First time owner's buildup.

[LongBeach240SX]

So I got my 240SX as a graduation gift from high school this past June. When I got it, there were a few nagging issues that had to be taken care of if I wanted to drive it around without grabbing too many fix-it tickets in the process. I spent my first month of ownership taking care of little things like replacing the exhaust because it had one of those cheapo coffee can jobs on it and replacing a cracked windshield. So with all of the boring things out of the way, I can finally start the fun stuff. Here are some pictures to show you what shape the car is in now.

^^Needs a new paint job^^Decent interior^^Not feeling the wheels at all, but whatever works for the time being.^^I have to sing to myself when i drive.^^I'm thinking about doing a conversion towards the end of the project^^My trunk and gas door don't open from the latch inside. Trying to have that done within the next week or 2.^^I want to get the lights replaced, put another wiper blade on the back to help with early morning defrosting and stuff, and rip off that little wing.^^I've done everything I could think of, but I couldn't get that stupid CEL to turn off.^^Finally, the main reason I'm doing this. I HATE this motor. It's almost 20 years old and needs to go. Got any hookups on an SR?

So there you have it. My soon to be money pit. Check back in the near future. My goal is to have an SR dropped in by the end of summer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[S13Joe]

Why are you so set on an SR? I see plenty of things you can do to that car in its current state. Wtf are those chrome plate things? Take those off. Take off that stupid looking nissan badge, it looks horrible. Wtf is that fat a** white line accross the side of the f***ing thing? Take that s*** off or paint over it. Clean it too, it looks like you had a horse riding shotgun.

EDIT:Take off those retarded looking wheels and roll them down a hill, source some steelies.

[J0SHYee]

Why are you so set on an SR? I see plenty of things you can do to that car in its current state. Wtf are those chrome plate things? Take those off. Take off that stupid looking nissan badge, it looks horrible. Wtf is that fat a** white line accross the side of the f***ing thing? Take that s*** off or paint over it. Clean it too, it looks like you had a horse riding shotgun.

EDIT:Take off those retarded looking wheels and roll them down a hill, source some steelies.

someone's being a little b****y today.

but anyways good luck on the car.

[splintercell]

g/l and let the fun start my friend

the cel is on for a reason...check your ecu for codes to find out

[LongBeach240SX]

Why are you so set on an SR? I see plenty of things you can do to that car in its current state. Wtf are those chrome plate things? Take those off. Take off that stupid looking nissan badge, it looks horrible. Wtf is that fat a** white line accross the side of the f***ing thing? Take that s*** off or paint over it. Clean it too, it looks like you had a horse riding shotgun.

EDIT:Take off those retarded looking wheels and roll them down a hill, source some steelies.

From what I have researched, rebuilding the KA would put me into an even bigger hole than starting with somewhat fresh SR. Besides, if I have to get a new motor for the car, might as well get the one I want, right? It's not chrome plating on the car, that's the paint. This is a 20 year old car. The guy i bought this off of really didn't try to maintain the car at all, that's why the first month of ownership was spent doing repairs just to get the thing to look somewhat respectable. The guy got his steelies stolen so his nephew gave him the wheels, but believe me I'd much rather roll the hubcaps than those things. About the white line being across the side...it's a 20 year old car that was never really maintained. There are bound to be some defects with it. And finally, I know it needs to be cleaned. Wish I could keep it garaged but I can't, so I have to deal with dust buildup.

[Kalypso]

here's some nico inspiration from a fellow member...



if you're not doing this... somethings wrong

[s14derrick]

looks like a good starting point. get rid of that fake chrome s*** and that huge a** nissan badge, it looks like a tumor. good luck

[MastaYu]

[breadbox]

Why ditch the KAe it works right? The fact that it old doesn't mean too much.

You might have greater issues to worry about before sinking cash into a motorset.

[240sxFTW]

Theres more options than just an sr or rebuild the single slammer. I have a single slammer currently, I fixed many of things on it. Ive even ran it for about 10 miles with 0 oil on the dipstick. It runs like a champ. vr38dett if your gonna do a swap.

[iandrew89]

don't mean to thread jack but Kalypso whose car is that that is something like im trying to do to my car thread link or anything would be helpful thanks.

/thread jack

op looks like a great start def research before jumping straight to an SR swap. Theres alot of ups and downs to each. GL with project.

[southernsteel]

don't mean to thread jack but Kalypso whose car is that that is something like im trying to do to my car thread link or anything would be helpful thanks.

/thread jack

op looks like a great start def research before jumping straight to an SR swap. Theres alot of ups and downs to each. GL with project.

BH's S13.

and op, I'm jealous. Your car runs...

[matzinm2]

Regardless of how that terrible Nissan balloon badge and the chrome plates, and the white stripe, and the wheels look; it's good to know we have saved another 240 from pure insult and injury for the rest of its days. Another one rescued, way to go buddy.

[Steady_One_S13]

looks like a good starting point. get rid of that fake chrome s*** and that huge a** nissan badge, it looks like a tumor. good luck

Honestly, it looks good. Just get rid of the Nissan badge. What you should do first to it, is suspension and wheels.G/L with the SR project. They're fun to work on and build.

[zach-Ka]

You have alot of work, IMO you should bring it back to stock and do general maintenance on it. I would like to see you save this one.

[adrianfromthecastle]

welcome to NICO.

LOL... damn that Nissan emblem is HUGE! wth do you even get something like that, lol.

looks like you got some work to do.

[zach-Ka]

[LongBeach240SX]

Since I've last posted anything, I've been trying to get my CEL to turn itself off. I refuse to go to a mechanic or Nissan if it's something I can do myself. Unfortunately I haven't had too much luck. I read that there is a button somewhere around the steering column that should reset it, but I haven't been able to find it. Also, my car didn't come with a manual, so that's out of the question Anyway, I'll post more stuff once I get this last little problem taken care of.

[splintercell]

Since I've last posted anything, I've been trying to get my CEL to turn itself off. I refuse to go to a mechanic or Nissan if it's something I can do myself. Unfortunately I haven't had too much luck. I read that there is a button somewhere around the steering column that should reset it, but I haven't been able to find it. Also, my car didn't come with a manual, so that's out of the question Anyway, I'll post more stuff once I get this last little problem taken care of.

never heard of this button, but CEL is not going to turn off till you fix the problem. its throwing some kind of code for a reason. do you know how to read the codes?

[LongBeach240SX]

Not at all. I was hoping I would just have to reset the ecu by removing the battery for a while, but if that isn't going to work, then I guess i do have to take it to a mechanic

[SuperFluke]

Shutokou specializes on 240s but I have no idea where they are, my bro does and goes there way too much. Its like 3k or something for the whole thing install/engine/transmission etc. His name on nico is RustyShackleford or something like that

[two forty fan]

Regardless of how that terrible Nissan balloon badge and the chrome plates, and the white stripe, and the wheels look; it's good to know we have saved another 240 from pure insult and injury for the rest of its days. Another one rescued, way to go buddy.

You are so right

[splintercell]

How to read trouble code on your 240sx electronic control unit SOHC

******************************************************How to Read Malfunction Codes for Your SOHC 240SX=================================================On most car, only a jump wire or a screw driver is required to read the trouble code store on the engine computer. This the case for the 240 sx. The following intructions allow you to easily read and erase trouble code on your car electronic control unit (ECU)

The instructions come from the nissan 240sx 1989 12 valves engine service manual. There is a good chance that later models are similar.

In a few word, reading to code require accessing to the ECU, placing the unit in self diagnosis mode using a screw driver and looking at the flashing lamps on the unit to see what code is displayed.

1. Accessing to the ECU

The ECU is located to the right of the passenger footwell. You need to remove two fastener of the right doorstep in order to remove the kick panel. To remove the plastic fasteners, unscrew the center part and pull out the other part. Two metal screw and a fastener hold the kick panel. Some kind of pitch is also present.

Under the panel you now see the ECU with its connector. Unfortunaly, you have to access to the other side of the ECU. Unscrew the unit and turn it 180 degree on the vertical axis without unpluggin it.

You now see the front of the unit. An ajustment screw, a green inspection lamp and a red one are present. The screw is use to adjust the idle speed and to change the diagnostic mode.

MARK THE ORIGINAL POSITION OF THIS SCREW. UPON DIAGNOSTIC COMPLETION, RETURN THE SCREW TO THE PREVIOUS POSITION. OTHERWISE, ENGINE IDLE SPEED MAY CHANGE.

2. The ECU modes

The electronic control unit have five mode:

Mode I- Exhaust gas sensor monitor (Normal mode)Mode II- Mixture ratio feedback control monitorMode III- Self-diagnosticMode IV- Switch on/off diagnostic systemMode V- Real-time diagnostics system.

The unit automatically return to normal mode I when the ignition is switched off.

Only mode III will be studied here. Troubles code are stored on mode III. The stored codes will be lost if the car battery is disconnected or if after selecting mode III, mode IV is selected.

3. Changing to mode III.

- Turn the ignition 'ON'- Turn the ECU adjusting screw fully clockwise.

The inspection lamps will flash onces, the unit will be in mode I. The inspection lamps will flash twice, the unit will be in mode II. The inspection lamps will flash 3 times, the unit will be in mode III. The unit will continually cycle through the five modes until the screw is turn back.

- Turn the screw back after the lamp has flashed 3 times.- You are now in self diagnostic mode III.

4. Reading the trouble codes.

The codes are indicated by the number of both red and green lamps. First the red lamp flashes and then the green one. The red lamp correspond to units of ten and the green lamp to units of one. For example, when the red lamp flashes once and the green lamp flashs twice, this signifies the number "12".

The codes are:11 Crank angle sensor circuit12 Air flow meter circuit13 Engine temperature sensor circuit14 Vehicle speed sensor circuit21 Ignition signal missing in primary coil31 E.C.U. (E.C.C.S. control unit)32* EGR function33 Exhaust gas O2 sensor circuit35* Exhaust gas temperature circuit43 Throttle position sensor circuit45* Injector leak55 No malfunction

*California models only.

After the diagnostic, Turn the ignition 'off' to return to mode I.

To erase the memory, use mode IV. The codes are automatically erased from memory when the starter is operated fifty times after the trouble is last noticed.

[Kalypso]

it's good to know we have saved another 240 from pure insult and injury for the rest of its days. Another one rescued, way to go buddy.

quoted for truth... it could eventually be another