

EZEMaxima

I bought it new back in December 1998. I've only driven it for 13,750 miles. So far only oil and filter change for the first 1000 miles and every 3000 miles.

GarthG

iTrader: (1)

On my 95 SE with 99,400. . . Clutch has been replaced twice, dealership that installed it the first time put back in a warped fly wheel and made it fail within a year, battery replaced, 1 set of brakes (replaced at 90K, not sure if my mom got a set or not, person said they looked to be stock), normal service intervals. The A/C also failed at 60K, but since the car was under warrenty still, Nissan replaced it free of charge and gave us half price on 60K service. Other than that, the car hasn't given us many problems. It still has some things that I would like to fix, but they aren't absolutely nescessary.

compu_squid

Hey Bernie,
I have hard starts occasionally also (maybe once or twice a year or so) I always thought it was related to either needing dry gas to suck up the water in the tank or from a warm engine interfering with a cone (Stillen) intake. It's not been significant enough for me to bother investigating. The car always starts, occasionally I have to turn it over twice.
~C

josh95se

I have a 95 se..50000 miles...had it for 3 months...previous owner maintained very well.

Had probs starting about 6 times.......happened after I changed the oil the first time..someone said our car doesn't like fram oil filters(I didn't check if that is what was used)...starting prob was usually when car was warm

It also stalled on me when braking at light 3 times in really hot weather all times.

Josh

Bernie Lomax

How are those pads? I don't know what my guy put on there, but they are louder than the OEM ones. I can stop on a dime, but they are S C R E A M I N G with my foot OFF the brakes between 0-40MPH. Is the Stillen pads the answer to this problem? Where did you get them?

2ndMAX

My Max has 5 speed, I bought it with 95,000 miles on it. Changed a pair of front brake pads, and gonna change engine and tranny oil really soon. Gotta prep my bad boy for the winter. Dont wanna do any work on it then. I had the same problem trying to start the car. I usually tap the gas and try again. Not sure if it makes a difference or not but I never had to crank it more than twice. Its not frequent but when it happens you kinda worry if it could be a serious problem. Other than that the car runs flawlessly, and I love every mile behind the wheel.

MAX99SE

99 SE - 5 spd
Oil changes every 3000 miles
15K service by dealer - $150 approx

Noticing some clutch noise when going from stop into 1st gear. Kinda feels like something dragging ... anyone else with this problem?

Otherwise, no probs ... knock on that wood like your life depended on it ...

MAX99SE

99SE - 5 speed
Bought new, now 22K miles
Oil changes every 3000 miles
15,000 mile svc at dealer - $150 approx

No other probs ...


I am noticing a dragging noixe when releasing the clutch when starting from stop, like at a light. Anyone else? Any ideas?

Thanks.

Zprime

well
when ever you turn the key, get it to the on position...meaning all the electric running, but do not turn to start engine.
wait till your fuel pump finish pumping...you hear a short buzz for a bout a sec....3 sec later start the car
should work like a charm everytime....
ok
if that also does not work
check your battery
if battery is fine...
then check your starter..and alternator
either of the two is dying on you...
I had my starter died and replaced...
That sucks......
anyway

GarthG

iTrader: (1)

My car did the whole not turn over thing, and when I asked my mechanic about it they said something to the effect of, "It sounds like it isn't getting enough current to turn it over." A short while later my battery died, and I replaced it with an Optima and it has worked perfectly ever since. Knock on wood.

humaras

thanks for the tip-- that is what I have been doing since the last time I had that little "freak mishap." But that was a few months back now. you said you had your starter died and replace-- does this happen all of a sudden--such as you getting in your car and can't crank it up?
do you recall when you had that done (at what mileage)? Just getting ready to know what the heck could possibly go wrong.

thanks Zprime. =)

Supa Lao

iTrader: (1)

97SE 5sp
I bought it used about 16 months ago w/ <29K on it. Now it's at 61K+. No major problems. Putting on a new set of tires when they come in on Mon or Tues. I'll be doing or getting the 60K tune up soon. I'm still debating if I want to do it, or take it to my dealer.