I am not sure, maybe this should be in the for sale / wanted section...

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/2886237494.html

Saw this while browsing Craigs today and I was just curious to see what other Maxima gearheads thought of the potential of this car. Worst case I would guess would be a blown head?

She sure looked pretty and is local for me...just got my 5th gen all tuned back up for the road and have max fever again.

 

If I had the money, I'd use it as a shell for a project. Not a bad deal, and I'm thinking you could also haggle with them a bit, and probably bring it down to around 650 if they would cave in. But again, only as a project car.

Work, you're looking at around 500-1000 if the tranny is out, and you do all sorts of tune ups for it to run decently. If the motor is bad, again, you could just slap in another vq for around 500 or, in my case, look for a 3.5 for 900. But again, just whatever your mindset is for the future of this car.

Again, just my .02

 

If you do the work yourself, then the transmission shouldn't be 500-1000. $400 tops. The engine might just need a couple of coils or injectors...but you're right, talk them way down if you want the car. That car is worth maybe $100 as a trade in/junkyard car. Even if you fixed everything it's probably still only worth $1500-2000 tops. If it didn't have transmission issues and the engine problems were just tune-up related things, then I would say yes. But with the money and time you'd have to invest, it doesn't make sense...

 

sounds like a headache to me. Tranny issues, possible motor issues....Keep looking, imo.

 

My buddy got a mildly 184k use i30t LSD transmission for $93 with warranty at a junkyard on half off day sale, which is why it depends on how much you get it for and it's exactly what I'll be getting and stashing away to get this 3.5 swap underway

 

Emailed the guy....hes had it listed since the 5th. I think he might wiggle now...something that like that I'd figured would have been gone. Here are the answers to some questions I'd asked him. I wish the tranny wasn't shot...I doubt thats a computer problem...I know in a Honda it would be (capacitors buldge in trans computer) but I've never owned an auto max so I've never read into them. Sounds like engine could be alright, head gaskets intact, timing has to be intact or it wouldn't run...

Thanks for all the input so far. Helpful to know the "street" prices on engines and transmissions. :P

I'd just want to put it back on the road...I buy cars here and there and tinker on them and some I license and drive for a bit to and from work then sell others I just sell...trade them around. It's just a hobby... Wouldn't need it to be a daily driver any time soon.

Only transmission I've ever put in was a turbo 350 in a chevy truck....don't know for SURE I can pull that off. Do have access to cheap labor. Happy to tackle the engine work myself and any other work it might need.

"The tranny just doesn't shift into high - it cruised at 3500rpm at 75mph. It won't manually shift, but I've never noticed it slipping.
Heat, AC, power windows, power locks, power seats all work. The seats are cloth.
The battery is toast, and it won't even jump. It will start and run (chugs), but will be lucky to hit 35mph."

"I just checked the fluids - there is no water in the oil and all the fluids are fine.
My wife says no check engine light came on."



EDIT: Isnt there a button to lock out over drive on the shifter? LOL Wouldn't that be nuts? Surely not...

 

I'd buy it. Looks to be in pretty good shape cosmetically. You never know the ability of the previous owner, so it could be something simple that is wrong with it. I bought mine with the dealer telling me it needed a new timing chain because of the way it started or rather wouldn't start. Bought a 7 dollar ground wire, grounded the starter, and it starts perfect everytime. If I had a way to bring it to kentucky and had the extra money right now I'd be sending him a message myself.

 

the description of the engine troubles sounds like coilpacks 100% to me. i too bought a maxima with this issue. i knew what it was the second i drove the car. took it home and had it running like a champ in 20 minutes (obviously 20 minutes likely won't take care of the trans problems, but it will likely take care of the engine problems i'd say from the description he gives.)

 

I'd go for it if everything else looks good such as the interior, and maybe the transmission's low or has the wrong fluid in it.....I would do it and swap out the trans if it's bad.....coilpacks are probably the issue with the rough running or an intake leak.....

 

Welp, don't leave me at home with a truck and trailer unless you want something to happen.





More here: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v470/saddles/


Trans probably has something going on. Might still be computer issue, but I doub't it. I started it up and it took it a bit to idle on its own. Finally idled out at around 800rpm. Running terrible...I am not sure, probably coil packs. Ran it for a bit with no check engine light coming on. Drove it on the trailer, didnt have the power to drive up on the trailer aimed up hill.

Great looking car. Interior is very clean, paint is good, little clear on the rear bumper lifting. All in all very good car. All the power options work, non bose with CD. I guess its a GLE? No sunroof nor leather though....but the chrome door handles and windows. I forget how that breaks out. Walked away with it for $640 and 3 extra BBS wheels with it, haven't looked at them other than to see they were aluminum for scrap. Might be good for someone though.

I'll dig into it more when the rain lets up. Hopefully know whats going on one night this week. Couldn't let it sit all stranded behind that duplex...Its a Maxima , afterall!

 

gxe

 

Put a new battery in it and let it run for just a bit.

Pulled the maf connector, and the idle actually improved? Plugging it back in kills the car.

Engine is not making any noise, plenty of air sucking through air box. It is making a "puff, puff, puff" kind of sound from the exhaust, which I have read could be coils. I am going to pull the plugs and examine them and also hopefully ohm the coils. Also plan to check for ghost codes. Also plan to spray a bit of carb cleaner in the air above intake and see if idle is affected.

Any other things to dig into?

UPDATE: Pulled codes, 0102 - MAF 0304 - Knock Sensor I'm liking this car even more. Caught the OD light blink on and off too...I'm headed out to pull codes per the FSM now....

 

thats a friggin clean interior compared to mine! I have your same interior with the exception of the SE white guages. My panels are torn up. I'm jealous of the way your floor looks. Seems like even with the work you have a good find! Good luck with breathing some new life into that max

 

So u bought it? no wonder the link was down lol.

Yeah man, check the car out, do a tune up, let us know if u have issues

 

@ Phromethius, yeah the looks of the car helped her come home with me. Saw potential even if there was work to be done. Body has a small dent I can pull out and clear is flaking off rear bumper and a spot on roof...not the end of the world, no rust. Little asian lady drove it, she explained how she never let anyone eat in it and how she had seat covers on it etc over and over as I checked the car over lol. It's in better shape inside than my old 4th and possibly even my 5th gen until I clean it properly....120k mi with the 5th gen has really gotten her dirty!

@cashoit, yep shes here at the house. Couldn't leave it all stranded out there in hick town. Scrap prices are high and I bet if it hadn't got it someone would of gotten it for that purpose if the guy had caved on the price a little more.