Ends in two days. Needs an alternator. 158k miles. "Electrical problem turned on some of the warning lites (low washer fluid, etc.) when there was no problem." That's the alternator. AT and alloys.
I was all over this when I saw it. Was ready to make the guy an offer to end the auction and get my butt down there...until he sent me pictures.
If anybody is interested in it and is willing to drive, I have 20+ pictures from the seller that show all of the gory details.
A synopsis of it's condition: been sitting for 2.5 yrs. "Started right up." I didn't want it because cosmetically - it's not good. Dents, dings here and there, paint missing in spots (looks like down to metal enough to rust pretty good), somebody went crazy with some red primer to cover up the rust and there are big blotches all over. Big time rust on the rear bumper fascia and the doors are flaking at the bottom from rust. The interior could be worse but is still pretty bad with rips here and there and it is pretty dirty. Car is covered in grime. I don't know if it is just dirt from sitting or moss or what, but it is a FILTHY BEAST!
If I were closer, it would already be mine, but I'm not going to spend the $$$ needed in gas to go out there and back for a car that is in that condition.
asavage wrote: "Electrical problem turned on some of the warning lites (low washer fluid, etc.) when there was no problem." That's the alternator. AT and alloys.
the low washer fluid light can be turned on when there is a alternator problem?
After much frustration i found that the float on the sensor in the washer fluid tank is stuck down, gave it a little bit of oil and it moves nicely now
Im on it, just got back from a business trip. Can't believe I almost missed this. Thanks for the heads up!
Matt B.
83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles 82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!
Is anybody else here wanting the car? If somebody here wants it I won't get in the way.
Matt B.
83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles 82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!
For me: Much too far away, not a Wagon, wrong transmission. You're clear to go, Matt!
Around here, it'd be worth around $300-500 if proven to be a runner, even with the rust and bad interiour. You can't drive it, so you can't ascertain the brakes or suspension (though you can assume it needs rack boots of course, just like you know it'll need an IP belt and the front doors have cracks, "they all do"). Tires? Battery for sure, and that's a $100 battery.
However, a good LD28 alone is well worth it. I paid over $300 for my spare LD28 (still in storage), and I still consider it a good price. The easiest way to store a spare engine is in a whole car that can move under its own power. If you've got the room. It's got the alloys too, that's in its favour.
Don't go crazy, but if it's transportable or close enough to you, up to about $300 is a fairly safe bet. Beyond that, you have to figure that someone else really wants it more than you -- invite them over here!
When I was e-mailing with the seller last weekend, he said that he put a battery in it, started it up and drove it to another part of the property it is on to take some more pictures (I assume for better light). So you can pretty much be sure that it runs and drives. He mentioned something to the effect of his dad had disconnected the vacuum pump from the back of the alternator and an oil line that is connected to the alternator (or vacuum pump) and it had sprayed oil all over the place. Still don't think you can beat it for the price (currently).
For what it is worth this auction probably constitutes my wife's worst nightmare. I had told her with some degree of seriousness that if I ever found an automatic diesel Maxima in this part of the country she would be driving it! I know one thing, when my daughter is old enough she WILL be taught how to drive a stick shift. Apparently the female of our species can't be taught to drive a stick once they are over the age of 18?
Matt B.
83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles 82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!
Asked the seller about looking at the car prior to the end of the auction and got a prompt response complete with directions to a spot approximately five miles from my house. How wierd!
Matt B.
83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles 82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!
While I prefer to drive an good, modern automatic transmission these days, I've taught three people to drive manual transmission vehicles. I use the same method every time, and always a diesel. Assuming they already know the Rules of the Road (ie have read the relevant materials): take them to an empty parking lot -- church lots are good, as they're empty much of the time. Have them put right foot under the seat. Start engine, declutch, shift to 1st, release clutch. Stall. Repeat.
The diesel will try to keep the idle speed even and will moderately compensate the RPM. After a few tries, the new driver will successfully get the car rolling using only the clutch pedal, and the stalling will cease. Only after she can successfully and repeatably get the car moving with the engine at idle and using the clutch only, do I allow her to begin using the right foot.
Learning how to use a clutch is easy with a diesel! They don't want to stall.
The rest is just learning when to upshift/downshift, and why. Anybody who's ridden a multi-speed bicycle will "get it". Those who haven't will have a harder time.
Modern-era ATs are so good (OD, lockup converters) that I wonder that anyone desires a MT these days. There's almost no fuel economy benefit, and darned little weight saving. I get nearly as much engine braking with my AT as with the MTs I've had -- and I do manually shift my AT a lot, esp. when towing. With a lockup converter, an AT isn't the "power robbing" device it was in the '70s and earlier, when it had an open converter and sometimes only two gears!
An AT is always easier on the engine -- you can't overrev it unless you really try, you can't lug it, and you aren't on/off the accelerator every shift, so the throttle body (or IP) gets less wear. And like that.
One downside to an AT is that some people seem to get in the habit of having to have a foot on a pedal at all times -- ie, "coast" does not exist. They either have to be accelerating or braking, and that's a waste of all things. But that habit can be acquired with a MT too.
