Just out of interest, really. I have this old Sentra, bought new maybe 12 years ago, I forget exactly. Never had anything wrong with it in all that time.
Felt sure it wouldn’t pass this year’s test, though, as the exhaust got nicked and our mechanic replaced it with a straight-through one instead of the one that was on it before. He just told us to drive it around for 20 minutes before taking it to the test center and it would pass. He was right.
I know sulavaca’s stance on Toyotas and stuff, but I’m curious about 1) his stance on Sentras – mine is far and away THE most reliable car I have ever owned in my life. 12 years and nothing more than normal regular servicing.
and 2) What, if anything, should I be paying special attention to now that the old girl is getting older? What are the failure spots on these cars?
[quote=“sandman”]Just out of interest, really. I have this old Sentra, bought new maybe 12 years ago, I forget exactly. Never had anything wrong with it in all that time.
Felt sure it wouldn’t pass this year’s test, though, as the exhaust got nicked and our mechanic replaced it with a straight-through one instead of the one that was on it before. He just told us to drive it around for 20 minutes before taking it to the test center and it would pass. He was right.
I know sulavaca’s stance on Toyotas and stuff, but I’m curious about 1) his stance on Sentras – mine is far and away THE most reliable car I have ever owned in my life. 12 years and nothing more than normal regular servicing.
and 2) What, if anything, should I be paying special attention to now that the old girl is getting older? What are the failure spots on these cars?[/quote]
you probably need to replace the timing belt if you haven’t already done so.
[quote=“Deuce Dropper”][quote=“sandman”]Just out of interest, really. I have this old Sentra, bought new maybe 12 years ago, I forget exactly. Never had anything wrong with it in all that time.
Felt sure it wouldn’t pass this year’s test, though, as the exhaust got nicked and our mechanic replaced it with a straight-through one instead of the one that was on it before. He just told us to drive it around for 20 minutes before taking it to the test center and it would pass. He was right.
I know sulavaca’s stance on Toyotas and stuff, but I’m curious about 1) his stance on Sentras – mine is far and away THE most reliable car I have ever owned in my life. 12 years and nothing more than normal regular servicing.
and 2) What, if anything, should I be paying special attention to now that the old girl is getting older? What are the failure spots on these cars?[/quote]
you probably need to replace the timing belt if you haven’t already done so.[/quote]
Wouldn’t that fall under “normal servicing” though? I have no idea about these things.
[quote=“sandman”][quote=“Deuce Dropper”][quote=“sandman”]Just out of interest, really. I have this old Sentra, bought new maybe 12 years ago, I forget exactly. Never had anything wrong with it in all that time.
Felt sure it wouldn’t pass this year’s test, though, as the exhaust got nicked and our mechanic replaced it with a straight-through one instead of the one that was on it before. He just told us to drive it around for 20 minutes before taking it to the test center and it would pass. He was right.
I know sulavaca’s stance on Toyotas and stuff, but I’m curious about 1) his stance on Sentras – mine is far and away THE most reliable car I have ever owned in my life. 12 years and nothing more than normal regular servicing.
and 2) What, if anything, should I be paying special attention to now that the old girl is getting older? What are the failure spots on these cars?[/quote]
you probably need to replace the timing belt if you haven’t already done so.[/quote]
Wouldn’t that fall under “normal servicing” though? I have no idea about these things.[/quote]
probably, but then you are making that dangerous leap of faith that you and the local mechanic have a shared concept of ‘normal’.
I mentioned the timing belt because it is something used car buyers often get burned on. You obviously haven’t just bought this vehicle as used, but the vehicle’s age is such that it could be a likely failure spot.
I see. Well, in our case, the mechanic happens to be bloody fantastic – he’s the only guy who’s ever worked on the car and we’ve followed him about the city when he’s changed jobs – so I’m fairly trusting that he’ll have taken care of stuff like that, but its good to know, just the same.
What I’m getting at is that while the mechanic’s good, there’s only so much he can do with an old car, and while we’ve NEVER suffered a breakdown or failure, I’m guessing its only a matter of time now, and I’d like to make at least SOME kind of preparation for the inevitable.
So a busted timing belt would sound like what?
[quote=“sandman”]I
So a busted timing belt would sound like what?[/quote]
The END.
Unless its one of the rare “non-interference” engines. (FIAT Panda FIRE engine is the only one I can think of, but there’ll be more.) Mostly the pistons hit the valves, and that’s it
Sandy, you should have had a much larger than normal service bill somewhere around the 60,000 to 80,000km mark. A timing belt is cheap but it’s a couple of hours work to change it. RTFM!
The Sentra motor IS interference. Meaning, if the cams don’t move the valves out of the way as the pistons rise, they get bent. Usually it’s enough damage that the motor is not worth rebuilding and on a 12 year old car that probably means it’s not worth swapping the engine either. /car
Thanks. I’ll bear that in mind. Worth asking the guy if he’s checked it.
Problem is, we met him when we bought the car – he worked at a Nissan service place, where they always give you a form with all the stuff they’ve checked ticked off in them wee boxes.
However, he’s since set up his own little shop and while he’s still as good, you don’t get those sheets any more, and I don’t always understand exactly what he’s done or checked.
So, timing belt. What else could be expected to be buggered?
[quote=“sandman”]
So, timing belt. What else could be expected to be buggered?[/quote]
What’s the mileage at now?
I love asking that question of only-owners. 
It’s not worth asking anyone with a car they bought used…
[quote=“redwagon”][quote=“sandman”]
So, timing belt. What else could be expected to be buggered?[/quote]
What’s the mileage at now?
I love asking that question of only-owners. It’s not worth asking anyone with a car they bought used…[/quote]
Umm. Not exactly sure. Its very low, though, considering its age. I don’t think its even broken 80k yet. Don’t really use it that much.
[quote=“sandman”]Thanks. I’ll bear that in mind. Worth asking the guy if he’s checked it.
[/quote]
Sorry to be picky/legalistic, (especially in a cross-culture context), and I’m not knocking your mechanic, but I dont think it is.
I think its worth asking him if he’s changed it.
While a visual inspection might provide clues, my understanding is that there may be no outward signs of imminent failure.
I also understand that, for some marques (e.g. Mk3 Escorts, Alfa’s) one is well advised to change them considerably before the recommended service interval, though I’d be mildly surprised if that applies to Nissan.
This is 2nd hand info though. Up to, (but unfortunately not including) my current car, I’ve managed to avoid timing belts.
[quote=“sandman”]
Umm. Not exactly sure. Its very low, though, considering its age. I don’t think its even broken 80k yet. Don’t really use it that much.[/quote]
Check the manual and odometer. It’s my habit to change the water pump and hoses along with the timing belt as on most cars it’s almost as much work to change the pump as it is the belt, and the parts are cheap.
Those old Sentras will basically run forever if you maintain them by the book.
They’re brilliant. In fact so good that I just put a bid on one today. I’ll see if it becomes mine next week or not. Fingers crossed. It’s a rare one!
Sentras:
Steering linkage
dampers
engine mounts
There’s nothing really to specifically look for on Sentras as far as I am concerned. They are a very strong vehicle in most aspects. They just go a bit floppy a little faster than Toyotas, so its suspension and steering to be checked, but not to say that either system is week. All good!
Change the brake fluid?
Its probably on the service schedule, and so has been done, but I think its the fluid change that most often gets overlooked.
In fact I often overlook it myself, I suppose I assume it can wait until I have to work on the braking system, but that’s not very proactive.
In Taiwans humidity, especially on a car that doesn’t get used much, regular fluid changes might prevent internal corrosion of the braking system.
The bugger rolled his eyes at me! last time I buy HIM dinner! “Done, done, done and done! What the fuck is the matter with you? I KNOW Nissans, dude. Are you calling me an idiot? Since you refused to buy a Livina, I’m concentrating on keeping your crate running for as long as possible. And I’m doing a damn good job, am I not?”
I’m paraphrasing. The guy is a good wrench, though.
But thanks for all your advice!
Rust prevention?
Now THAT is something I suspect few mechanics, however good, will consider, since its not really within their normal remit until its time for remedial welding.
OTOH I don’t think its usually much of an issue in Taiwan compared to Scotland.
MIGHT be worth considering if you’re in it for the long haul, though.
I recall the timing belt changes on my very very old Sentra as being fairly cheap, NT$2-3k.
I would honestly say that you need to change your vehicle… get a bicycle to be more green with the environment !!! or get a hybrid car… anyways… just my point…
A poor, knee-jerk point in several ways. You (presumably) don’t know that the OP doesn’t have a bicycle. He may well have.
You do know that he’s got an old car that he doesn’t use very much. Do you really think the environment is going to benefit by him scrapping it (with the waste and pollution that implies) and buying a (presumably new) hybrid (with the energy and materials cost and pollution that that implies) and then not using it very much?
Yes. Yes, indeed. In fact, I HAVE been looking for a new vehicle. Either a Subaru Forester or a heavily modded Lamborghini Countach. The lime green one with the pink leather upholstery.
Anyway, the dear old ultra-reliable Sentra is going in for its 6-monthly emissions test later today, so we’ll see how it goes.