new primera owner

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   hi folks,

just purchased my first ever primera yesterday, after 2 years with a vectra cdx.

at first it was a step down in luxury but i'm after reliability, the vectra died eventually from engine failure after two years of hell and spending over a thousand pounds on replacement parts grr.

i've paid £450 for a 1997 1.6 GX version, its a bit rusty and looked awful when i picked it up, but...i'm surprised..it comes with all of the books, previous m.ot.s, full service history and stamps, after cleaning it up the body work is nothing that i can't do myself for about £50.

am i right in thinking there chain and not cambelt?

also..i drove around 30 miles in it before getting round to checking the oil and D'OH! it was almost out..will the engine be ok now i've filled it back up? or have i gone and bent something? it sounds ok but the exhaust is blowing so its in having that done.

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siberian2005 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List NPOC Guest Joined: 13 Apr 2010 Location: Whitby Online Status: Points: 14	Post Options Post Reply Quote siberian2005 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: new primera owner Posted: 13 Apr 2010 at 8:45pm
	hi folks, just purchased my first ever primera yesterday, after 2 years with a vectra cdx. at first it was a step down in luxury but i'm after reliability, the vectra died eventually from engine failure after two years of hell and spending over a thousand pounds on replacement parts grr. i've paid £450 for a 1997 1.6 GX version, its a bit rusty and looked awful when i picked it up, but...i'm surprised..it comes with all of the books, previous m.ot.s, full service history and stamps, after cleaning it up the body work is nothing that i can't do myself for about £50. am i right in thinking there chain and not cambelt? also..i drove around 30 miles in it before getting round to checking the oil and D'OH! it was almost out..will the engine be ok now i've filled it back up? or have i gone and bent something? it sounds ok but the exhaust is blowing so its in having that done.

GTLE Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List NPOC Guest Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Location: Norfolk Online Status: Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote GTLE Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 12:35am
	Hi Buddy. Vectra... Yuk. I had a 1.6 engine in our Series 2 SLX Estate many years ago and that had chain driven cams. The engine was very impressive for a 1.6, we used to pull a big Pennine Pullman 535 SE folding camper and you couldn't tell it was there most of the time. The Primera's have always been sound body wise, if they have rust it is normally just repairable surface rust and not rot. My GTLE is a 1999 (T) and has no rust anywhere on the painted body and the paint is great. (Regularly detailed and waxed by the way) It is always VERY IMPORTANT to keep the oil at the correct level in an engine. Sometimes though they can look nearly empty on the stick but be OK capacity wise, it all depends on the design of the dipstick depth/angle etc. Sounds as though you may not know how long it was running with a low oil level... If there are no taps or rattles and no blue smoke from the exhaust you are probably OK. The primera's definitely a best kept secret type of car... reasonable to run, great fun to drive and ultra reliable. (They were always very popular with taxi drivers as they would reach 1/4 million miles with no major issues) All I have ever done with mine is service it as per NISSAN recommendations and it has never missed a beat. Replacement parts seem to be limited to fresh windscreen wipers every year and tyres every few years, and you can't argue with that. I hope you enjoy your new primera. Regards Brian.

essNchill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Nissyen Gaius Fluff Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Points: 62628	Post Options Post Reply Quote essNchill Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 12:47am
	^^ Sorted for you Brian ^^

GTLE Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List NPOC Guest Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Location: Norfolk Online Status: Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote GTLE Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 1:02am
	Cheers Buddy.

essNchill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Nissyen Gaius Fluff Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Points: 62628	Post Options Post Reply Quote essNchill Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 2:50am
	And I nearly forgot my manners too! A big welcome to NPOC "siberian2005" It is indeed chain driven, your engine is known as the GA16DE Enjoy the forums and take care, Shaun

siberian2005 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List NPOC Guest Joined: 13 Apr 2010 Location: Whitby Online Status: Points: 14	Post Options Post Reply Quote siberian2005 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 2:56am
	ah ha..thanks to GTLE and essNchill..engine model will no doubt come in handy. i'll post some pictures up when i get it back from the garage, at first i thought 'shed' but now..after a good clean..i'm quite pleased! im just hoping for reliability after breaking down 3 times in 2 years with the veccy. this is my 4th car, the last one was dreadful, comfortable and gadget packed but no use as it spent all of its time on axle stands. i'll keep everyone up to date as i progress with the project of restoring the car back to factory(ish) finish.

essNchill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Nissyen Gaius Fluff Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Points: 62628	Post Options Post Reply Quote essNchill Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 3:09am
	The only thing likely to break and this is your heads up LOL, is a drive shaft - Sadly it's a weak point (by Nissan's fantastic design!), most of us have snapped the original ones over time. It's a pain in the arse yes but at least the Motor Factor NON Nissans ones you replace them with, come without the silly rubber balancing weight stuck on it (which allows water to get trapped and then rots the shaft). Apart from that, happy days