My Little Nissan

[Jacko3]

With almost 250K---original engine and trasnmission, my little nissan is having issues with engaging in the 5th gear--I have to try to engage it, at least twice before it engages fully---it does not grind or make any funny noise---once it grabs, its just fine. All the other gears work just fine and they grab very well. One person says my clutch is going out and another person says, the whole manual transmission may need to be replaced. Little nissan is 5-speed.

Used manual transmission is about $350. New Autozone clutch kit (Duralast) and installation will cost me about $200.

Problem with buying used transmission is that the used transmission may have issues with its own gears as well as I don't know how it has been driven by previous owner.

Any take on what you think I should do, or what you think the issue really is with my transmission?

[telcoman]

With almost 250K---original engine and trasnmission, my little nissan is having issues with engaging in the 5th gear--I have to try to engage it, at least twice before it engages fully---it does not grind or make any funny noise---once it grabs, its just fine. All the other gears work just fine and they grab very well. One person says my clutch is going out and another person says, the whole manual transmission may need to be replaced. Little nissan is 5-speed.

Used manual transmission is about $350. New Autozone clutch kit (Duralast) and installation will cost me about $200.

Problem with buying used transmission is that the used transmission may have issues with its own gears as well as I don't know how it has been driven by previous owner.

Any take on what you think I should do, or what you think the issue really is with my transmission?

Jacko3

I will repeat what my old 1980 VW diesel Rabbit mechanic told me in 1994 when its oil pump failed at 246k miles.

TIME TO GET RID OF IT.

If you spend the money to repair it & then something else fails you will keep throwing money at it.

A new vehicle comes with all new parts and a warranty Just my $.02

Telcoman

[joe603]

I would just try and live with it...how much is the vehicle worth? If it's 1k or less, then I agree with Telco.

[Sentientbydesign]

I'm too lazy to go searching for what car your "Little Nissan" is.

I say, go buy a newer older nissan/infiniti and have a backup car for when your G is being fitted with FI.

[Jacko3]

Vehicle is worth less than $500 iin KBB. Its the utility of the vehicle that I like---ever reliable and ready to go anywhere. It still drives fine and she can still hit 1** MPH pretty well. When she was younger, I really rode her rough. I guess I will just take her as she is and keep driving it until she falls apart. I can live with driving her with just 4 gears anyway. She can handle 65 MPH in 4 th gear very comfortably. So, she still has some ways to go before its all over.

[Jacko3]

Thanks Telcoman.

[Jacko3]

Nate:

I was thinking the same thing, if only she will be able to hold up for at least another 1.5 years when my G will be paid off. Actually I was thinking of getting a Civic Si or SER and turn them into little road monsters, when that time comes.

[Sentientbydesign]

Get a G20 and put an sr20det in it

I only wish those cars were more reliable. I've heard mixed results.

[BrandAidDesignG35]

1+ for G20, but they only came with the Sr20de, you need the turbo from the skyline to make things more lively.

Jacko, let's be frank here, I would love to help you with your problem, as I've had easy fixes for things I thought could be a faulty clutch etc.

Is it a Sentra? Altima? 240? 200sx? I would be more able to assist with more vehicle info, I wouldn't worry too much what anyone thinks, I would be happier in a 90's 240 than a 08 Furd.

[Jacko3]

How do i respond without giving away the identity and mystery of the "little nissan"?

[Beancooker]

Just tell them the secret.

They've all been good about waiting for like a freakin year now.

Plus, I know once that her identity is revealed, you can ask some questions in "the little Nissan" forum, and get some quality answers.

[Sentientbydesign]

Seriously. Nobody cares if you drive a sentra or an NX

[Jacko3]

Ok Beano.

Nate, my little Nissan is a 1993 Nissan Sentra 16L GA16DE 5- Speed Manual.

[kmckis1029]

im new to this forum... but the first car i thought of was a sentra...

[Sentientbydesign]

Ok Beano.

Nate, my little Nissan is a 1993 Nissan Sentra 16L GA16DE 5- Speed Manual.

*Angels with trumpets and choir voices* Hallelujah! Hallelujah!....

[Kendahl]

If you spend the money to repair it & then something else fails you will keep throwing money at it. A new vehicle comes with all new parts and a warranty

That's true, but you should remember that, with a new vehicle, you will be throwing money at the car loan, higher insurance premiums and taxes. (Even if you pay cash, the lost investment income should be considered a cost.) The time to give up on an old car is when you can replace it with a newer, better one for the same money.

[SVTCOBRA]

Ok Beano.

Nate, my little Nissan is a 1993 Nissan Sentra 16L GA16DE 5- Speed Manual.

Jacko gave it up!!

One of my best friends (and a master mechanic) would ask you 'Are you in love with it? If not, time to get rid of it '

I would either sell it now before something else broke, OR donate it to a charity OR drive it until something else did brake and have it towed to a junk yard/auction yard for what ever I could get out of it.

[joe603]

I had an image of a small Nissan pickup truck...

[Sentientbydesign]

I agree with your Mechanic. I had the same sentiments regarding my I30. I actually got sad when I saw the new owner drive it away.

If I had the money to keep it and the body was in better shape, I would have kept it. I'd still love to see an A32 chassis with RWD and a VQ25HRT under the hood

[Jacko3]

[Jacko3]

SVT:

This car has been a godsend to me. Taken me everywhere and to places I got my degrees. i owe this car a whole lot for making 250K very painless in the pocket book.

[Jacko3]

Nate:

There is something i have not yet done to the car in 3 years----adjust the clutch cable. I am going to do it this weekend and see if it helps with the grabbing.

[Sentientbydesign]

It's possible that the clutch isn't disengaging entirely. It's also possible that the syncros are gone, but that's not likely if you're not hearing any noise.

[Jacko3]

Nate:

It does not grind or make any noise at all-----noiseless operation--and my 5th gear has never made a grinding noise before. I will be adjusting the clutch tomorrow and see if it helps. It has not been adjusted since 2004.

[Jacko3]

*Angels with trumpets and choir voices* Hallelujah! Hallelujah!....

Nate: I love the backsliding banana--reminds me of Michael Jackson in his musical video of the Billy Jean. I think that was the first time I saw a human being moving liek that--it seemed liked an optical illusion at the time, and all the guys in school then practiced had to backslide much harder than they did learn their math and english. What a time in my life!

[zozoka1212]

I don't think it is the cable. It would be worste in lower gears. Like 1st gear or second. I think it is syncron.

zozo

[SVTCOBRA]

I don't think it is the cable. It would be worste in lower gears. Like 1st gear or second. I think it is syncron.

zozo

[zozoka1212]

zozo

[oldandslow]

I also say it's the 5th gear synchros. Try rev matching when You shift ,by double clutching. Also try REDLINE MTL transmission fluid,it has worked like magic for Me. If none of the above work,paint over the #5 on Your shift knob,and pretend it's only a 4 speed.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

that would sux on you MPG tho! I don't think it is the synchros because it would make a noise!

It might be the Driver