I have a low-mileage 1991 Nissan Sentra that I need to bring out of deep hibernation–the car has been garaged, unstarted, for the past seven years.
At the time I stopped driving it, the car was running fine–maybe needing a tune-up but otherwise no indications of more serious problems. It’s been an outstanding car and I want to get it back into top shape.
To do the work, I’m considering a repair shop with an excellent reputation, but in their ads, the shop says they work on Audi, Subaru, VW, Toyota, Mazda, BMW, and Ferrari; but no mention of Nissan! I don’t know what to make of this omission.
Question:
Can one safely assume that a repair shop with expertise on the above cars can handle Sentras? I tend to assume that a 1991 Sentra would not have any unique quirks or idiosyncrasies that would stump an experienced mechanic…is this correct?
I think they just listed a bunch of cars that you tend to hear people bitch about not being able to find someone who can work on them. Honda, Chevy, Ford and even Nissan can go without saying. You could always call them if you really want to be sure.
Did you make any preparations for long-term storage before leaving it to sit for seven years? If not, is your goal inexpensive transportation or getting this specific car running at any cost?
After sitting for so long, it may need so much (battery, tires, brakes, oil change, air filter, fuel system) that it might be more economical to but another cheap used car instead.
It’s a great low-mileage car–was running fine when, unexpectedly, I had to stop using it.
So it wasn’t prepared for storage, and I’m ready to pay for new tires [current tires are low-mileage but 15-yrs-old], battery, thorough inspection, new fluids, filters, etc–the car gives every indication it might be one of those “runs-forever” cars.
Again, I’d assume a general-expertise shop can handle Sentras, which are fairly straightforwardly designed, no delicate “high-performance” components/systems or design quirks requiring specialized knowledge or experience.
Since we’re on the subject, and for future reference:
One assumes a general-expertise shop can handle normal car repair and maintenance; but what are the tasks that such a shop could not handle, that would require a specialist? Something like a transmission overhaul/rebuild, or specialized bodywork, or something like that?
I don’t think anyone rebuilds transmissions these days. It’s more cost-effective to just rip out the old one and install a used one from a bone yard.
Body work is not going to be model-dependent.
A Sentra is a pretty basic model that anyone should be able to repair. About the only thing that comes to mind for requiring a specialist would be the electrical system. The mechanics of a Sentra are pretty straight forward.
At least IME, most independent shops (and some dealers) don’t actually have the tire change equipment. If you need tires, they can send your car to the tire shop down the street and add it to your bill, but if you buy your own tires they may not be able to put them on.
If you really want to piss off the guy whose work you need to trust, buy a part somewhere and take it to him to install.
They love people who deprive them of the mark-up they count on.
Here’s a thought: you can buy eggs, bacon, and bread at the gorcery.
Take them to the restaurant and have them cook them for you.
They love that exactly as much as the mechanic loves installing the parts you bring.
Do not try to start the engine, yet!
One problem you will encounter is that the engine gaskets have dried out. There is a solution, I believe simple, but I don’t recall what it is. Check around first and get the answer.
A guy at work started a car that had sat for a year or two or three, and drove it about 250 miles. Needless to say, the engine blew.
“ISTM that nearly every belt will need to be replaced after 15 years of rotting/hardening.”
“One problem you will encounter is that the engine gaskets have dried out.”
Yeah, inspecting/replacing rubber parts+components–hoses, belts, gaskets, tires–is on the critical list–
Related Q:
When talking to mechanics, what critical things would determine your choice of shops–ie, if a mechanic doesn’t mention belts/hoses etc, that would eliminate that shop from my list.
What other things might be “red flags” that would be critical to determining one’s choice of mechanics?
That’s clear as mud. Probably 90+% of the time a car comes in for service there’s no call for discussing belts and hoses. What exactly are you talking about?
The car may “run forever” but it will be an albatross around your neck. Whether it has 100 miles on it or 1,000,000 the car is 25 years old, hasn’t run in 7, and was put away without any deliberate attempt to preserve any part of the car. The car doesn’t need freshening up it needs a full restoration.
Look at guys who restore cars - they’re mechanics, they do most of the work themselves, and they spend exorbitant amounts of time and money for a cool looking unreliable death trap that is in every way inferior to a modern economy car and isn’t worth half (or a quarter, or a tenth) what they have into it. Now imagine you’re them, but you’re paying >$90/hour shop rates every time the car needs anything and it’s not even a cool car.
Find a sucker, someone (like you) who refuses to believe that the car is 25 years old. Take whatever they’ll give you for it and buy a newer Sentra or Corolla or really any vehicle made in the last ~5 years. Take it to the dealer whenever the service light comes on and even with a $0 down loan at near usurious rates you’re going to come out ahead financially over the 91 Sentra AND you’ll have ABS, traction control, airbags, a warranty, and near 100% certainty that you’ll make it to your destination without breaking down or getting killed every time you take it for a drive.
Thank about this: Your car running is worth maybe $1500 - 2000, $2500 if it’s perfect. If you liked it, it’s probably worth resurrecting but It will never be made like-new and it isn’t worth the money to try.
If it was stored in a dry environment and maintained regularly before storage it probably doesn’t need much work. If your roads are regularly salted in winter all bets are off; lots of bad things could happen in 7 years. If not, with a new battery and some fresh gas it will probably fire right up. You should disconnect the coil wire and crank it until the oil pressure light goes out then reconnect for starting. If if runs then consider that the tires may be flat-spotted and a new set is $400-500 excluding mechanic work. My approach would be battery, start, see if everything still works INCLUDING BRAKES :eek: (possibly rusty or stuck), then contact the mechanic before any extended use.
I must say that if you have to ask the question you probably don’t understand all the things that legitimately could have happened and that a mechanic could ding you for fixing. But it’s very much worth having it running if you choose to sell it.