Need help with 2001 maxima, I want to buy it but have concer

[psychodoodbrij92]

I am a college student and need a car to take to campus, I found a 2001 Black Maxima GLE for sale for $3000.00 it has 86k miles and has a few issues.

- Needs brake pads
- Needs wheels balanced
- Has a dent in the rear left side door and door only opens with a push from inside.
- Leather seats are a bit torn up.

-Lastly, the biggest problem and only problem I really have a concern for is that the owner tells me that you have to hold the gas in for 10 seconds on a cold start for it to "not stall". He told me that he had the Idle Air Control Valve replaced, and before he had this replaced it would not idle at all. He said he took it to a dealer and the dealer said it needed a new throttle body and it would cost $1000.00. I drove the car and it drives fine besides the brake pads and balancing of course. He met me half way to show me the car so it was not cold and it started right up. He agreed to take it to advanced auto parts to get the Check Engine Light scanned and the manager said there were three codes.

- PO505
- PO160

-Given the following problems with the vehicle, the age, the mileage and the condition, is it a good buy?

Also, what needs to be done in order to fix this cold start problem? Are there risks for driving the car this way? What should I do?! I just want to say thanks in advance for any help I can get! My dad has owned a Nissan in the past with issues.

THANKS GUYS!!

[Towncivilian]

P0160 is a rear oxygen sensor code and can be ignored for a while.

P0505 is the idle air control valve. It is not operating properly, which is why the vehicle stalls on startup. The only causes listed in the service manual are the IACV itself, or the harness or connectors for the IACV are damaged. There is a diagnostic procedure on page EC-433 of the service manual. An OEM IACV is $129.57 - be sure to use a new gasket as well.

[psychodoodbrij92]

He said he replaced the IACV though? Will cleaning it out and putting in a new gasket solve the problem?

[Towncivilian]

It might. The owner may have installed it improperly or installed a defective part, I don't know for sure.

[psychodoodbrij92]

If this does not work then what else could be the problem? I just want to make sure I know what I am getting myself into if i purchase this car. You know? Also, would you consider the price right for this car?

[Towncivilian]

Sorry to be full of uncertainty, but I don't know if anything else can cause the IACV code - the FSM only states harness, or IACV as causes of the code. A faulty IACV would certainly cause idling issues and quite possibly starting issues since the engine isn't getting the air it requires unless the throttle plate is open by way of the operator's foot.

No clue about the price - though its issues may seem reasonably minor, buying a used vehicle is always a gamble as you rarely know of its maintenance history or its oddities and quirks. Mileage isn't always the whole story. Assuming you do need to replace the IACV and you replace the brake pads and get the wheels balanced, that's probably another $280 you need to put in to immediate maintenance. I hope someone else with more of a clue will chime in about the price.

[calemonlaw]

I had to buy a brand new transmission costing me $3,000 from another auto repair shop because they would not help cover the cost when I know I could not have done that and as I have been reading on line, a lot of other people have been having the same issue.

Thanks,
California Lemon Law