trouble spots in older 240's, when buying one
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matt4pl
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trouble spots in older 240's, when buying one
I'm looking for a 240sx, but i have little money and cant afford a newer model one. waht trouble areas do i look for when buying a 92 and up 240sx? is there any info in a different forum or maybe a buyers guide to the 240 somewhere? thanks in advance for the help
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PapaSmurf2k3
- Site Admin
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- Car: 2017 Corvette, 2018 Focus ST, 1993 240sx truck KA Turbo.
- Location: Merrimack, NH
I have a 93 with 120k, that I bought new.The list of problems I have had with it is short:bushings in the front susp will go out around 100k miles, same with the starter motor, stock rotors warp easily. Its a Calif. car so no rust issues. The SOHC years have timing chaing guide problems (which is something to be concerned about) that you would definately want to know the history of.Other than that, I dont know of any major common problems, besides the usual stuff you would look for in any used car. 240's are pretty damn reliable.
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240Kuminachu
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bigDnissan240
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- Car: My Car
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96_S14_SE
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- Car: 96 S14 SE - 05 VW GTI 1.8t - 89 S13 coupe "gold on brown"
Muffler bearings can sometimes seize up, and are a pain in the A** to locate and replace...
hehe just kidding. One other thing I would check is around the block on various components for nissan's red rtv. If you see it here and there it generally means the part has been removed to be either inspected or replaced.
As far as bushings go I believe that its more to do with age , vs mileage alone. My car has 108k on it now, and I got it 3 yrs ago with 28k. The 80k its seen in my hands havent been nice on the bushings but I just removed my LCA bushings for poly's and they looked and felt pretty good (untill I took the torch to em
). My TR bushings only showed minimal wear and slight cracking but no seepage.
I would checdk around the lower shock perches for hydralic oil as well as pushing down on each corner for signs of blown or going shocks.
Also knock on the panels looking for a hollow sound to spot signs of repair or bondo... For the FB s13's look under the rear spoiler, if it has one, because 90% of them (non garaged) love to rust up there.
Basically just look for things you would norally look for in a 10+ year old car
hehe just kidding. One other thing I would check is around the block on various components for nissan's red rtv. If you see it here and there it generally means the part has been removed to be either inspected or replaced.
As far as bushings go I believe that its more to do with age , vs mileage alone. My car has 108k on it now, and I got it 3 yrs ago with 28k. The 80k its seen in my hands havent been nice on the bushings but I just removed my LCA bushings for poly's and they looked and felt pretty good (untill I took the torch to em
). My TR bushings only showed minimal wear and slight cracking but no seepage.I would checdk around the lower shock perches for hydralic oil as well as pushing down on each corner for signs of blown or going shocks.
Also knock on the panels looking for a hollow sound to spot signs of repair or bondo... For the FB s13's look under the rear spoiler, if it has one, because 90% of them (non garaged) love to rust up there.
Basically just look for things you would norally look for in a 10+ year old car
Headlight overflow valves can be tough to replace... kidding.
I think UV light will fade the coloring in the plastic. I've seen a lot of that stuff.
On my '92 couple the driver's seat is missing a bolt that holds the bracket to the floor.
Two-Forty wrote:That reminds me of something, every single s13 I seen, the signal and windshield wipers control are all faded from their original colors, I guess it was black before? but how come every car I see has either gray or even white, is nissan that cheap to paint it where it wears off that fast?
I think UV light will fade the coloring in the plastic. I've seen a lot of that stuff.
On my '92 couple the driver's seat is missing a bolt that holds the bracket to the floor.
I recently purchased an 89 240sx coupe 5 speed. Seeing that I got it for only 330 bucks, I wasn't too picky about the condition.
The selling point for me was that even though she had been sitting untouched, unmoved, un started since before the winter season in late 2001 she fired up right away, first try. no boosting no nothing. All fluids were checked before hand and checked out good. Can you say reliable? I think my story speaks for itself on these cars. Horrible exhaust smell from the old gas that was sitting in the tank, and thank god it was near empty.
Things to look for, that I only started lookin at now that I have bought the car and never checked for them before hand are and as some mentioned above:
1. Timing Chain, its guides are notorious for failing in early years of 240s', leaving the chain to be guided by the guides' mounting studs, which spells certain future motor catastrophic failure unless you get it repaired. (which is what i have to do)
2. Rocker Panels, yup mine has problems there as well, about a 2 foot section on both the passenger and driver side towards the rear wheel is rotted beyond recognition. That'll be sanded cutted bondo'd and possibly a side skirt add on to cover up the part of the rocker that will be missing.
3. Early model 240sx's had a seatbelt recall, the buckles seemed to bust up and the functionality of the release button was gone. This is a recall that to this day has not been performed on my car, and Nissan has verified with me that it will be honored.
4. Bushings, theres alot of them and alot of them that fail with high miles and/or age. My car sat for quite sometime, and it would appear on what used to be grass that eventually perished from the 240 blocking the sun and rain from it. So yeah I got some bushings to replace, and also check the tie rod ends, you don't want those snappin and havin your car disco off the road and kissin a tree or some other inaminate object.
pics of my lil prize are on the webpage below if you care to browse through them
But yeah I can say reliable alright.
The selling point for me was that even though she had been sitting untouched, unmoved, un started since before the winter season in late 2001 she fired up right away, first try. no boosting no nothing. All fluids were checked before hand and checked out good. Can you say reliable? I think my story speaks for itself on these cars. Horrible exhaust smell from the old gas that was sitting in the tank, and thank god it was near empty.
Things to look for, that I only started lookin at now that I have bought the car and never checked for them before hand are and as some mentioned above:
1. Timing Chain, its guides are notorious for failing in early years of 240s', leaving the chain to be guided by the guides' mounting studs, which spells certain future motor catastrophic failure unless you get it repaired. (which is what i have to do)
2. Rocker Panels, yup mine has problems there as well, about a 2 foot section on both the passenger and driver side towards the rear wheel is rotted beyond recognition. That'll be sanded cutted bondo'd and possibly a side skirt add on to cover up the part of the rocker that will be missing.
3. Early model 240sx's had a seatbelt recall, the buckles seemed to bust up and the functionality of the release button was gone. This is a recall that to this day has not been performed on my car, and Nissan has verified with me that it will be honored.
4. Bushings, theres alot of them and alot of them that fail with high miles and/or age. My car sat for quite sometime, and it would appear on what used to be grass that eventually perished from the 240 blocking the sun and rain from it. So yeah I got some bushings to replace, and also check the tie rod ends, you don't want those snappin and havin your car disco off the road and kissin a tree or some other inaminate object.
pics of my lil prize are on the webpage below if you care to browse through them
But yeah I can say reliable alright.
Surprised to see no one said Head gasket.. From what i have read sice i've been here and experienced myself 240's are AMBIGIOUS for blown head gaskets especcialy high miles ones like our 89's lbrowne.. but yeah timing chain i would agree but that torn seat is a pita when all other interior is nice and intact.. just my input-edgar
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wanabe240esx
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sapix @ RHIT
- Posts: 129
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hahah i know i think alot of people would hate me if they knew how much i got that car for. she was fully operational, the only thing thats pretty much shot is the factory tape deck. it plays but ...well i'll leave it at that 
just got the timing chain kit today, it'll be installed in the very near future
just got the timing chain kit today, it'll be installed in the very near future
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wanabe240esx
- Posts: 114
- Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2002 11:23 am
4cefed wrote:wanabe:
Wow, you might almost have to be a Neon owner to know that one.
well, i only happen to be the best friend of a neon owner, and hes building it up to run around 10 lbs, and i laso work at pepboys, so i have people coming in telling me their neon is losing coolant and they cant find a leak :rolleyes