Hey everyone.

I'm a newbie to this forum and I'm very into buying this 98 I30t for my gf. It's a beuatiful car in great condition. It has 97,000 miles...I have a CarFax and everything looks good...

What I'm looking for is some advice from you guys on what exactly I should be looking for (any common issues with these cars)? Timing belt? Water Pump? Auto tranny issues? Any heads up would be greatly appreciated...I'll be sure to post some pix if I end up getting it...(which I'm pretty sure I will)...

 

There isn't any one thing that 96-99 I30's have major issues with. Most things are o2 sensors, knock sensors, coil packs and such. No real worries with the engine or tranny.

 

Yeah, I've learned that these cars are very well engineered and, consequently, seldom suffer malfunctions.

 

The I30 has a timing chain, not a timing belt.

The issues above are the main ones to worry about. Also, see if you can borrow a code scanner or take the car for a test-drive and go to an autozone and do an OBD2 scan for any "ghost" CEL codes.

WHen I boutght my car it had ghost codes that I suspect that the previous owner reset just prior to my 2 test drives...

 

Thanks to everyone for the replies...
I bought the car and I'll be picking it up this Friday or Saturday.

As I mentioned, this car has 97k on it...I'll get it scanned to see what it tells me, but does anyone have some suggestions for maintenance that I should do right away to it (oil change, new plugs/wires, etc) just to be sure that they have been done?

I'm going to go out and buy either a Haynes or Chilton manual (whichever seems more thorough) for this car or the Maxima.

I want to first apologize for the long post but I also want to apologize for my paranoia with this new car...when I bought my G1 Acura Legend, right away you needed to do the water pump and timing belt, and they tend to have a reputation for going through O2 sensors, ABS modules, Main Relays, and INEVITABLY get ticking valve lifters (very loud and embarassing). Thanks for the help guys

 

Plugs (NGK), fuel filter, PCV valve, and a tranny flush.

 

I personally would not do a tranny flush at that mileage unless you know that it has been flushed every 30k or so. If it has never been changed your probably better off leaving it alone, because if you do a flush your tranny will probably start to slip within 6 months.

I would stick with new NGK plugs, fuel filter, air filter and any other filter you can find.

I have heard BG makes a good injector cleaner, and Amsoil makes a good engine oil flush if you want to change to synthetic (you gotta love Mobil 1) I have never used either product though.

You may also want to clean your TB and MAF. Any TB cleaner on a rag will work. I have used CRC Contact Cleaner for the MAF, you can get it at Home Depot.

Just my .02

 

So you think that it is safer to leave the sludge in there rather than to flush it? What about at least a drain and refill?

 

sounds good...i cant wait to pick this car up....

 

my cousin bought 2000 i30 with 45K on it for 12.5K

 

I hear you on that one! I a couple years back I replaced (not flushed) my mother's 89 Ford Tempo transmission fluid and filter, that whent for about 60,000 without service. Infact, when I drained the the fliud there was filter floating in it!! Anyways, the old "gunk" in that tranny was the only thing keeping it togather, and because automatic transmission fluid is a strong detergent, when I added the new fluid it stripped and desroyed the clutch packs that were in such a delicate stage due to neglect!!

I think if the tranny has not been seviced for a long time, you are damned if you do and damned if you don't!

 

Thank you for explaining it i30ds

 

Any time...

 

damn....that sucks @ss....well i pick her up tomorrow...thanks for all the advice guys.....

 

So how does she look?

 

At the shop I work at we will not flush an auto tranny over 100K miles. The only time we make an exception is if the car has been taken care of by us its whole life and we know the tranny was properly maintained.

 

shes sweet!...
my only complaint is that my gf will be driving this car and it already is starting to look kinda girly...
Ill post some pix of it before its too late!