she's getting a white 93 in about two weeks, not sure if it's a GXE or GLE? not sure about the 3rd gen as I have a late model 4th gen. engines are slightly smaller SOHC and have plug wires... but what about timing belt/chain, do you have to change them in that gen? What else should be looked at? I may be able to check it out before she gets it, anything I should pay close attention to? The exhaust has a few holes in it, and theres rust on where the spoiler mounts both will get fixed. And it has a new clutch.

 

Hi,

first off there are only two model in this gen,

the gxe and se,

if there is a keypad on the door then it is a gxe, spoiler on the back then it is a se,

gxe have a vg engine, se have a ve engine,

gxe have color mirror with the body, the se have black mirror,

gxe have black guages, se have white guages,

look at the car first with the items i listed and let use know after that you have look at the car,

 

Two engine types available,
- VE 190hp, chain, no distributor, (Possible VTC overhaul)
- VGE 160hp SOHC (timing belt, yes, change it).

For VGE info look at http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/748507/1

 

if it's a SOHC it's a GXE PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!
which means you have a timing belt gotta be done every 60k , unless you like playing russian roulette with your motor

 

Well, she says the spoiler on it is very similiar if not exact to the one on my 99, an older guy owns it so I would assume he wouldn't put a spoiler on, if it didn't have one. It's a 5spd. Where the spoiler mounts to the car is a litttle rust but she will get that fixed after getting it. It has Bose audio but black cloth interior, no pin stripes down the car(not sure if that matters). So having said all that, it SHOULD be an SE? That's much better than I had hoped for her. So should it have plug wires, or coils? So other than basic maintenance and Timing belt/chain there isn't anything to check for? I was going to do general; oil and filter, air filter, fuel filter, plugs and wires or coils, and belts.

 

Sorry, I assumed all 3rd gens had only SOHC engines. My bad!

 

If its a 5-speed and a 93, then it is an SE and has the VE engine (timing chain). You really should verify the year, transmission type, and engine. If it is indeed an SE, the VE has a timing chain which doesn't need to be replaced, but the VTCs may be bad (as Wiking mentioned).

 

I'm trying to have her get the VIN so I can check it on carfax. She has driven it once already and it's a stick and the guy told her it's a 93, and it's def got a spoiler. other than that, I don't know... I just need to see it

 

I wasn't yelling at you. it was the other regulars, that I was yelling at

 

Well, we all know what assume does... I've got the VQ30DE and I thought the 3rd gen had only one engine throughout. Don't worry about it, no harm no foul!

 

ABS Unit for sure!!! I bought a 93 GXE and 2 day after i got it the ABS Actuator exploded, it took 2 and a half weeks to get the part and the when it was installed i sprung a leek in the brake line under the drivers seat, if you live in a area where they use a lot of salt, check the brake lines and the gas lines, there will be 5 lines, 3 gas and 2 brake. I had to replace all!!!. oh by the way the ABS Actuator is a $900 + Labor. the lines cost me $300 at a local shop. if i went to the dealership they would have charged me $1000.
then after i got the lines fixed the front driver side caliper started to seize up!

 

wiking mentioned timing chain repairs above... i just bought my second maxima - a 93 SE for $2300. 2 mechanics tell me it needs a timing chain repair, which could cost up to $2k. do i get it fixed? is there any advice you maxima pro's might have?
it's extremely well kept, black, no exterior damage, spoiler, 140k, 5spd, tons of maintenance records...but this timing chain thing, do i chance it and just drive it til i can afford the repair?

 

Mizeree alrady answered...

"If its a 5-speed and a 93, then it is an SE and has the VE engine (timing chain). You really should verify the year, transmission type, and engine. If it is indeed an SE, the VE has a timing chain which doesn't need to be replaced, but the VTCs may be bad (as Wiking mentioned)."

I suppose the chain never fails? If Variable Timing Cams =VTC is the problem, some say grounding that feature ctrl wire locks it and then no noise. Loses '8hp' after 5000rpm.

Oh btw: really do get a mech who knows VE engine...

 

does it sound like it is ticking?

I think the mechanic is referring to the VTC assemblies, and not the chain itself. Most 92-94 SEs (VE30DE engine) have problems with the VTCs ticking. If it runs and drives fine now (just makes that awful ticking noise), it is likely not the timing chain, but the VTCs. It is annoying, but not necessarily something that has to be fixed right away. I can only recall 2 people having complete VTC failure, then the entire engine needs to be replaced. There are several dozen people on this board (including me) with ticking VTCs and drive them daily with no problems.

Most dealerships will charge anywhere from $1500-$2500 to replace the VTC assemblies. It is extremely rare for the timing chain to have any problems. It is designed to last the life of the car.

 

Look on the I.D. plate for correct engine identification, a lot of GXE's were modded with a spoiler addition at the dealers

 

yeah the noise it makes is kind of like a ticking. the two guys i've had check it out think it sounds like the click-click of the chain against metal, which is why they think the chain's tensioners are failing - they say the chain is going a bit slack in the lower rpm's and slapping around in there. i wish i knew a nissan guy. maybe i should go to a dealer to get a 3rd opinion?
thanks for the vote of confidence, my man. i appreciate the post!

 

Just found out this car has a salvaged title, which was why it's so cheap... should she stay away? it's got good maintenance records and looks flawless.

 

when was the title branded?
why was it branded?
some cars get branded because they are theft recoveries.
my old van almost got branded because we hydrolocked the engine (illinois law says any car with flood damage over 33% of it's value is a total)

 

Go for a engine test. Raise it up, knock and search for rust, open trunk wheel well fabrics to see how its like.

Definitely such car needs some tuneup; make do a list and count the price of all items: Shocks, coilpacks, clutch swap, rust...?

 

Nope, the 89-91 SE has the vg engine. (for the 92-94 Maximas, that statement is true)

Nope, the 89-91 SE came with the SOHC vg engine. (for the 92-94 Maximas, that statement is true)

I'm sure internetautomar was referring to the subject 93 maxima, but that statement by itself could be confusing to newbies.

 

the replies i got to this thread were way helpful. thanks to all for your input.

 

car is still running after several thousand miels of this ticking business... must be the vtc assembly.

 

are odometers a problem on all 3rd generation maximas? seems that way...

 

not all, but what part of the odometer are you talking about? The trip counter or the lifetime counter? Trip counter usually go bad because of the fragility of the plastic and the excessive force some people use when resetting them.

 

I dont want to hijack this thread

but does anyone know how to fix the trip counter!

Thanks

 

well you did a good job.

 

Not on mine