Another vehicle 92 Nissan Sentra

[user removed]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Out of curiosity, how can you tell? Bounce test, on-road symptoms, tire wear?

It's got brand new ones on the front and you can't even compress them half way to the stops. The rears have virtually no resistance over the springs themselves. Bounce test, also they have some surface rust and the replacements are basically new, complete units.

regards
mech

[user removed]

Got the shocks today, $48 for both shipped to my door. Rock Auto closeout Gabriels. I'll replace them tomorrow, hope they are the right ones. 6200 miles since purchased. It should not affect alignment. 113 miles on the odometer in the last 8 days. 48 on the bike. 6.5 cents a mile for gas in the Sentra, a little under 3 cpm on the bike. Got the bike reinspected today when I rode 6 miles to grab some lunch, $12.

regards
mech

[user removed]

Rear shocks are done but it wasn't easy. Took about 4-5 hours. Would have been a lot less if there had not been a horrific noise on the test drive, from the left rear. I thought one of the top mounts was not tightened and checked that but that wasn't it. I ended up having to grind some of the flange where the metal brake line connects to the flexible line on the replacement strut. It was hitting the mount for the other end of the same flexible line. The spring clip that holds the line into the body flange was not all the way in and that was making it worse. A little grinder and hammer the clip in all the way and everything is fine, except my old back .

Rides better, the old struts were Nissan but I think they had been replaced from dates on the struts 2005 and 2006. there was also a dent on the inside of the right rear wheel. I knew about that when they installed the tires and had them put it on the back. I let the air out and hammered the rim back in place.

Brake drums popped right off without any tools, shoes are probably 75% and the bearings are like new.

The harbor freight cheap spring compressor was marked down to $14.95, so my total cost was $65 for the struts, shipping and the tool. The aceteminaphene is starting to kick in now, maybe I'll take a nap.

It rides better, guess the extra work was the reason the struts were so cheap. It's done now.

regards
mech

[sohl]

I enjoyed reading this thread. What a good car for the money! I hope you get back to the tadpole trike soon and post updates!

[user removed]

Originally Posted by sohl

I enjoyed reading this thread. What a good car for the money! I hope you get back to the tadpole trike soon and post updates!

2015 will be the year of the trike.

The Sentra has become my reliable and super cheap transportation mode for the lousy weather we have had for the last several weeks. Ice storm today with rain freezing as it hit the ground. 80 miles on the bike since the beginning of December. 1000 on the Sentra in December. MPG has dropped some due to cold weather, but as much of the drop is due to short trips and more frequent cold starts with fewer miles average per trip.

Cost per mile has dropped with lower gas prices, $1.959 at the 7-11 at the entrance to my neighborhood. 5.69 cents per mile now and the car sits at home many days without moving, compared to a couple of years ago when I rode a bike over 800 miles in January.

regards
mech

[user removed]

510.1 miles since Jan 1 2015, or $28 in fuel cost for the Sentra. Bikes gone about 58 miles, about $1.40. This will probably be the least miles I drive in that time span for the forseeable future.

It was 29 gallons in December, so far in January less than 15 with 3 days left or less than say $30 for the month. Significant when you consider than I was loosing $83.33 a month in depreciation on the Fiesta. Considering the total costs of 2 vehicles versus 1, I would guess about $2k a year less.

Cost of purchase and all repairs including shocks and tires including DMV fees, about $1k, 7k miles since purchase, $.01428 per mile, another 7k and it drops in half.

regards
mech

[user removed]

Work done:

Plugs
Thermostat
4 struts
4 tires
cleaned IAC valve
tightened-repositioned AT cooler hose clamps
tightened valve cover
wiper blades
hot air duct
painted wiper arms
installed trailer hitch and wiring
replaced heater blower switch
cleaned engine compartment
cleaned passenger compartment
adjusted all latches
bumped trunk weatherstrip up for better seal
ripped off disintegrating window seals and filled gap with silicone
checked brakes all around
replaced steering rack boots

regards
mech

[Baltothewolf]

I find it so hilarious you got this car for sooooo cheap and it's been so damn reliable haha. How much do you have in it so far?

[user removed]

183,029 miles today after latest fill, was 175,423 when I bought it last August. I replaced the heater blower motor yesterday with one from rock auto for $40. Bought another 5 quarts of Mobil 1 5-w30 synthetic at Walmart for $26.68.

Tested the blower motor several times and took the parents to lunch and the grocery store to save them driving around on icy roads, topped the tank up on the way home. In spite of the lousy weather conditions MPG still at 34.4, 14.3 gallons in 22 days and 492 miles.

Other than the blower motor, which was not absolutely necessary, no other problems or issues. I have not seen anything on craigslist that even comes close to this car in 6 months.

regards
mech

[Hypermiler1995]

Have you considered a TQ Lockup? That would possibly get Sinatra close to 40mpg, possibly?