Found a 1998 SE for sale. It needs some body work in the front but runs and drives as is. Interior is good and everything still seems to work fine.

As far as the engine, the wife has an 89 and the daughter has a 93 but haven't had any experience with the SE motors. This one has 177K on it so a little high. Anything I should check out before making the decision?

Did check the basics, tire wear is even all the way around. Don't see any notable leaks under the car and no funky noises in the motor.

If I do pick it up hope I can find someone reasonably close parting a 4G.

 

dude, your money your decision. a pic or 2 would be nice, and run a car facts on it to be sure. that kind of mileage could be anything getting ready to go wrong with it, ie, o2 sensor, knock sensor, check suspension, fluids, especially color and smell of tranny fluid. if thats burnt or brown then id be careful.

 

it still has a lot of life left, get it checked out by a mechanic and what is the asking price?

 

check to see if the radiator core support is rusted to hell, I wish i would have known about this common problem with 4thgens when i bought my car.

check the cv boots, y-pipe (see if it is rusted badly)


some of the things that commonly go bad are : steering rack, starter, brake calipers, exhaust system (corrosion), misc sensors (ie. cam sensor, crank sensor, O2 sensors). water pump.

im sure i missed a few things, so please feel free to add to my list.

If the price is right, go for it, these cars are pretty reliable, aside from my cam sensor, my 98 i30 has never left me stranded.

 

If it's a 5 speed, have the mechanic check for play in the differential carrier bearings.

Dave

 

Now much?

 

$800 for the car. Needs fenders, bumper and core support. Hood, radiator and condenser are good. Got hit once on the driver side fender then again on the passenger front corner a couple months later while it was parked. How they both missed the hood is beyond me. Hasn't been replaced either.

Have rebuilt 3 cars with similar damage and this one isn't bad by comparison. Not really worried about that aspect of the job. It's a lot of labor but the parts aren't that bad. We did the same job plus some on my daughter's 93. Took me a little over 2 weeks start to finish with paint, timing belt and water pump but it turned out pretty nice.

Will take a good look underneath at the exhaust, CV's and look for coolant leaks from the pump area. It is an automatic and the fluid looks clean. Brake rotors look good, in fact pretty new. No notable wear or grooves. Hope it drives out ok. Would like to have another Max in the family.

 

i would start the car and listen to it cold to see if the timing chain tensioner rattles at all cause thats kind of a pain to do.

 

Just do the normal checks, the SE engine is the same basic as 96 - 99 maximas. My 96 SE 5 speed has 205K, engine is still pretty strong, original clutch, new stuts, starter, knock sensor, o2 probes, water pump ---- normal wear out items. I presently have a 99 i30t, 99 GLE (daughters) and my 96.

No comment on transmission Sense you have already checked the transmission fluid,

$800 doesn't sound too bad.


Good luck,

 

SOunds Worth it

 

another thing to watch out for on some 98's is the alternator. there is a recall for alternators for maximas built b/w 2/97 - 2/98. Check the manufacture date on the door jamb to see if that max falls under the alternator recall. Other than that, and like others have mentioned, do the normal check-ups

http://forums.maxima.org/3498892-post42.html

 

I would say bottomline it's a good start. Either way you would need to put some money in a 10 year old vehicle in regards to maintenance and regular wear and tear items.

So as long as the current repairs/parts you need to make to get it going would not exceed the the cost of what comparable 98 is going for...I'd say jump on it.

 

i would do what 4grookie said. jump on it. youll have to replace some parts that eventually go out just because of how old it is and the mileage of it. but theyll last a while if you take care of it.