I have some questions about a 96 200sx that I just bought...

[ThaKid87]

As stated in the topic title, I just bought a 96 200SX 5 spd for 800 bucks.

Not bad, imo, even though it has 180K miles.

I have two questions:1. The person I bought the car from only gave one key. I didn't notice that it would take a different key to open up the trunk. Will a Nissan dealership provide me with a new key for the trunk? Btw, I though all cars used the same key for the ignition and trunk.

2. The car kind of grinds the gears when going into reverse or first, should I start looking into a new transmission?

Thanks.

[ridgerunner196502]

not sure about on a 96 but my 98 takes the same key for the door and the trunk, it also has a lever on the left side of the drivers seat that opens the gas door and the trunk. someone may of had to put a new ignition switch with a different key than the orig.a dealer may be able to get yu a key by useing the vin or any good locksmith should be able to do the same and maybe cheaper. you might check your clutch adjustment and see if that helps with your gear issues. if the clutch is not releaseing completely yu will have the symptoms yu describe. good luck and let us know what happens.

[ThaKid87]

Is this a big worry? I don't really have much money right now. I also don't have the tools or mechanical knowledge to figure this out myself. Can I put this off for a month without a worry?

[ridgerunner196502]

try double stomping the clutch and waiting a sec before hittin 1st or reverse. see what that does.if yu want in the trunk, if i remember right the rear seat backs lay down and yu can get in that way. do what yu can when yu can. let us know what happens

[ThaKid87]

I am getting kinda worried now. Sometimes, not all of the time, double clutching works. However, there are a few times where it just scares the crap outta me. First, I try to shift softly into first and I keep stepping on the clutch repeatedly but it still grinds horribly. Then, I just try to push it into first, and then I hear a clunking noise down below me.

O_O

I don't want to be stranded. Should I just lay off driving until I fix that?

[nametakennow]

First and reverse have no syncros, so they're going to feel a little worse, but there shouldn't be much noise. Check your transmission fluid, best case scenario it's just nasty or low, otherwise it may have bit the dust.

[ThaKid87]

As in the whole transmission?

O_O

How much is that going to run me?

Thanks to my job I can get a decent clutch for a very good price, but a transmission is something else.

O_O

[nametakennow]

I'd say just first gear and reverse would be shot, if that's even it, which seems extreme to me. Do you downshift into first regularly or anything like that?

Just check the fluid first, then worry about anything catastrophic. Also see if there is any sediment in the fluid, that might be a clue of whether or not any of the gearing has been eaten up.

[ThaKid87]

I was looking around under the hood for the transmission fluid reservoir, but I found none.

Am I just missing it?

[ridgerunner196502]

there is no transmission reservior, yu check the transmission fluid at a level plug on the side of the transmission. normally it will be a pipe plug that yu stick a 3\8 ratchet in and remove. level of oil should be up where it runs out a little when yu remove the plug.i strongly suspicion your clutch needs to be replaced or maybe just adjusted but if you keep driveing it with no clutch yu will need a new trans pretty quick.

[ThaKid87]

Wow. My friend found the problem for me. The linkage in the to the right of the headers was loose. So my clutch was mostly just hanging there when I would press the pedal. My friend tightened it up and no problems whatsoever now.

PS, I am looking for a valve cover gasket as I am getting an oil leak. Where can I buy one?

BTW, thanks for all the help ridge.

[ridgerunner196502]

yu might try autopartswarehouse.com, or search other nissan parts places on the net. ive gotten so i buy most of my small parts off the net anymore. just a click or 2 and in a few days they arrive at your house. cant beat that.otherwise your local parts houses should be able to supply a thing as simple(maybe) as a tappet gasket. good luk! keep them nissans rollin!!!!

[ThaKid87]

Anybody here live in Florida that I can ask some location specific questions?