Hello everyone! I'm the new owner of a 1996 Nissan Maxima with 190,000 miles and a little scared. I haven't even got it through emmissions because the car wouldn't restart in the emissions line. The emissions guy refused to test my car because you had to jiggle the key to get it started.

So, I took to a local Nissan Dealership and they fixed the problem which was the ignition switch. I asked them to look it over to make sure it's safe and they came up with a list. I do need the car to be safe for my teenage daughter.

Please feel free what repair needs to be done right away in order or priority. I haven't even picked up the car yet.

Here's the list from the Nissan Dealership and I feel like a bought a lemon but with these miles, do these items routinely go bad? Please comment

1) Front brakes with rotors and hardware kit, $390.00+taxes with aftermarket rotors, $550.00+taxes with all factory parts
2) Cam shaft sensor leaking oil, $170.00+tax
3) Water pump leaking, $650.00+taxes
4) Left cv axle needs replaced, Right axle seal leaking: $510.00+taxes
5) Valve cover gaskets leaking and power steering suction hose leaking: $830.00+tax
6) Drive belts are cracked, Front crank seal is leaking: $350.00+taxes, both lower motor mounts broken: $575.00+taxes

Some items and prices are combined based on same urgency.

That is what the dealership says. My brother told me to get a second opinion from one of the better reputable auto repair shops in the area. He also said he felt # 6 is the most important. Both Motor mount are cracked.

When I test drove the car. There was no check engine light. The engine sounded strong and automatic tranny switched smoothly in all gears. The car has some oxidation on the hood. Nissan told me they couldn't do much to make that look better. It's not that bad. (sorry Don't have pictures because car is in the Nissan shop)

So I bought this 1996 Maxima. What are your thoughts? Really need advice.
I am a Mom on a budget with two teenagers that recently started driving.

Do these cars easily go over 250,000 miles if take care of?

Thanks in advance and I hope to relay my experiences on here to help others.

(If this double posts I'm sorry I can't find my first post)

 

Those sound like dealership prices. All that work could be done by yourself relatively cheap. Nissan charges 120 an hr dependind on location. Get a quote from a local trusted mechanic. Or a local orger willing to do the work

these cars will last if u keep them mantained And keep oil and coolant in them.

 

Omg please don't pay those prices!!! You can do all the work yourself for a fraction of the costs! For that matter you can buy the tools and pay a fellow org member to help or do everything and still come out ahead!

I understand you may be older and may not want to do all that work or be able too but for the cost of repairs you could easily fix everything with lifetime warranty parts or at least a few years on certain things and have leftovers to fix up the looks or suspension or put in a nice car audio system... heck if you were in Texas I would do it for you for a heck of a lot less!

 

Hi! Thanks for responding! I can't do any of those jobs! I really wish I could.

What's the next best thing ? My brother is 2 thousand miles away and I have no Auto skilled friends.

Thanks!

 

Keep shopping around for local mechanics. Be patient and you will save HUNDREDS over Nissan prices.

If you are up to it, buy all the parts yourself online and bring it to a shop to do the install. Since you know exactly what is wrong.


EDIT: Also, post this thread up in the Atlanta section of this forum. There has to be .org'ers that have the mechanical knowledge to tackle those jobs will charge less than a dealership. Plus, you can make a friend out of it.

 

if you're on a budget I can help. problems on vehicles should always be fixed and done the right way though. if maintained properly, these cars will last FOREVER.

1) brakes are obviously important, I will keep that number 1.
2) drive belts, crank seal, and motor mounts.
3) water pump
4) cv axles, if these are bad, they can wear out tires quicker. if you hear a clicking noise while turning, replace these.
5) valve cover gaskets(depending on how bad they are. this is a very common problem due to faulty design on nissans part. if it leaks a few drops, you're good for a while, if it's pouring out, fix it)
6) cam shaft sensor. I have never seen these leak very bad at all.

 

I would take it anwhere but the dealer.
Old cars leak some, if the leaks are minor they can wait. If the water pump leak is bad, it needs attention and that is the most expensive hard to do repair.
Do you notice any problem with the brakes? Have another mechanic look at them (prefereably not a brake shop - they will just want to replace them as well!).
Plenty of Maximas out there with 250 plus miles. Mine has 232.

 

My Maxima is a 96 SE with 23x,xxx miles. Should be pushing 240k soon and the motor is still running strong. They literally will run forever. My uncle had an early 90's that went over 500k.

 

BTW, I am fairly busy and can't do all of that stuff, but If any other Atlanta .orgers want to get together and do this stuff I wouldn't mind helping out.

 

CAM SHAFT SENSOR can be fixed for POCKET CHANGE, NO JOKE. It is usually just a simple rubber O ring that hardens and flatens in the sensor groove.

Unplug the connector on the timing chain cover, take a screw driver unscrew the sensor pull out change O ring and oil leak is FIXED.

169.30 dollars saved and you fixed that issue in about 3 minutes.

PLEASE use the forum and address some of these yourself. That is ridiculous pricing for the majority of that stuff.

<---- 96 with 223k miles and going strong.

Keep Brakes number 1. Drive belts can be done yourself with simple hand tools and nice car jack. But also not very expensive. Thats too much even with labor for belts. Don't know the difficulty concerning Mounts. Then I would address the CV axles. But definitely get a qoute from a non-dealer mechanic. Maybe one with Import speciality.

Good luck! these machines are worth the long haul but you have to be savy with what you choose to do yourself and what to outsource to a mechanic.

 

i went to a junkyard and saw a clean 4th gen max. nicer exterior than mine. 301k miles and the clutch was like butter. engine was clean (torn apart) my guess was they had tranny problems and just bought a new car.

 

Check my Sig and click the link for the one that says pmohr. He has a ton of how to videos which may help you with some of your problems...I would bet you can probably do the brakes yourself. People become overwhelmed because they are brakes and very important but honestly, once the wheel is removed, it's 4 bolts to change your pads and rotors.

Edit: here is the link to his front brake video provided the link works. Replacing front Brakes 4th Gen Maxima


Please do not pay that dealer that money! Check out the rest of his videos

As someone said above, that cam sensor is literally 1 10mm bolt to get it off. It is located on the passenger side of the engine and can be seen just by opening the hood. Pull it out, pull the rubber o-ring off, go to auto store and buy a new one for less than $1 and that should fix that leak.

Edit Again: Heres a link to the cam sensor fix http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...sor-phase.html

Here is a link to a pic of the cam sensor http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/Pr...sor_96_max.jpg In the pic, you can see where the oil filler cap is so you can use that as a reference point.

 

to pay those prices, you might as well buy a whole new (used) car. that's way too much.. local mechanics are the way to go. order the parts you need online, bring them to a reputable mechanic who owns his own shop, and you will save hundreds. most will even negotiate a price with you if they're cool. anything but the dealership.

 

The motor mounts and water pump are probably best done by a shop. Most of the rest a good DIY person could handle, but understand if you are not able to do that.

If you are anywhere near Kennesaw/Powder Springs, I have a couple of alternatives for you. First, our church in Powder Springs runs a car care ministry once a month. We would do anything on this list except the water pump, motor mounts and maybe the rear valve cover gasket. Folks pay for their parts; labor is free. I also know an excellent repair shop in Kennesaw- they do all my work that I can't/won't/don't want to do.

PM me and I will give you contact names and numbers for both.

 

Do you have mechanically inclined friends? Buy your own parts and have a buddy do the work if you can't.

1) Front brakes with rotors and hardware kit, $390.00+taxes with aftermarket rotors, $550.00+taxes with all factory parts
Less than $100.00 in parts + brake cleaner. 1st priority

2) Cam shaft sensor leaking oil, $170.00+tax
$0.25 o-ring from the hardware store 6th priority

3) Water pump leaking, $650.00+taxes
NO personal experience on this. 2nd priority

4) Left cv axle needs replaced, Right axle seal leaking: $510.00+taxes
Less than $100 from any store 5th priority

5) Valve cover gaskets leaking and power steering suction hose leaking: $830.00+tax
Gaskets less than $150 IIRC.4th priority

6) Drive belts are cracked, Front crank seal is leaking: $350.00+taxes, both lower motor mounts broken: $575.00+taxes
Ebay motor mounts + napa/advanced auto belts would be cheaper. 3rd priority

 

The water pump isnt really hard to change either. Two hrs tops. But they are plenty of orgers in atl who will do the work for less. Post in the southeast section u are looking for a local mechanic to fix the car