Good Afternoon Fellow 4th Gen Owners,

My user name is from when I owned a previous 4th & not my current baby.

I just purchased this 4th Gen 1 Owner Gem from an elderly man who maintained this car very well which makes the 2nd owner . I am a newbie to the Maxima world & looking for a little direction on the best approach for restoring her.

Below are her specifications:

1995, Nissan Maxima SE V6 3.0, 5 Speed, 150k & once again, I am the 2nd Owner.

Mechanically she has the below issues that are known as my mechanic scanned my cars computer:
1) Cam Sensor - Just replaced today
2) Knock Sensor -
3) EVAP Sensor -
4) One of the fuel injectors is bad - My mechanic said I should replace this before the above listed sensors.

The below are repairs I intend to have done ASAP.
1) Brakes - I plan on replacing all (4) pads & rotors.
2) Suspension - I intend to lower her height but not exactly sure what is the best approach. Coil overs or Springs? Any suggestions?
3) Replace the Engine Oil & Transmission Fluid.

I appreciate any direction as I am looking to restore this vehicle as I acquired her at an extremely FAIR price.

 

At least it's body is sweet...

 

I don't understand, you say you owned a 4th gen before (reason to your username is 98MaxGLE234k), but you say you're a (newbie to the Maxima world)?

 

The 98 4th Gen I owned was for a very short time. I do mean short as the car literally caught fire maybe 3 weeks after owning it so I never had a chance to repair/modify it.

This one however is in way better condition then its predecessor & has way better history with the car.

Apologies for any confusion.

 

There are blemishes which are disguised well in photos but overall the body is decent to somewhat strong shape. I am aiming to have her painted in Spring once I have all of the required repairs completed.

 

Mine is all beat up..over 250k on it.leaking oil from the main seal but runs like a beast...brakes,exhaust, rims,body,and moter woke in a month 5hen she is back on the road ....well hoping. Trying to track down a nice muffler system. ..

 

Yep

 

Thank you for your response & I hope you have an awesome time with your rebuild. Are you planning on lowering the car? I am leaning towards using springs as supposed to coil overs purely for $ reasons as I am not interested in raising or lowering the height after my initial upgrade.

Good luck...

 

What did she set you back?

 

I'll lower it because I am in FL.. go it for 500..

 

But just springs may not be that good because the car is heavy. ..just my tough...my corolla is on springs tho...I am just shopping around looking for parts but nothing yet ..just the manifold to the y pipe cost me 150.. looking for the rear end now..

 

I live in NY so & do not want to lower it to much due to the lovely pot holes we have up here. LoL

$500 is a fair price. I paid $900 for mine.

 

What would you do in terms of upgrading the suspension if this were your car? I am totally new to this world & not sure where to start.

 

First check the engine and fix that....braeks ....then suspension ....thenbody..I use to live in ny for 13 years...just moved to Fl...we're in ny you at..maybe you can check out the car meets an flushing medos park has a lot of people that can help you out their ....

 

That is what I am doing now. I swapped out the camshaft sensor yesterday & will be changing the EVAP Sensor, Knock Sensors & one of the injectors as they are throwing codes.

Once those are swapped I am going to have her undergo a full tune-up, change the oil & tranny fluid & change the brakes/rotors.

I am leaning towards having her painted in the spring time.

 

Well maintained but needing work...? If it was maintained well, wouldn't those issues not be present? Just saying.

Seems like you got a good price and I hope it brings you many more miles.

 

The previous owner maintained it well enough as it appears that these sensors & one injector are the main noticeable issues. I am taking it easy with her now until I get her running 100% but I did get her up to 65 mph just so I can shift the gears & no issues at all. I mean NONE WHATSOEVER.

So im guessing once I have these sensors & injector replaced, I could then focus on upgrading her.

 

Nice...

 

how did the 98 max catch on fire?

 

I am not exactly sure but all I remember I smelled fuel when I attempted to start her up & she wouldn't kick over. I tried again to start her up & then I saw smoke. When I opened the hood that is what really set the fire off.

I am not 100% sure what was the cause but I have always wondered about it.

 

Dam man sorry....at least you are ok and can maybe rebuild or get a next one....and use some of the parts...? Question for you would a 00 to 03 muffler from the mid fit my 98?

 

All I could think of that'd catch on fire is an alternator, or a leak somewhere. I'm not too sure on what can cause a fire.. Fuel lines.. Not sure

 

Leaking fuel lines due to age will cause more fires in the future.
It would be a very good idea to replace all the fuel line hoses whenever the uim is removed. Be sure to only use hose intended for fuel injection.

 

Thank you for the advice!!!

 

I am not exactly sure as I am newbie to the Maxima world.

 

I know it's been a while since I posted on the status. Since my last post, I have replaced the Alternator & she has been running O.K., however she is having a terrible starting problem which I believe is related to the transmission not being properly grounded. I am going to have my mechanic drop the transmission & sand the surfaces.

 

I don't see the need for drippin the trans...you can clean all those grounds yourself..very easy to do...

 

I don't think you guys are on the same page....

Instead of dropping the trans to fix it, you could simply add a couple of grounds from the bellhousing to the negative of the battery.

 

Maxima 297 added the ground to the transmission , then to the negative terminal of the battery. The starting problem went away immediately.

 

My starting problems have always been weak starter or battery related.