Is this car legit?

[corbin]

Hi guys,

I have been looking for a 240 for a while now and I think I may have found one that I want. Carfax is clean and the car looks immaculate except for the steering wheel.

I've noticed this on lots of S14's. The stock steering wheel looks lumpy and isn't smooth... like the airbag has been deployed or something. Here are some pics of the car:

http://tinyurl.com/y8spebj

http://tinyurl.com/ycx7994

Is it just sun damage or what?

If you don't see what I'm talking about here is a comparison with some other cars I found...

Smooth steering wheel:
http://images.autotrader.com/images/2009/6/2/263/217/11815646210.263217493.IM1.05.565x421_A.562x421.jpg

Lumpy steering wheel:
http://images.autotrader.com/images/2009/11/8/270/467/13826998328.270467563.IM1.06.565x421_A.562x421.jpg

Weird thread of the day?

[S14DB]

Yeah, it's the vinyl drying out and you start seeing the seam.

[corbin]

Ah, well that's good news.

Hopefully I can scoop it up sometime this week if all goes well with the test drive.

[Rabboni]

Yea, that is just sun damage. The airbag goes from inside the steering wheel to fully inflated to deflated all in under half a second. That small explosion would do alot more than just rumple up the vinyl.

[corbin]

Well I looked at the car today and it was fine except for a few dings here and there. The front bumper was missing some brackets where it attaches to the fender like it had been hit at the front and got splayed out. Car also tracked to the right and the brakes roared a bit.

The steering wheel still concerns me as it was lumpy as s*** like the last pic in my topic post and there was a gap at the top.


Does anybody know what happens when the airbag deploys? Does it break out Incredible Hulk style and crack the cover or does the cover hinge open?

[KansaiDrifter]

oh yeah haha if the airbag goes off, it's a total loss. It will rip the center section apart total hulk style. Don't forget about the passenger side airbag too! If the airbags were deployed then the passenger side dash will have a huge tear in it also.

*edit just checked your pics, the airbags have not gone off for sure haha.

[Team DET]

thats a airbag with a six pack lol ...my buddies is the same way

[Ceepo]

Mine isnt like that at all... hmm...

[Iron_Zenki]

I have Two steering wheels in great condition no lump what so ever let me know if your interested:bow:.

[drift_limo]

sun damage.
just change it for a nardi.

[corbin]

So confused...

Here is the car everybody.

Cars for Sale: 1995 Nissan 240SX SE in DEER PARK , TX 77536: Coupe Details - 272847602 - AutoTrader.com (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=272847602&dealer_id=64905129&car_year=1995&rdm=1262136731275&lastStartYear=1981&model=240SX&num_records=100&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=75943&showZipError=y&first_record=1&make=NISSAN&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=77379&advanced=&end_year=2011&pager.offset=0&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=34&standard=false)

I know it looks clean in the pics but it pulls to the right, has funny brakes, weird steering wheel, and a dent on the rear right where the bumper attaches to the bumper that looks like it would have extended to the bumper... maybe I'm just expecting too much? Seems like a lot of random shit wrong. All I need to know is that it hasn't been in an accident. There is also a place on the Carfax where it says it was driven for like 100 miles over the period of a year and a half... WTF?

I'm checking it out again tomorrow and I'm planning on checking the VIN numbers on fenders/trunk/doors to make sure they match. How can I check under the car to make sure the frame is straight?

[BustedS13]

So confused...

Here is the car everybody.

Cars for Sale: 1995 Nissan 240SX SE in DEER PARK , TX 77536: Coupe Details - 272847602 - AutoTrader.com (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=272847602&dealer_id=64905129&car_year=1995&rdm=1262136731275&lastStartYear=1981&model=240SX&num_records=100&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=75943&showZipError=y&first_record=1&make=NISSAN&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=77379&advanced=&end_year=2011&pager.offset=0&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=34&standard=false)

I know it looks clean in the pics but it pulls to the right, has funny brakes, weird steering wheel, and a dent on the rear right where the bumper attaches to the bumper that looks like it would have extended to the bumper... maybe I'm just expecting too much? Seems like a lot of random shit wrong. All I need to know is that it hasn't been in an accident. There is also a place on the Carfax where it says it was driven for like 100 miles over the period of a year and a half... WTF?

I'm checking it out again tomorrow and I'm planning on checking the VIN numbers on fenders/trunk/doors to make sure they match. How can I check under the car to make sure the frame is straight?

looks like you're going to have to replace the clutch pedal, too!

[I LUV MY S13]

if the air bag deployed it would have been ripped

[drift213]

the car looks clean and everything but i think you can get a bette deal here for cheaper and with moods already idk is just my opinion

[fliprayzin240sx]

Looks pretty clean...not bad of a mileage. If the steering wheel airbag went off, that means the passenger side would have deployed too. That would have destroyed that dash and bust the windshield. Considering the dash and the interior matches, that would mean its the original dash. There isnt a whole lot of blue interior...so finding another blue dash is fairly hard.

[corbin]

Brought it to the mechanic and its got all the typical old car not maintained well problems.

Worn motor mounts
Worn front wheel hub bearings
MULTIPLE OIL LEAKS (isn't this weird on a car with 108k?)
Timing chain rattle
60 MPH vibration

Are oil leaks that big of a problem? Should I still buy it?

[BustedS13]

mine leaked from the valve cover, which is as easy to fix as changing batteries in a remote control.
if it's leaking from the oil pan, that's more work, but not particularly difficult.
replacing mounts is also not very difficult. or you could just inject them.
bearings aren't a problem.
you will not find a KA that does not have timing chain noise. there are many how-to's for removing the guides. you can even remove the upper when you replace your valve cover gasket.
60 mph vibration? new front bearings, then an alignment.

the biggest problem, however, is that you're looking at a ladylike automatic 240sx. if you just want this car for commuting, that's fine, but if you have a penis, you'll need to find a manual car instead.

[corbin]

Well a 5 speed swap would be in order...

The problem at this point is that my parents think this car is worth no more than $2000 because that's what the mechanic told them. :rolleyes:

[CleanAndLegit]

worth about 3k no more no less!

[Teknolust72]

Sorry for backtracking the topic a little bit......

The lump and/or indentation on the steering wheel usually occurs on Zenki models. For some reason Kouki's dont do that. And its not because of mileage. I've seen low mileage zenkis that have the indentation, and i've seen high mileage kouki's with sun damage to their dash, but the steering wheel is perfect.

[93nismo]

Brought it to the mechanic and its got all the typical old car not maintained well problems.

Worn motor mounts
Worn front wheel hub bearings
MULTIPLE OIL LEAKS (isn't this weird on a car with 108k?)
Timing chain rattle
60 MPH vibration

Are oil leaks that big of a problem? Should I still buy it?

note this is my experiance.

1.motor mounts, get aftermarket or oem replacements, if your going 5 speed you need a tranny mount anyway. buy them and pay a shop to instal(cost me like 100$ to instal)
2.pay somebody to do the bearings or find a write up and do them yourself
3.oil leaks will probably be solved with a gasket set, worked for me. i had oil all over the place, as stated before, the pans a little more difficult but its not hard. just awkword at best
4.find a write up on the timeing chain and fix it. im sure theres one on here.
5.get an alightment and maybe tires and the vibration will most likely go away.

ive had all those problems aside of the bearings and all mine have been fixed aside of the timeing chain.

[S14Serge]

Same question you asked on another forum dude, didn't you get your question answered already????

[S14DB]

Sorry for backtracking the topic a little bit......

The lump and/or indentation on the steering wheel usually occurs on Zenki models. For some reason Kouki's dont do that. And its not because of mileage. I've seen low mileage zenkis that have the indentation, and i've seen high mileage kouki's with sun damage to their dash, but the steering wheel is perfect.

It's an age/heat thing not a kouki/zenki thing. I have seen both with it. As the vinyl ages it shrinks. There is metal plates under it to make it blow along that seam. The vinyl shrinks the plates don't. Then you see the area the plates aren't.

Zenki's are more common cause they are older. I find it mostly has to do with exposure to heat and hot/cold cycles then sun exposure.