RPMiracle

Yea, that'll surely make him happy! LOL

atxking27

iTrader: (8)

if done right with patience, (which I dont have much of) The 4G63T is a B.M.F.!! Id take one over the max. Its just always going to be a reliability issue with that car.

OC guy

iTrader: (7)

dont forget that there are chances that other parts will expire/fail such as coils, oxygen sensors, starter, alternator, catalytic convertor, MAF sensor, etc etc. When you hit around 150k you might be paying for all these so start your saving. Well what can you expect from maxima? goodluck.

EDIT: i forgot to mention Engine mounts, tie rods, Tranny if you are not that unlucky.

MichMaxFan

My statements are really only for those newbies who are learning as I have about importance of regular maint. I have done the AutRx thing w/ the tranny & lots of tranny fluid changes to be sure it is fresh and will stay that way. Coolant changes. PS fluid changes. Brake fluid change. Fuel filter change. Etc., Etc.

My point is that my car runs smoother, quiter at idle, cant even feel it idle from inside the car. If you are debating regular maint, dont think about it anymore and either pay to get it done or learn to do it yourself. If my car needs repair, I certainly am not gonna find out it was because I didnt change out fluids, etc and caused a $$$ repair over $20 saved.

Oh, and I too, have a binder w/ all my maint records in it. I have a spreadsheet regularly updated & printed and slipped into those plastic protective sleeves w/ all maint performed in order by mileage; as well as what's due, when it's due, brand of items I use, and I even log "notes" that are key to how the car runs and what I notice - shld I need to refer to them later I at least have something to review. It may sound geeky, but there's no wondering whatsoever what the condition/status is of my vehicles. I log that I checked the battery fluid level to be sure it never causes issues from low fluid!! I even log how much coolant & when & mileage I have to add to my Caravan! (It's got an intake leak, I think)

I'm a buyer's dream seller....all records on display and in order!!

MaxBoost925

iTrader: (33)

So Metal Maxima, when did you come back? haha.

No doubt about it. 5th gen is a money pit - even compared to a 4th gen.

Common probs I faced:
MAF
Wheel bearings
Passenger axle bracket
Axles
o2 sensors
coilpacks

...that's all I can think of at the moment.



I love my toyota!

SSandMaxima

Anytime you have a car with 120k+ miles on it, you should ALWAYS be expecting to replace parts, and thanking God when you don't have to .

I am just now hitting 120K on my '00 max, and know that stuff happens. I have done all of the maintenance, but that doesn't mean that nothing will break down. I have no way of knowing if something will die tomorrow or next year.

Besides a few TSBs, the only known problem that was never a TSB is the coils (cost me $300 for all six, I replaced them myself in about an hour). O2 sensors are known to go bad after about 100k, but that is typical of O2 sensors on all cars. In the 100k miles that I have owned the car, it has never broken down or been in the shop. That matches a 1993 Honda Civic and a 1991 Chevy Lumina that I had, both which went almost 175k miles each without a hitch.
OTOH, I had a Mazda 626 once that was a true money pit. There was not one system in that car (engine, cooling, electrical, transmission, a/c, etc) that did not break down. When I sold that thing (to the dealership that I bought my Honda) every part of that car was about to crap out.

Generally speaking, cars will last a long time as long as regular maintenance is performed. Once a car runs hot (cooling) or runs low enough on oil to kick off the sensor, all bets are off.

p.s. My rule of thumb/goal is 10-20 cents a mile. If I spend $1000 in repairs, I expect to get 5000 more miles and hope to get 10000 more miles. If I spend $1000 in repairs and get less than 5000 miles before I have to spend another $1000 in repairs and then get less than 5000 miles again, then I start looking to get rid of the car. For the 1993 Chevy Lumina that I listed above ultimately cost me less than 7cents per mile, excluding insurance, gasoline and regular maintenance (i.e. I put the purchase price plus the total cost of repairs divided by the total miles that I put on the car). It was the lowest cost of ownership of any car that I've ever owned.

Max_Gator

Yeah, I don't know why anyone thinks you have to change any gasket when you change the plugs.

I have no clue where the OP gets that from but it is totally incorrect.

The only thing I can think he means to say is that the spark plug tube seals cannot be replaced without replacing the entire valve cover. THAT is stupid.

Not to say there are no known issues, though. (i.e the PS hose for sure and wheel bearings).

OP - how long did your AC compressor last on those hondas? Less than 100k I'd bet.

Max_Gator

Good lord - an early 90s Lumina that went 175k without a hitch? You my friend had a special version for sure.

playboi21617

you shouldnt of bought with so many miles. i bought my care with 69k 3 years ago. and i to this day i still see cars with the same mileage way less than that

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Sell it and be happy. Get something you like.

Mrhotsauce31

I've had my max for a year and no problems yet. Most poeple who take care of there maximas hae them for a long time

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

I have 2 VQ Maximas with a combined age of 18 years, and a combined mileage of 350K and still no major problems.

niceguy

Not to shoot a dead horse, but every car will have it's own circumstances regardless of make...Re the Lumina, my in laws have a '96 model w/just over 275k and have only performed basic maintenance (3.1L).
My first car was an '85 Mazda 626 2.0 carb'd hatch that went over 400k on stock engine/tranny before I gave it to my brother....

My '93 Altima has 257k and is in near mint shape mechanically and cosmetically...My '94 Grand Voyager has 211k w/a 3.3L and doesn't burn any oil, a miracle in itself....

You just never know w/any car new or used....decide for yourself if it's worth gambling on something else...

kcxd35

iTrader: (2)

I love mine..almost 70K and running great, never a problem...

StnBluPearlMax

Mine's at almost 140k, and has had the really basic issues - wheel beearing, battery, o2 sensor, the throwout bearing is now going out. For me, at first, it felt like the car had some really massive issues. Then I thought about how I used to trade cars off every >1 years, and realized that I'd never kept one long enough to have a problem.

I think if the car is fixed up to where the majority of previous owner issues are taken care of, you'll find yourself with a really great, long lasting vehicle.

When my spark plugs were replaced, there was no gasket that they replaced, so I'm not sure what you're talking about there...

MaxSpeed925, I really wouldn't say the 5th gens are a "money pit" when you consider the upkeep of a Max to say, a Ford Taurus. Hit 100k and watch parts start falling off.

Scott LaRock

iTrader: (5)

my mecanic says i need to change the intake gasket, basicallhy its something the he says should be changed when doing the plugs since he says they cannot go back on the car after use.

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

It only needs to be changed if it's been damaged somehow, otherwise you can just throw the UIM back on. I can't count how many times I've had a 3.5 UIM off and back on without replacing the gasket, 20 times that with the Z33.

realtor

My wife's car is an '03 that just turned 141k and the only major issue that it ever had was a bad wheel bearing. We bought it with 22K miles and I have always used mobil 1 5W30 synthetic oil in the engine and mobil 1 synthetic atf in the auto tranny. I used to own a '98 Nissan Quest that I bought with 4K miles and always used mobil 1 in that one too. When I got rid of it, it had more than 200K miles and the only major problem that it ever had was a bad starter and an ac leak.

Scott LaRock

iTrader: (5)

Guys pretty damn ignorant, he seems to be know it all, won't let me damn finish saying a sentence without cutting me off... I gotta learn to do this stuff myself.

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

I have yet to change mine.

Scott LaRock

iTrader: (5)

I told him to just install the radiator, I'll take time and do the plugs myself.

osufan_74

It's terrible the guy didn't take care of the car. When you test drove it you should have had it looked at maybe. At least drive it aggressively for more than just a little while. Any neglected car will have problems.

Scott LaRock

iTrader: (5)

Well from what I see he never changed plugs, a couple bad tires, needs a couple bearings and a couple other problems that I can see from the outside.

It definitely taught me a bit more common sense about cars but overall the engine runs pretty good.

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

The one in my '90 Accord went out at 255,000 miles. Original alternator made it to 175,000 and the starter 260,000. Newer Hondas aren't that reliable though. 4th gen Accords are very reliable though. Too bad if they get t-boned they split in half.

02_Maxima_6sd

All used cars might need a little work here or there to get them running just right. Once you address the repairs currently needed on your max, it should be great for a long time...I bought a 2002 max this year with 92k miles and believe me I feel your pain. I already had to replace the PS hose which set me back a few hundred bills. Once I put some ca$h towards the precat bank1, 02 sensors, and spark plugs I expect to be home free for another 50k+....either I go with "Plan A" by putting money into my max, or go with "Plan B" get another car with low mileage, extended warranty and have a huge car payment.....My income does not allow for plan B to take affect.
Consider your options and make the best decision for you situation.