gar777

I have a 98 Maxima GLE, auto trans, with 130K and want to know what parts I should maybe change as a preventative measure to make sure I don't break down and get stranded somewhere. So far the car has been super reliable but at 10 years old and 130K I figure some parts must be getting old and ready to give up the fight. I'd like to get another 30-50K trouble-free miles before I look for a new car.

Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

ThurzNite

iTrader: (13)

My alternator was replaced under the recall, I dunno about 1998's. Nothing else has failed me that I couldn't make it home. Like, cracked wheel, I threw on the spare. Belt tensioner pulley busted, but I had 1 week warning with the noise so I had a spare in the trunk. Took 30min in a parkinglot to swap in the new. Crank position sensor was a funky one, engine would die for no reason. I would wait 5min, start it up and drive home till it did it again. I mean, even my radiator busted, but I poured in water and made it home ok. Radiator is another parking-lot fix, so you won't be stranded.

From my experience, nothing's so bad that will leave you stranded. Hopefully you'll have some warning like weird noise or drives strange, before it actually blows.

Oh wait, 1 did leave me stranded 400 miles from home: 5sp gear blew up. Even that wasn't that bad, I just had it dolly'd home, swapped the tranny, and was good to go.



Dr J

edit: I just remembered another thing: wheel bearing. I drove for couple weeks w/busted bearing cuz I wasn't sure what the problem was. LOL. But again, plenty of warning before it seriously failed on me.

pmi3096

It all depends on the maintence the car has recieved. I too am around 130k. most things that break or need replacing tend to be minor. The starter went out on me and left me stranded before but if yours is working dont worry about it until it stop working. Just keep up on the maintence

99BlackMaxMS

iTrader: (85)

Do a 60K mile service.

http://www.vqpower.com/v2/readarticle.php?article_id=76

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Other than running out of fuel and the occasional flat tire, Battery +/- points(both terminals), starter, alternator, dead battery.

KillaJakez

iTrader: (1)

Brake light switch. I had it replaced recently. I had warnings though. The car wouldn't start (no engine noise at all) and I would slight the shifter back and forth many times and it would start.

AllMaxxedOut

iTrader: (15)

Check belts for wear/cracks. Change fluids regularly (oil, tranny, coolant flush, brake fluid, etc.). Watch for rusting on cross member, rad support. But mostly what Mexmax said and you shouldn't have a problem.

WhiteMaxima9600

Well I bought my max with 141k on it and basically just did a regular tune up. Belts, filters, hoses if needed, brakes, plugs etc... I have done all the upkeep on my vehicle and she still as strong today as the day i bought it. Keep your engine clean and maintained and it will run forever.. I'm at 200k now with no problems except a leaky power steering pump.

gar777

Great info, thanks--this forum rocks! I had the alternator recall, changed the starter last year and the battery's pretty new so that stuff should be good. I think the belt was changed but I need to check the service records. Other than oil changes, brakes/tires and cleaning the K&N air filter, I haven't done much maintenance since the original 60K service but I am planning on doing that stuff and changing the fluids (my bad on not having done the coolant or P/S fluid ever before, not sure about the tranny).

When do the coolant hoses, water pump and/or radiator typically go?

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

IIRC it calls for an inspection every 30 or 60k. Either way, look at them an take a note of their condition every 'season'.

DBear

Ignition switches go out pretty regularly. I suspect that you could pull the switch out and start it with a screwdriver in the switch itself, so maybe just know how to do that. (For that matter, once you've got access to the switch, you can just short the wires.)

kaneda_77

iTrader: (5)

what was the recall on the alternator? what symptoms did you show?