looking at buying a 97 I30t

[crimsonghost]

hi everyone i used to have a 240sx but am now looking at a 97 J30t. it seems like a 4 door 240 being RWD and all. i understand that no aftermarket suspesion parts are availible, but does it share any of the same components as the 240 like bushings? when it was on the lift today the suspesion looked strangely familiar. the car has 130,000 miles and is in great shape, no rust, sweet leather interior, only peeling paint on the rear bumper and its missing a center cap on one of the wheels. i will be using the car to drive 65 highway miles a day to my new job. the asking price is 3450 and i plan on offering 3,000 cash. it seems like a sweet ride for realativly short money to me and was just looking for some insight from pepole who already drive one.I understand i should do a timing belt imeddetly(before i start commuting)

So the question is..... deal or no deal? thanks everyone in advance
Modified by crimsonghost at 7:49 PM 2/8/2008

[gr8scott72]

hi everyone i used to have a 240sx but am now looking at a 97 I30t. it seems like a 4 door 240 being RWD and all. i understand that no aftermarket suspesion parts are availible, but does it share any of the same components as the 240 like bushings? when it was on the lift today the suspesion looked strangely familiar. the car has 130,000 miles and is in great shape, no rust, sweet leather interior, only peeling paint on the rear bumper and its missing a center cap on one of the wheels. i will be using the car to drive 65 highway miles a day to my new job. the asking price is 3450 and i plan on offering 3,000 cash. it seems like a sweet ride for realativly short money to me and was just looking for some insight from pepole who already drive one.I understand i should do a timing belt imeddetly(before i start commuting)

So the question is..... deal or no deal? thanks everyone in advance

Is it an I30t or a J30t?

The I30 is a Maxima and is front wheel drive.

The J30 is rear wheel drive.

Good car either way and sounds like a good deal either way too.

[fogged306]

Check the exhaust for leaks, the exhaust isn't cheap to replace on these cars, namely the OBDII ones, the cats are upwards of 800 each. Check the trans and make sure it shifts properly, check the rear suspension, also not cheap to replace. Make sure it has no check engine lights if you live in a state where you have to pass smog for inspection.

[crimsonghost]

sorry J30... ive been looking at so many cars latley they all blend together!!

[crimsonghost]

thanks fogged306, the seller put the car up on a lift and the exhaust looked tight. he also replaced the IAC because the check engine light was on but here in mass. if you want to sell a car for more than $1000? i think...it must pass emissions and saftey, but i heard a rumor that we will be doing away with emesions tests on cars older than 10 years (that would be sweet). do you think it will last a couple of years?(when the g35 is finally in my price range!!!)i am a mechanic and have a garage so im not scared of repairing te car, just trying to get a feel for what im in for!

[fogged306]

They are good cars and reliable for the most part, as long as they have been taken care of. The only thing is because its an Infiniti everything partswise, is up there in price range. I also have a 97 and since I've had it the exhaust has leaked in multiple different spots. That has been the main problem I've had with the car, But I'm also in Buffalo NY, where the salt takes its toll. I also am having problems with locating a part for my transmission that tells it when to shift. Other than that, I've put about 50k on my car with little problems. Oh and I repaired all 3 gas lines toward the rear of the car up above the suspension. Easy and cheap fix, just some high pressure rubber hose and a couple of clamps. It seems to be a trouble spot because they all went at seperate times all within about a foot of eachother. Also make sure the brake caliper pins are lubed up, mine were frozen and I was going through pads and rotors like crazy.

[brandonjustice93J30]

keep checking ebay and these parts cars that keep popping upon here..I've seen many transmission controllers for sale

[fogged306]

keep checking ebay and these parts cars that keep popping upon here..I've seen many transmission controllers for sale

Its not the controller itself, Its the trans output shaft sensor. Its on national backorder for 30 days or more and I need it to get the car inspected. I believe its only on the OBDII j30's. and the funny thing is that it also has a VSS in the trans, which is working fine. Why it needs this other sensor is beyond me, but it makes it not downshift when it should and throws a code to boot.

[crimsonghost]

help!!!! ive been threadjacked!!!!

bought the car today...$2800 needs a centercap on the left front wheel and a window regulator on the left rear door. also plan on doing a timing belt and new dunlop GT qualifier tires all the way around and an alingment. speaking of alingment is there anything special about one with HICAS? thanks

[fogged306]

HICAS is all wheel steering that was only available on the j30t's

[driverdriver]

help!!!! ive been threadjacked!!!!

bought the car today...$2800 needs a centercap on the left front wheel and a window regulator on the left rear door. also plan on doing a timing belt and new dunlop GT qualifier tires all the way around and an alingment. speaking of alingment is there anything special about one with HICAS? thanks

Welcome to NICO!!!

I have a J with HICAS like yours. I had the alignment done in the past by a local mechanic and by a Nissan/Infiniti dealer. I noticed the steering was markedly sharper at higher speeds with the alignment done by the dealer. The car cornered like it was new again and at high speeds through switchbacks like it was on rails. Didn't have the same feeling with the alignment by a local trusted mechanic.

[gr8scott72]

help!!!! ive been threadjacked!!!!

bought the car today...$2800 needs a centercap on the left front wheel and a window regulator on the left rear door. also plan on doing a timing belt and new dunlop GT qualifier tires all the way around and an alingment. speaking of alingment is there anything special about one with HICAS? thanks

I think the rear left window is the one I took off my dead 93. It was working when the car was last running. I think it's just sitting in the back seat. I probably have the center cap also. You got the t model with the wheels like in my sig picture? Email me if you want them and we can work something out.

[Listof7]

HICAS, I'm no expert yet, but I do have it on my 1993 J30t, and it's noticeable. I take left hand turns at 30-40 mph and still feel very connected to the road with very little body roll. It's funny because today I pulled that and I saw in the rear view that the 4-Runner behind me figures he'd do the same and I thought he was gonna lose it, I gotta be careful of the example I set

I've been reading up on HICAS & found that the degree of travel is only about 1% at max. Also, it doesn't always turn the same as your front tires, the computer adjust the rear tires differently depending on the driving situation.

I may be wrong, but I've read several articles that state only 1993-94 J30t's had the HICAS option. That one of the reason I bought the 1993. Course, if you have a HICAS light on your dash, I'd say "can't believe everything you read" some times you gotta see for yourself... Awesome! Course, you only asked what HICAS was, you never said you had it, so...??? Do ya do ya???

[crimsonghost]

well now i dont know. i thought all touring models had it, i will have to check. gr8scott you got mail

[driverdriver]

HICAS was only available on '93 and '94 touring models. It wasn't available any other model years.

[crimsonghost]

yeah no Hicas. one less thing to break!! also don't have to worry about tire/wheel size, or 4 wheel alingment for that matter!!! sweet!!!

[yodawill2000]

4 wheel alignment is kinda important on every car on the road.

[driverdriver]

4 wheel alignment will insure even tire wear, thus making your tires last longer. Its also beneficial to your suspension components.

[crimsonghost]

i did not realize the rear wheels were "adjustable" how is this acomplished without tie rods?

[naladude911]

there are probably other articles in this forum, but do you think it is a good idea/possible to get a HICAS system for a non-touring 1993 J30?