I ran a carfax on this car:
1999 NISSAN MAXIMA GLE/GXE/SE (JN1CA21D7XT811569)

01/22/2005 106,736 - Failed
02/02/2005 107,439 - Passed

The seller has this in the description of the car:
The Check Engine light has been coming on and going off for about 8 months now, it has been diagnosed as a code PO420, catalytic converter inefficiency, yet the car has no drivability problems, and still gets 25+mpg.

I am very interested in buying this car locally from the seller. He has it listed on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...3ARTQ%3AUS%3A1

I want to buy it, but I am not sure how much its going to cost to fix the problems with his car. What should I do. And how much do you think its worth?

 

maybe 2 grand?

 

2 grand?

That code is for the three way catalyst function... it probably an exhaust leak.

 

i30ds, are you saying that its also only worth $2 grand?

How much would that cost to fix?

 

The seller told me that he had the vehicle diagnosed at a dealership, which determined the converter was the cause of the check engine light....

 

The rear O2 sensor is responsible for that code. If the cat isn't doing it's job, you will get that insufficiency code. Just get a muffler shop to weld you in a new muffler section. 1995-1996 have the rear O2 sensor in the cat so they will probably put on a universal and attach a bung to the rear pipe behind it. I'd say $250 or so to fix.

 

Its a 1999. Will this still apply to this year as well? Dont know if they change anything in the exhaust system on this 4th gen.

I just spoke to the guy, I am about to go look at the car in the next HOUR!! He told me he had to do something to turn off the code tempararily 8 months ago to pass the inspection. He said retail to replace the cat is about $600 (dealer cost). Honest sounding guy. He said this is probably what needs to be replaced.

Do you think its the cat? Or just the sensor as your saying Mishosh? How much would YOU pay for this Maxima in the condition its in? There are pictures on the eBay listing, check it out...

I might make him an offer and purchase today... I hope the repairs arent too much!!

 

On a 1999, the O2 sensor is in the pipe behind the cat so all that is needed is to weld a universal (ie. Carsound) cat in. Should be cheap ($200 installed). It is also possible that the O2 sensor is faulty and I don't know how you would differentiate the two. I don't think there is any reason to suspect that the sensor is faulty. You can get a rear o2 sensor for $100 though.

What you have the wonder is why would the cat go on a 1999. Usually, they last 10 years or more. I am still running my original cat on my 1995 Max.

Being a manual transmission, I would definitely check for free play of the driver's side axle as it enters the transmission to rule out a differential carrier bearings problem. No telling what the reserve on the auction is but looks like a decent car.

 

Okay this concerns me a bit. On the description of the car, it talks about how the tires are "chopped up". I drove the car, and you can hear and feel the tires in that condition. He did mention that it may be the wheel bearings. This is what your talking about also, correct? CRAP, thats another thing I will have to pay for... how much is that gonna cost me?

I've just came back from looking/driving the car. I put a $200 deposit down... $3200 to be due = $3,400. I am hoping this wasnt too bad of a deal, considering the mechanical problems.

What do you think?

 

The differential carrier bearing is a transmission problem. Some have it, some don't. Not cheap to fix. You will see oil smeared around the axle area and tranny bottom.

$3400 is pretty good for a 1999! Even with some repairs, I figure you came out ahead. Congrats. You might want to take it to a dealer to get a thorough run down. At least you can get a feel for what needs fixing and what it's going to cost.

 

Alright, thanks alot Mishmosh. You've made me a little bit more comfortable with my purchase! I'm going to go ahead and take it to the dealer to address all the problems. Also, he owner said those tires are horrible in the snow. Anyone got a set or rims that fit on the max with snow tires for sale? They could be the saw blades, the 5 spoke, or whatever! Thanks again Mish...

Louis H

 

Hye man, i don't know if i'm too late, but if its the 02 sensor (downstream) me and my father found it for 55. just look around and you can find good deals. i had the same problem when i bought my max...i kept getting the KS code and it was the ox. sensor. good luck

 

The guy said he replaced a couple of the o2's, I forget which one. But he is still getting the same reading. If its the cat though, I figured these would keep going bad. He is going to bring the car over tomarro. I will ask him which one's he replaced, and when.

I still kinda worried about this... I just want everything to be okay before winter. But with the purchase of the car, I dont know if I will have enough to fix the problems.

 

i went to take emmisions and failed too i have till the end of december to get my code (p0110) fixed.

 

The guy that is selling me this Maxima works as a Parts Manager at a Toyota dealership. What he did to pass it was to tempararily turn the light off. He said something about removing the neg. off the battery, and unpluggin the EFI.. and some other stuff.

He is actually going to do the inspection for me tomarro before he delivers the car...

 

What I would recommend as a new Maxima owner is, read the 4th gen FAQ to find out what info is there (a lot). Buy a Haynes manual so some basic instruction/info is had and more advanced topics can be referenced. Donate the needed amount to Maxima.org ($20?) to get search priviledges--this forum is a vast wealth of info that you won't find in any book. Try to get your hands on a factory service manual (FSM). Copies are floating around and sometimes links to websites get posted.

With the above, you will find out how to clear the ECU, read codes and find out what they mean, etc. Most things can be done by yourself with some basic hand tools.

 

hmmm..the guy is a parts manager? that means he has access to a ton of resources. I think if he knew exactly what was up with it he would have repaired it. He sounds to have SOME automotive knowledge and honestly for him to pass the inspection will free him of any legal obligation even he he writes "as is" no warranty.
I hope everything works out for you, I really do ....I am a pessimistic Im sorry

 

Oh, I never knew this... I was wondering why I couldnt use the search function. The seller will be delivering the Maxima within the next couple hours. I said he would bring it to work today at his Toyota dealership to get the inspection to pass before he brought it here to me.

I guess I will be dedicating a few hours a day to do some research... on the org, the hynes, and manual... thanks! I still need to figure out what the deal is with the tires being "chopped" in the inside. That is my other concern. I just really need to have this be a realiable car, and good to go for winter. I am already borrowing most the money for my mother, and the insurance is going on my fathers name... just so I can go back to school and work. Without this Maxima for transportation... I was seriously thinking about just joining the military. Anyways, thanks for all your advice. Maxima.org is the ****

 

Okay... its sitting in my driveway!! Hey... why are the rear lisence plate so hard to remove?

The seller said, at first he had codes of bad o2 sensors. He replace to bank2 rear sensors. And then it threw the code of that PO420, catalytic converter inefficiency. He said maybe the front ones were bad, but he didnt feel like putting another $200-300 into it, becuase gas mialege was fine.

And about the chopped tires, he said it may just be an alignment problem.

All in all... pretty much satisfied... although I didnt know about the chip thing on the key. He only gave me one key, and said another would cost $60-80!! Just worried, becuase I have a habbit of losing keys!