A guy on CL is selling a 4th gen max with 176k for 1700
I talked him down to 1200

He says it has a rough idle, he says the RPMS will rise to 800 them drop to about 500 and shake like it is gunna die.

My first thought is dirty fuel filter or bad fuel pump. What do you guys think? Should I buy it to resell?

 

seems like a good deal for a maxima!

 

Sounds like iacv. Buy it.

 

if it's something easy and cheap to fix that you can do yourself, then I say buy it, fix it, and sell it if you can make a couple of grand or so.

 

CEL on? If so pull codes, then decide if it's worth buying it? I bought 2002 Maxima that needs some real love for 1500 dollars. She is coming along...

 

Check carfax and check for rusting. Definitely pull codes and assuming that is good then go for it.

 

For that price i'd buy it. Worse case scenario, if someone hits you and your car is totaled, you'll probably get somewhere in the ballpark of $3,500 for it, so you'll be coming out ahead.

 

Do you need a carfax? i have like 4 reports left that I won't use and I can send you the results from it, I'd hate to see the extra reports go to waste

 

dude, seriously if your that close go check it out in person. we don't need another " should i buy it?" thread in here. c'mon now, you know there's issues with it, it's old, could be anything.

 

hunh??? 3,500.00???? where did you come up with that price?? probably be lucky to get 1,500 from what i've seen.

 

I'm going to look at it tomorrow. Ill give an update and most likely have a few questions. They said it sometimes has trouble starting.

 

Link to the cl ad, spencer?

 

1200 is a very good price go for it at worst u will have to put in like 300 bucks to fix issue so that is 1500 not bad

 

you didn't mention what year it was? if its a 95, $1200 is about retail with that many miles and I would stay away from it with a CEL on.

If its a 99, the price is fair even with a cel on.

good luck, decide if it makes sense to you.

 

really... at worst? what if the timing is off? Timing chain is way more than a 300 dollar job.

I found the CL ad:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/3503435768.html

Doesn't look bad...but not starting on a 97 could be CPS / CKPS, fuel filter...IACV, vac leak somewhere...or even blown engine.

I'd be worried about the auto trans with 180K on the clock...but that's just me, based on the no-start.

 

Update: they said they just replaced the timing chain tensioner, and a little bit after, they problem came up.

 

convenient.

Timing's probably off.

 

Easy fix? Or would I need to remove the timing chain?

 

well it "runs"...so

if timing was completely off it wouldn't even run.


The thing with "mechanic specials" on Craigslist is that if it doesn't run properly, it's usually never a simple fix. If it WAS a simple fix, they'd be the ones doing it.

Buyer beware...and be sure to get a vehicle inspection.

 

The only reason I thought it would be easy was because it is a 19 year old girl who seems to know very little about cars.

 

bring a mechanic friend with you

 

This. to the OP try to get the car a lot cheaper, im talking sub $1,000. Around the $500-$800 range. OH only if the rest of the car is good enough (no dings, dents,etc.)

If the seller is desperate than you might just get a good deal. And if after changing the ckpos, IACV, coipacks, starter, nothing happens, you could just 3.5 swap/5speed swap it. Or you could part it out.

 

sounds like a decent deal, i would grab it before someone else does, sounds like it may need a ects or a small amount of work, little parts u can pick up and the local junk yard and install yourself. i bought my 95 with a ton of issues, rad leaking, pulling to one side, shutting. off ect and it had 217k on the clock. so i would get it.

 

Insurance companies gather selling prices of similar cars in the area. They usually throw out the lowest and highest priced ones, and average the rest together. So, if there are 8 Maxima's like his with similar mileage in a 100 mile radius, and they average out to be $3,500, that's what he'll get. It's called fair market value, since they have to give him the replacement cost for the car. Let's say they average less, maybe $2,500... They won't cut him a check for $1,500 because that is a grand less than what he would need to purchase the same car.

It all depends on the area where you live. Around here, 4th gen Maxima's sell between $3,500 and $4,500, unless it is a basket case.

 

Update: went and took a look at the car, the timing chain was slapping pretty hard, I decided it wasn't worth the risk to make a couple hundred. If I am going to do anything with a timing chain, ill fix the leak in my timing chain cover. Thanks for everyone's thought and opinions!

 

good choice. i've had a timing rattle in my engine for almost 8 years, yes 8. as long as it quiets down after warm up, your fine. keep oil fresh and just keep an obd 2 reader handy and all your fluids fresh. i think people don't realize the importance of viscosity, and breakdown. that's when $hit fails and you find yourself at the roadside cursing at the car.