Thanks guys. I wouldn't doubt it if the dealership me. They probably were like, 'oh it's a girl, she won't have a clue.' I know I have to pull the codes, but I was just wondering if anyone's had this problem before and if it ended up being something really small, or something really big. Thanks again!

 

If the light came on later, it is probably not that serious, but don't quote me on that. The ECU takes samples from the sensors and stores the info. With some sensors, it has to have an error reported a few times before it will actually throw a code. Get it checked out, then check back here to figure out how to fix it.

 

gave my last maxima a serious beating when i was 16reas old, drove it pritty hard

sold it running strong at about 160k

Only think ever changed was a clutch and basic maintance parts.
I know a couple of maxima pushing 200k and still run like new.

 

My 97 and 03 Max (both GLE) have 49k and 13k miles respectively. Other than routine maintenance, they are pretty much trouble free. I live in Queens, New York, and I see tons of 3rd, 4th and 5th gen Maximas. (Not many 6th gens, wonder why?) Some of them are even driven by old grannies!! As reliable as Maximas are, I guess I can safely pass the 97 Max to my son when he graduates from high school, and he is only 10 now!

 

HOLY PINK!

 

How do you manage to keep the mileage so low on your two Maximas, kenny?

 

I don’t care what no one says. I LOVE these reliability threads.

209k auto and running strong.

 

Bobo, since I work in the City, I don't drive to work because of traffic and parking problems. So, my cars are basically used on weekends and vacations only. I average less than 5k miles a year and after 5 years I give it to my wife and I get a new one. She drives to work two to three times a week and the round trip is only 20 miles. So, over the years, our cars gain little mileage and are in good condition, as we maintain and garage them. We sold our 92 Max a couple of years ago and that car only had 65k miles. We got a good price and the buyer got a great reliable and nice looking car!

 

I'm at 126,000........I guess a third of my car's life is up. Nice

 

221k and running strong - the only annoying things that i have had are some electrical issues - but has always been a stripped wire/bad ground - pita to find but simple and cheap to fix

 

Well, I brought my car to Checker and they couldn't pull the codes because the car's OBD1. The Nissan dealership wanted $45 to pull it so I just did it myself. I got 0303, 0303, 0405. The first two are front left heated O2 sensor (but why is it throwing it twice?) The last one doesn't even exist! Anybody have any ideas?!

 

Good for you! I guess money is no object for you. Given how little you drive, I would be inclined to keep the cars longer and trade them in less often and use the cash for something else, eg paying off the mortgage if it isn't already, plasma TV, vacation, recreational property etc. Cars are a p!ss poor investment.

 

my 95 has 115k still smooth and quiet also had a friend with a 96 that has 287k and still runs good

 

Theres this place on the outskirts of new brunswick NJ its called Scotto's auto sales. Thats where I got mine. 97 black 5spd with 82k miles. 1 owner and in awesome condition. Had tons of service records and recipts. It even came with the original sticker that the car had on it at the dealership when it was bought brand new. I paid $6500 cash for it.
Wherever you buy your car though, try and get whoever you buy it from to gurantee it will pass inspection, and if it doesn't, that they will fix/cover whatever is wrong with it until it does pass. I did that with scotto's and sure enough. 4 days before my inspection date about 3 weeks after I had the car my CEL went on. I took it back to scotto and it was the O2 sensors. He replaced them all for free and apolagized about it. 80k is usualy when the o2 sensors go so its normal maint that I got done for free. Probably would of cost me 300$ to have a dealership do it.
My max has 102k miles on it now and only thing I replaced was a knock sensor and a clutch. It was my first manual car so I kinda beat the clutch up for the first month or so. I would say check out scotto's auto sales. After I went to all types of dealerships and private sellers they all kinda talked like schiesters and just wanted money. At this place the guy was really nice and talked like I was a kid trying to get the best he could for the money. Exactly what I was. He gets all of his cars as tradeins from a local Benz dealership so the cars he gets are pretty well taken care of and most likely a 1 owner car.

 

A big problems is that a lot of people can't use the search feature, but it does get irritating at times.

LEMAR

 

I just joined here. I bought 1996 Maxima (Bose, leather, heated seats, moonroof etc.) for $900 dollars and it runs awesome. It has a 119k and I got a deal of life. I also own two Toyota Camrys. They are better built cars than Maximas but they are slow as hell.

 

That sounds like a hell of a deal! What shape are the interior and body in?

You might get some argument on this site concerning your assertion that Toyota Camrys are better built.

I have a 95SE that I've owned since day 1 and have yet to experience a rattle or squeak. Virtually nothing has ever gone wrong with the car.

 

The car is Black on Black leather. It is auto. The interior is in perfect shape exterior has some average schratches. I bought it from some old guy private sale cash. $900 dollars on the spot plus plates and title ($143). I have already put almost 2k miles on it and no problems so far. The car is fun to drive it is only I don't which model it is it does not say at all. It only has letters "MAXIMA" on the back. It has digital climate control heated seats power seats BOSE CD and cassette, moonroof fog lights the does anyone know which model that is? Thank you guys. Glad to be proud owner of maxima.

 

Oh yeah one of the fog light has brackets broken so it is hanging out. Anyone knows where I could buy passenger fog light. Went to couple junkyards and they said NO MAXIMAS here only CHEVY, FORD and DODGE

 

Does it have a rear spoiler and white instrument guages? Are the door handles the same color as the body? If so, it is an SE.

If not and it has wood grain in the dash and console area it is a GLE.

Read the stickies to determine the differences.

PS Given it has fog lights, I suspect it is an SE.

 

I will take some pics soon sorry. Yes it has the white gauges and rear spoiler and colored door handles. Is the SE top of the line?

 

I believe the GLE was considered top of the line. It has a more supple suspension than the GLE, a fancier interior (wood grain) and came standard with more options and was only available with an automatic transmission.

However, at this point in time, I would have to say that for 4th Gens, an SE in a 5-speed would be the most sought after model.

My 95SE is similar to yours in that it is loaded with Bose, climate control AC, heated leather seats/mirrors and sunroof. The SE had wider tires and a sport-tuned stiffer suspension. It also has fog lights. I ordered mine in a 5-speed as I don't know how to drive an automatic (j/k). At the time the automatic option was Cdn$1,200 plus tax more than the manual tranny.

Mine is a Canadian model and came equipped with limited-slip differential (LSD).

It presently has just over 61,400 miles on it and I will probably have it for another 20 years, if I live that long, given its not a daily driver and is used primarily on the highway (say 70% of the mileage).

You got one hell of a deal on that car and the poor guy.

 

Yeah I wish this maxima was stick also more fun. But this thing is pretty fast for a 4 door sedan. It also has some nice fatures for the 1996. Last question how do you turn on heated mirrors on since I don't see any switch or is that automatic (or maybe mine does not have that option). Thanks BOBO for help.

 

My girlfriends has 151k with no engine trouble at all. I have just replaced lil stuff like ignition switch, thermostat, etc. Thanks to the stickies on here

 

Are your seats heated? To defrost the outside mirrors, simply turn your heat on and switch to defrost, if I remember correctly. It doesn't take long for them to defrost, in fact, quicker than the rear window.

 

Reliable...MOS DEF

 

200 + original all
Good luck shopping Dude

 

Mine is at 286 000 KM KM tough

still running fine

 

115 000 mi, still runs like new

 

purchased brand new in 1998.

From 1998-2003 beat the **** out of it.

2003 bought a house and started to take it easy.

106 K and Runs like a champ.

 

I haven't been so lucky. My clutch outlasted the manual transmission and I have had to replace the alternator too along with the knock sensor. I had problems with the EVAP system too. My car just passed 100K miles....

 

very reliable

 

1998 Inifinti I30t, purchased third owner from florida. I brought it with 97,000 miles on it and no not even a year later 132,000 miles. Regular oil changes, fluid changes (tranny, coolant), suspension, tires and cv axles. I put at least 350 miles on her a week from traveling in brooklyn, valleystream, and medford L.I. All I can say is this is best car I every owned. Same engine as the maxima if you didn't know.

 

Same engine as the Maxima?
Oh well, I was just being a wise *ss.

 

VQ30DE, ....

 

I have a 96 GLE with over 180,000 Km's (about 111,000 miles) on it. The only thing I can say about the car is that it is absolutely amazing and to answer your question, these cars are VERY reliable. If this car can make it through a Canadian winter, it can make it through anything. Bring it on mother nature!

 

95 GLE @200k, still run strong. Repair: alternator, shock/strut (old age problems), otherwise reliable.
97 SE @90k, extremely reliable, no out of pocket repair yet, just regular maintenance.

Nothing but praises on the VQ engine.

 

Another "Mileage/repair @ xxx,xxx miles check thread"

 

I took it to another mechanic (non-dealer), who said the part would cost what the dealer said plus or minus a few dollars. I also called Courtesy Nissan in Texas. They quoted me something under $1,700. So, I don't think the dealer I took it to was conning me. Nissan just charges an arm and a leg.

I thought about picking up one from a wreck. I'll do a few things myself, but when I looked at this, I knew I wanted a mechanic to do it. This is the one cable that comes out of the ECM. So, there are at least twenty connectors for sensors, and a dozen or two for actuators -- not to mention that some of the connections are up under the dash.

This is a part on which Nissan has issued a TSB, because apparently the cable has been know to short out at a place where it bends. The labor itself was over $1,000. So, my dilemma was, do I put in an old cable, that might have its own problems, or that might short-out during the installation -- in which case I might have to spend another grand to install one more? Or, do I put in a new cable that at least the mechanic will give me a warranty on, if it fails?

I spent the 3 grand. It's not like I have a pile of cash sitting around doing nothing. It hurts to think about it. But, in the long run, it's probably a lot cheaper than getting something new. My biggest fear was that the mechanic was really guessing at the problem and that I'd be out 3 grand, and still have broken car. The good news is it now runs great --- better than it has in a while. So, with 85,000 mile on it, I'm hoping that money will buy me at least a couple more years.

 

I got 181,000, on a 95. Still running like a dream. Engine and tranny solid (knock on wood). Just got a 2006 Pathfinder LE with basically the same engine more HP. Love that 95 max everyone wants to buy it.