Hello, im 21 and i dont have a car. my mom has had her 86 maxima sitting for 2 years. basically if i can fix it up its mine.. im not a dumb kid, but i dont have any experience in fixing cars, so i need alot of advice..

what i think or know about the cars issues..
the auto trans would have some trouble getting into drive from N, it wasnt an everyday thing, but it happened before it was parked. radio is completely dead. needs new paint. needs new interior(its weather beating into hell). need tires (its been parked so they are jacked). fuilds and battery of course. motor seems good, around 100k miles.. some of the electronic things like window motors might need to be replaced as well..

is it worth it to fix?
-i kinda like the car, i wanna paint it black(or a custom color to stand out), get nice rims and a good sound system.. but i dont wanna waste money ona car that may crap out in 6months you know?


i have pics, but ill need to edit and find a free upload site..

if anyone wouldnt mind giving me some personal help id be very greatful.
i see alot of members in socal too..

Aim= Dissolved14

 

my only concern with the car would be the transmission. If you transmission is toast I am not sure it would be worth it....but all the other stuff is no big deal. As far as mileage I have 267k on my 87 and it still runs strong. I would drain and refill the tranny fluid then see where you stand.

 

Sounds like the trouble your having with the tranny is possibly with the shifter bushing. Those have been known to go bad and make it difficult to select a proper gear. I'd say do a drain and refill of the tranny, get it running again and see from there.

S

 

whats a good color to repaint it?

 

Well, whatever color you want, of course!

Keep in mind that if you go to your friendly neighborhood Maaco and you choose a different color, they will charge extra to paint the door jambs and won't do the inside of the hood, engine bay, or trunk. So you may have a nice silver new paint job with dark red door jambs. What color is it now?

 

same as yours silver n gold...

 

i'd basicly start with the basics and work your way onward.

oil change
battery
transmission fluid change
tires
change the timing belt
probally need to change the alternator shotly but thats a regular thing
spark plugs
dont forget the gasoline

check the breaks when you get new tires, fuses and what not too

then go for the other things, 100k isnt too bad for a car this old, mines got 165,000miles and thats still considered low milage by the national average

 

The engine will run for a long time. The only worry is the sensors with the engine. Watch out for the mas airflow sensor, cylinder head temp sensor. Those are the two hardest to take care of. The MAF sensor is expensive. The CHTS is hard to get to. If you replace the timing belt get a new water pump, and a new CHTS and harness for it. Just to be safe and save yourself some aggrevation

 

I like how Niku-Sama bold change the timing belt. I know someone that really applies too.

S

 

anyone know how much it would cost to get all the seats and interior fixed?

 

You can probably get all the seats from a junkyard for around $100. Try to find a junkyard that will let you pull your own stuff they are always cheaper and willing to negotiate.

 

i agree with the junkyard thing bu ti have a question will the 240 bucket seats fit into our cars with little or no modification/fabrications for any part of the maxima the junkyard is a good place plus you saod that you live in socal so i would go to an el pupo "pick your part" or an ecology autowrecking we have a few of those down here i go to them a lot. good hunting!

 

You said and I quote "I don't want to waste money". Then I would suggest in investing in the car itself and not the "pimp stuff" (sound system, rims, ect...) The engine will last and run for you awhile........ Take care of the car and the car will take care of you..... The car dosen't need to look good, to run good. So spend the money in the mechanics of the car.

 

Words well spoken from the new guy.

S

 

In the words of Hostage Lover and a true mechanic - engine work first, body and sound later! I have the same situaution going on as you hon.... I have an 86 and when I got the car, it didn't run (alternator) and the engine looked like someone placed a dirt bomb inside and shut the hood right before it went off! But after some (MAJOR) engine degreaser and some TLC the car is starting to shape up ! One other thing that I would add to the list is flush the radiator. The reason being that this can tell you a lot about any leaks, blown gaskets (head gaskets that are blown will cause oil to go into the radiator and coolant to go into your engine-Can we say "bye-bye engine"?) The mileage on your car is nothing . I have 180,000 on mine and it has been thru at least 3 owners.... Unfortunately I have discovered that no other mechanic has done any major repairs on this car, and the last person to try and "personalize/restore" this car had absolutely no clue and no patience. PCV valve, air filter (invest in a K&N), check the rotors (think BRAKES!), Serpentine belt (different than timing), and HOSES!!! After the car has sat for that long, dry rot has become the cars worst enemy. Hoses (think little, thin, vacuum or liquid filled ones espcially) can make alllllll the difference in the way the car runs (and yes it will - have faith).
Sorry for the run on but I'm trying to think of all the stuff that can make all the difference and cost the least. Most of these things are things that I have come across in my car.
Hope it all helps!!!!

 

There are members with 200 and 300k miles plus here.

S

 

I finally retired my '87 with 275,000+ miles and very little work and expense while it was running.

 

Hi
new member just joined.
read your old thread.
Hope you went ahead with your moms 86. 100,000 miles?, its almost brand new. Mine has 354,000 and has never let me down, and if weren't for Iowa winters it would still look pretty good.