I used to swear these type of deals were fake or would never happen to me, until 1 month ago. A 2012 Prius C 143,000 miles every thing works including A/C. Fell into my lap. Hybrid battery was replaced 2 years ago (10 year life span) Prius C's use the 1.5 engine, so no head gasket or EGR issues. Only thing wrong was a dented up drivers door. Brought for $1000, I'm so happy and blessed for this deal!!
Awesome deal! I think those batteries cost 5 times what you paid. congrats. Carcarenut has an awesome youtube for Toyotas. I've never owned a Hybrid but he has videos talking about the vents for the battery being a big deal to keep clean. Seems like you can just take a minute or 2 every 6 months and it will help your super expensive battery last longer.
i occasionally see a legitimate deal on fb like that and they are usually gone within hours. you gotta be quick and on there all the time to catch one but it happens. sometimes a person just wants to dump a car.
As a current Nissan/Infiniti mechanic for over thirty years, that rear oil leak is usually never the rear main seal …. It’s the half moon seal on the engine oil pan, I would start by resealing the engine oil pan and replacing both front and rear half moon seals first. Also the exhaust manifolds were a weak point on these models, but at 230k they most have certainly been replaced …. And don’t forget to check that timing belt and water pump ! Thanks ! Great video again !!
Those things are tanks !! Hence the 380,000 kms, The things to watch out for is the catalytic after the exhaust manifold likes to trip the engine light, door latches freezing in the winter and wheel bearings, if you gotta do the rear, and parts are seized , good luck ! But at that mileage, they have already been done, hope that the mechanic put anti seize on all the nuts and bolts ! Oh and the rust on the rear quarter panels, front fenders are plastic, so no worry there ! 😂😂
@@rdpeach I can remember back in the 70s to 90s when I was, when they got their Corporal hooks they're go out and buy, if they were single, a Mustang, Camaro or a Firebird, some would by a Challenger too. In Germany it was mostly BMWS.
This was built when Nissan still made reliable vehicles. My son leased one of these back in 2000 when he was still in the US Navy. It was a great car. His was "school bus" yellow. Made it easy to spot in the parking lot. Thanks for posting. Love your content!
Always thought deals like this were unreal until last week. Neighbor had an old LS400 with 310K miles for $800. All it needed was a new battery. Still runs and drives. Cold AC. Needs a little work cosmetically. But definitely happy with my purchase so far!
$800 is amazing for one mostly sorted, good on Grimes. Always liked these Xterras, almost bought one in '02, but it was on the lot of a Saab dealer back in LA. So for the same price I bought a same-year '99 9-3 cv, which I still have to this day. Sorry to hear about the 101 heat, can't complain here in the NE, though we do have storms and tornado watch - again.
The 3.3 L Nissan engine is bulletproof is you change the timing at 90K or ten years and change the oil they will go 400k +. Also Nissan AC has always been great and have required little service.
The AC hoses suck. I've owned my 2000 Frontier V6 M/T since new. Has 180K now. I've put 4 discharge hoses on the truck, and 2 suction hoses. They leak at the crimps after about 40K miles. Not a big deal for me as a 30+ year Honda tech, but Nissan replacement parts seem pretty low quality. Tempted to go aftermarket, but I've heard that most don't fit right. The truck has been great overall, so pretty minor complaints.
I wouldn't buy that car for 10 dollars though. It's fugly and I've driven in one that's enough to tell me it's horrible. Engine is very noisy in acceleration (or lack of) and the suspension is jolty, the car wiggles even on hard gear changes (the car we drove in was 1 year old). The guy who owned the car had plenty of money and I kept on wondering what on earth went in his mind to make this car choice. He could have got a G-wagen or a Range Rover. And yes, no need to tell me the RR is a money pit, he could have afforded it...
@@Munakas-wq3gp Well, that is odd. My 03 has 335xxx hard driven miles from the oil fields of Canada, to the outer banks. The most I have done is basic maintenance. The only actual issue I've seen is rust and knock sensor location with these.
@@Munakas-wq3gpWe had one for 100k miles. Dad has a same model year Frontier with 300k miles. None of the issues you’re talking about. Compared to a G Wagen? Yeah. Not as nice. But a 300k mile G Wagen doesn’t exist. 😂
Nice score... feels good when it happens to you. It happened to me almost 10 yrs ago with a '07 HHR with 140k miles and meticulously maintained for $1k. Still have it and will be going through it to give it to my daughter for her to go to work and school.
I ran my first gen to 330 gave it to my nephew . Then got a 2nd gen . The key is the manual trans . Mine did 4 years in Alaska with me in the army . It was a great truck and I still miss it .
I have a 2001 Xterra. Love it, and mechanically it's going strong. But AC and heating no longer works. No way I can afford to fix all that though, so I bear thru the elements and just drive it!
Every time I see one of these on craigslist it needs a motor, I've always been tempted but I don't wanna put a motor in one of these. I will say these Xterras were FAR better than the later milkshake makers that replaced this gen, I always thought these looked cool
People don’t replace the timing belts and water pumps at every 100,000. They can burn oil as they age. They only hold 3.5 Quarts of oil. Those 2 things can kill the engine
I bought a manual transmission 2004 Xterra for $500 because it would crank but wouldn’t start. Took me about 15 minutes to get it running. As it turned out, the screw that held the rotor in place had fallen out. Adjusted the rotor back to where it was supposed to be, put that screw back in and it fired right up. It’s been running well since.
Why are the sidesteps on the wrong sides? I've got a 2000 Frontier V6 MT with 180K, recently replaced the rubber end seals on the oil pan. Pan itself is "glued on" but uses rubber end seals that get rock hard. Almost certainly the cause of the oil leak on this Xterra too...not the rear main. I'd suggest changing the t-belt if not sure when it was done last.
A good wash, vacuuming, headlight restoration, and plastic restoration to bring it back to black (~$50 total) are also a must…would transform the look of the vehicle
10 years ago when I owned my 2002 xterra we let it go because of a bad head gasket. Now I'm 37 years old and I'm confident I could pull that engine and replace it. It's crazy what you can learn from TH-cam and channels like this. Fixing things yourself, the confidence you build and money you save, both are indispensable.
Thing is, in my neck of the woods a quote for all of the above would probably be 3-4k. Only way a car like this is feasible if you do your own work and have access to the tools and knowledge needed. It's tough 'cuz sometimes it really is a better call to buy a car for 5k and not have a laundry list of problems.
I bought a Corolla from a small town, back woods mechanic shop. They swore up and down it needed all sorts of parts to fix the engine and the customer couldn’t afford it. So being a Toyota master tech I brought my laptop with me and it had a cam/crank correlation code. The intake cam was off a tooth cuz the shop broke the tensioner. So I took the cover off, corrected the timing, and replaced the tensioner. It’s been running good ever since.
I looked at a used truck at a dealership once that had a few parts under the hood that obviously came from a wrecking yard. It was raining really hard that day and the truck ran out of gas on the test drive. Someone from the dealership had to pick me and the salesman up. When we got back to the dealership, the manager jokingly said,' I guess that means you don't want the truck". I responded by saying, "goodbye" as I walked out of the dealership.
These are great rigs. I picked up a 2010 for next to nothing last month. Previous owner thought it had SMOD due to a shorted TCM but the transmission was clean as could be. New valve body and it drives great
Thank you, Wizard and Mrs. Reminded of a story my father told. Mid-30s, everyone was poor. He'd see a Cord ($$ think Rolls Royce) sitting in a lady's yard on his walk to and from work. He asked about it, broken - did not know what was wrong. He bought it ($100 - think 2 months pay) found the transmission part ($50 - months pay) fixed and had a front wheel drive car for Minnesota winters. Made more money towing cars off railroad tracks
I just picked up a 2009 G37X for $1500. Broken driveshaft. I picket it up from my friend - stock, clean, maintained by dealer and 230k miles. He had it on offerup and was ghosted by a buyer - so I asked him to sell it to me. This thing is clean and not beat. Buyers are flakes so all you really need to do is show up bc people do weird stuff and just ask if it's available yet never show.
Dave, when are you gonna send Grandpa"s "67 Chevy Malibu to the junkyard where it belongs ? I don"t care how much time or money you spend , even doing an LS swap, it would be a total waste, because it will still be an UGLY looking 4 door Malibu that usually came with a 327 and the 2 speed Powerglide and was pretty slow , so making it FAST would be like putting lipstick on a pig !
You can take every last Nissan product to pick n pull and throw that crap away. Nissans suck Oh wait… I’m sorry. The gas mileage is incredible. You will love a Nissan . Psych
Hey thanks wizard. Now I know where to get the wires I need to repair my vehicle electrical issues. Man All this time Just hiding behind the drywall. 😅
I've had 3 of these current one is an 05. 181k. Miss the old 2000 I had. Less power but they were easier to work on and didn't have the constant emissions codes the 05 and 06s are plagued with.
I really think you should start giving a car wash before you start working on it. Appreciate the cars more when working on them man! I've been following you guys for a while, but you don't seem to be upgrading or improving.
That’s a very good deal mileage means nothing if you do the maintenance on time rear main seal put heavier oil pennzoil high mileage oil works I have 98 Camry with leaking rear main seal now it’s stopped leaking I use pennzoil high mileage or AT205 reseal to rejuvenate the seal or gasket
Little detail, the step rails are crossed. The one on the drivers side is supposed to go on the passenger’s. Notice it curves out, and it’s supposed to curve into the body. Just swap them ☺️
Always look. Gives a real clue to how well it was maintained. And a sagging headliner speaks to leaving the windows open because the ac wasn’t fixed and they will have dirt and grime in every corner. Bought a Lexus one time and ignored the glitter in the carpet. Bad move.
Still have a 2013 Pro4X that I got in 2015 at 28500 miles. Now past 134000 miles I’ve never owned a car so long. And looks like it will see me out. A real jack of all trades vehicle. Powerful, lots of room for cargo (OK the back seats are tight but I take em out and have a station wagon). Roof rack is great when you’re 6’4” and you can step in and wear a hat. Only drawback is the wife, who is not short, has to pull herself into the passenger side. Tried the sidesteps but they just got my pants dirty and were not at a helpful height for anyone. Our daughter and a string of her friends and mine are in line if we ever decide to part with it. But that’s likely fifteen years out. The limiting factor for such vehicles is parts, and how long they will be cheap and available.
I own a 2000 Xterra with 230.000 miles and It's an absolute piece of crap since day 1. Cracked the radiator shared trans cooler and put all the coolant in the transmission and had to be rebuilt along with new radiator, mega bucks shelled out .Jumped a timing belt before service interval and destroyed the engine had engine replaced, Burnt a valve on new engine because of blocked converters, and had to pull the heads 4500 dollars later with new converters and heads. And it goes on and on. Pure junk by Nissan. Never again.. I have around 11,000 dollars in major repairs and will NEVER buy another Nissan.
I agre that talented mechanics don't get paid anywhere near their worth, but I suspect Grimes is paid above average and is on track to own (take over?) his own shop. As far as owning old used cars, I am a software engineer working in Silicon Valley. I own a 2006 Toyota Highland Hybrid, a 2012 CRV, and a 2012 Odyssey all bought well used at around 100k miles. I do all work on my cars (timing belt/water pump last summer on the Highlander) and prefer driving my older cars even though I can afford to buy a new car. I taught my kids to buy used cars.
I make good money and all my cars are classics or antiques including my motorcycles. 4 cars and 2 bikes. I bet if I traded them all in I couldnt get a brand new truck for their worth . I like my old stuff. Car payments are a joke and new cars are mostly all junk.
Had one of these a while back. It wasnt comfy, nor luxurious, and the 3.3l was a dog. But dang was it reliable. Apart from a maf sensor, it needed nothing for the few yrs i kept it. Amazing vehicles!
When you can do your own repairs, you can gamble on these things. A distributor. I haven't seen one of those in a while. I used to rebuild alternators back in the late 70s. It probably has some bad bearings. Scotty would say to put some AT 205 reseal in it.
Got my 99 QX4 with almost 300K miles many years ago. Same engine, similar overall condition and price. Did a complete reseal on the engine just for age's sake but its an absolutely reliable vehicle. Common issues are the knock sensor, which is buried deep and initiated my total re-seal project and especially the optical distributor which is easy and not too expensive....just don't use aftermarket units, OEM Nissan only.
I typically sell off my cars between 100k and 150k miles I don't think I would even consider buying one with 200k miles on yes I know Toyota can go well beyond that I just don't take them that far
Man my old man, his best friend, bought a 2003 Frontier new. Same engine and drivetrain. It's a Crew Cab, 4x4, in silver. And Stick shift. He has used that thing for daily driving (and his job required long distances), hauling stuff, cause he has a small farm, and also off roading cause to get to the farm you have to crawl up it on 4LO. He visited my dad one time, last time I was back home about almost 4 years ago, and the truck sounded smooth, and I brought it up and he said it has over 300,000 miles. Still running and everything is functioning. Love this generation of Xterra and Frontier, and also the one that followed it. The one thing Nissan always got right.
I have a 2001 Xterra SE I bought from my sister a few years ago. I was planning to do a minor cosmetic refresh and flip it but I kinda fell in love with the old beast. Might want to look into doing a timing belt,tensioner, and water pump as these are interference engines. Also my powersteering leak was just from the old supply hoses. easy peasy.
I got my 03 RWD Xterra for 200 bucks with 250k had been sitting for 5 years and had moss growing on the outside 😂 I fixed everything in a span of 6 months buying stuff on eBay and Rick auto discounts. Power steering Timing belt, water pump New AC system. O2 sensor New tires. Lifted it, all ball joints replaced, shocks, front end steering was changed. New brakes Mine also has the same rear main seal leak, so that's probably going to stay like that 😂 I just keep oil in the truck. So far the trucks been great for bringing the kayak fishing, and bringing deer in the back during hunting season.
I am an Xterra fan and been Xterra groups for years. This is the first generation and they were excellent SUVs. These first gen are in demand actually. The main reason is affordability. Second Gen from 2005-2009 had the SMOD issue with transmission and the 2010-2015 are priced as if they are gold LOL. My guess is the previous owner was told she needed a rear main seal, timing belt, alternator, axle seal, ball joints among the few items mentioned here and the SHOP bill was like $3500-$5500. For a DIY or semi pro person, this is a golden opportunity.
Just bought one of these from MY mechanic! 02 4WD Xterra in MINT condition, 117k miles, runs wonderfully with ice cold A/C......I paid $3500 though! I'm loving it so far
The one your buddy bought cannot be a first generation. Secondly the transmission radiator/transmission cooler failure cannot total a car. Someone doesn’t know what they are doing, or they don’t know what they are talking about. The first generation Xterra engine and transmission are very durable, two of the best in the business. If you replace the radiator on the the 2005-2012 it will be a long lasting vehicle, well over 300k. I am a mechanic just to say how I know, not that I know everything.
I love my Xterra, 2005. My son has it now though. I wish they still made them. Mine didn’t seem To have the trans fluid/ antifreeze milkshake, but somewhere before I got it, had a new radiator put in. 170,000 miles. Paid about $8000 for it a few years ago. Since they don’t make them I ended up with a 24 Bronco. Bronco is faster but that 4.0 V6 was pretty peppy.
BIG score!!! $800 for a clean title *anything* that runs and drives is a deal these days, even if you have to drop a few hundred on parts. Especially if you have the skill to do the work yourself -- we all know Grimes has plenty of that. Well done!
I had one of these with a Manual trans. A blue one. I really didn't want to sell it. But my wife is in a wheelchair. We needed something she could more easily get in and out of, so we got a 2003 Highlander. Two weeks after i sold me Xterra, the man i sold it to lent it to his friend, and he rolled it over and totaled it. 😭 I should have kept it.
We had a 1999 Pathfinder LE . It was a dealer demo with 5000 miles with this engine. My wife drove it for 10 years, than my daughter drove it for few years, than I sold it for $2200. Replaced it with a used 2003 LE that she drove for 10 more years. The 3.3 is really a great motor!!!
I worked at a Nissan plant in tennessee and there was a 2003 xterra in orange that was a plant car, taken off assembly and never registered, never left plant grounds, never even had paperwork. And it had 3000 miles.
the high miler 3.3/3.5 v6 engines on Xterra are famous for timing chain issues and bad injectors. I had one Xterra have both issues acting up at the same time, really pulled off some hairs with my co-worker, who used to work in nissan dealership.
I used to swear these type of deals were fake or would never happen to me, until 1 month ago. A 2012 Prius C 143,000 miles every thing works including A/C. Fell into my lap. Hybrid battery was replaced 2 years ago (10 year life span) Prius C's use the 1.5 engine, so no head gasket or EGR issues. Only thing wrong was a dented up drivers door. Brought for $1000, I'm so happy and blessed for this deal!!
Awesome deal! I think those batteries cost 5 times what you paid. congrats. Carcarenut has an awesome youtube for Toyotas. I've never owned a Hybrid but he has videos talking about the vents for the battery being a big deal to keep clean. Seems like you can just take a minute or 2 every 6 months and it will help your super expensive battery last longer.
i occasionally see a legitimate deal on fb like that and they are usually gone within hours. you gotta be quick and on there all the time to catch one but it happens. sometimes a person just wants to dump a car.
Screaming deal, you wouldn’t touch this car where I am for under $3k.
Great deal, especially with the hybrid battery being replaced.
You should return some money to the prior owner. That's a steal.
As a current Nissan/Infiniti mechanic for over thirty years, that rear oil leak is usually never the rear main seal …. It’s the half moon seal on the engine oil pan, I would start by resealing the engine oil pan and replacing both front and rear half moon seals first. Also the exhaust manifolds were a weak point on these models, but at 230k they most have certainly been replaced …. And don’t forget to check that timing belt and water pump ! Thanks ! Great video again !!
I agree, I would love to find out if that was his issue here!
I just bought a 2005 Nissan x-trail with a 2.5. 5 speed manual. 380,000 KM as I’m in Canada. What do you think about those??
Those things are tanks !! Hence the 380,000 kms, The things to watch out for is the catalytic after the exhaust manifold likes to trip the engine light, door latches freezing in the winter and wheel bearings, if you gotta do the rear, and parts are seized , good luck ! But at that mileage, they have already been done, hope that the mechanic put anti seize on all the nuts and bolts ! Oh and the rust on the rear quarter panels, front fenders are plastic, so no worry there ! 😂😂
I recently bought a wrecked Honda fit for 950$ replaced all the damaged panels for 500$.. it runs and drives great
Lucky
Nice pic
I have one. The engine oil leak is actually the rear pan gasket. It leaks right below the rear main seal. You just pull the pan and reseal the pan.
This was my thought as well. Something relatively easy to do first before pulling the trans. The front of the pan is also leaking a bit
Never knew a mechanic, even in the military who drove a new car, they always had a good used car that they could work on themselves or with a buddy.
I get that. Having something new is no fun.
I never knew a mechanic with good car taste
Usually in the military it's soldiers who just finished basic and have some money they arent used to
@@rdpeach I can remember back in the 70s to 90s when I was, when they got their Corporal hooks they're go out and buy, if they were single, a Mustang, Camaro or a Firebird, some would by a Challenger too. In Germany it was mostly BMWS.
@@Chuck59ishsome things never change. In Germany everyone was buying GTIs or BMWs. Everyone was upside down in their loans too. Classic
This was built when Nissan still made reliable vehicles. My son leased one of these back in 2000 when he was still in the US Navy. It was a great car. His was "school bus" yellow. Made it easy to spot in the parking lot. Thanks for posting. Love your content!
I wanted one of those so bad when I was a kid. Something about the door handle being up the side in the back just seemed so cool.
The best part is that it doesn't have the nissan cvt
Nissan would have a good CVT if it wasn't made by flippin JATCO.
Always thought deals like this were unreal until last week. Neighbor had an old LS400 with 310K miles for $800. All it needed was a new battery. Still runs and drives. Cold AC. Needs a little work cosmetically. But definitely happy with my purchase so far!
Thats a good rig!
$800 is amazing for one mostly sorted, good on Grimes. Always liked these Xterras, almost bought one in '02, but it was on the lot of a Saab dealer back in LA. So for the same price I bought a same-year '99 9-3 cv, which I still have to this day. Sorry to hear about the 101 heat, can't complain here in the NE, though we do have storms and tornado watch - again.
The 3.3 L Nissan engine is bulletproof is you change the timing at 90K or ten years and change the oil they will go 400k +. Also Nissan AC has always been great and have required little service.
My girlfriend has one and oddly enough, the ac has a leak and won't work.
The AC hoses suck. I've owned my 2000 Frontier V6 M/T since new. Has 180K now. I've put 4 discharge hoses on the truck, and 2 suction hoses. They leak at the crimps after about 40K miles. Not a big deal for me as a 30+ year Honda tech, but Nissan replacement parts seem pretty low quality. Tempted to go aftermarket, but I've heard that most don't fit right. The truck has been great overall, so pretty minor complaints.
I wouldn't buy that car for 10 dollars though. It's fugly and I've driven in one that's enough to tell me it's horrible. Engine is very noisy in acceleration (or lack of) and the suspension is jolty, the car wiggles even on hard gear changes (the car we drove in was 1 year old). The guy who owned the car had plenty of money and I kept on wondering what on earth went in his mind to make this car choice. He could have got a G-wagen or a Range Rover. And yes, no need to tell me the RR is a money pit, he could have afforded it...
@@Munakas-wq3gp Well, that is odd. My 03 has 335xxx hard driven miles from the oil fields of Canada, to the outer banks. The most I have done is basic maintenance. The only actual issue I've seen is rust and knock sensor location with these.
@@Munakas-wq3gpWe had one for 100k miles. Dad has a same model year Frontier with 300k miles. None of the issues you’re talking about.
Compared to a G Wagen? Yeah. Not as nice.
But a 300k mile G Wagen doesn’t exist. 😂
Something like this in Alabama would have cost $3,000 AT LEAST.
I miss when Marketplace was actually reasonable.
I feel like the deals are out there you just have to be patient, persistent and know what you’re looking for
@JGL98 I'm at cali . Everyone is overpricing over here lol " no lowballers " " I knows its worth"
@@joshuas830 I feel your pain.
I wish Nissan still makes vehicles like the Nissan Xterra reliable. For $800 that’s all he have to get fixed. That’s pretty good deal.
The Xterra is no longer in production.
My 2003 frontier is an incredible vehicle . Zero problems for 21 years!
manual shift?
@@frankfurther3828 auto
Working AC is the added bonus. I have a 2018 Frontier. Plan to drive it to at least 200k.
GRIMES!!1!! This XTerra beats the heck out of a Dodge Dart. Thanks Wizard.
Nice score... feels good when it happens to you. It happened to me almost 10 yrs ago with a '07 HHR with 140k miles and meticulously maintained for $1k. Still have it and will be going through it to give it to my daughter for her to go to work and school.
2000 manual, love mine. Paint is shot, but southern car. 200k miles and going strong.
I ran my first gen to 330 gave it to my nephew . Then got a 2nd gen . The key is the manual trans . Mine did 4 years in Alaska with me in the army . It was a great truck and I still miss it .
How much do you pay your mechanics? All drive crap
I have a 2001 Xterra. Love it, and mechanically it's going strong. But AC and heating no longer works. No way I can afford to fix all that though, so I bear thru the elements and just drive it!
Back when Nissan made great cars.
Most mechanics don’t buy new cars, nor do they buy tool boxes that cost as much as a new car.
That Xterra will need a new timing belt. Unless you are a mechanic, that is a $1400 fix!
part of nissan's triple safety philosophy
Is that before or after Tony smashes the windshield?
The catalytic converters and the dry vegetation.
The apex seal for the oil pan when it goes bad usually gives the impression it's the rear main seal
Probably easier to pull the motor and do the timing service than pulling the trans.
Every time I see one of these on craigslist it needs a motor, I've always been tempted but I don't wanna put a motor in one of these. I will say these Xterras were FAR better than the later milkshake makers that replaced this gen, I always thought these looked cool
The ONLY reason they are on Facebook is because they need a motor, no one is selling a good one.😂😂😂
People don’t replace the timing belts and water pumps at every 100,000. They can burn oil as they age. They only hold 3.5 Quarts of oil. Those 2 things can kill the engine
2011-15’s are the ones to get. Bypass the lines or replace the radiators to permanently fix smod for 05’-10’.
@@elonsus9747 just add a transmission air cooler if you bypass the radiator (good idea on any older car you want to keep)
@@bindingcurve Yeah I bypassed mine. An aux cooler is another mod to do as well.
I bought a manual transmission 2004 Xterra for $500 because it would crank but wouldn’t start. Took me about 15 minutes to get it running. As it turned out, the screw that held the rotor in place had fallen out. Adjusted the rotor back to where it was supposed to be, put that screw back in and it fired right up. It’s been running well since.
Old car to me = pre-1990
Wizard on a 2002 Nissan: "Old cars like these."
Me, turning into Private Ryan at the end of the movie.
Why are the sidesteps on the wrong sides? I've got a 2000 Frontier V6 MT with 180K, recently replaced the rubber end seals on the oil pan. Pan itself is "glued on" but uses rubber end seals that get rock hard. Almost certainly the cause of the oil leak on this Xterra too...not the rear main. I'd suggest changing the t-belt if not sure when it was done last.
A good wash, vacuuming, headlight restoration, and plastic restoration to bring it back to black (~$50 total) are also a must…would transform the look of the vehicle
Rub Margarine on the bumpers will bring the back like new
Bought it for 800.... bring it to Car Wizard to change oil and filters - gets a Hoovies garage bill
10 years ago when I owned my 2002 xterra we let it go because of a bad head gasket. Now I'm 37 years old and I'm confident I could pull that engine and replace it.
It's crazy what you can learn from TH-cam and channels like this. Fixing things yourself, the confidence you build and money you save, both are indispensable.
My 2008 Xterra did the same
Have a 04 with 140k on it and only work I have ever done is head gasket. Perfect besides that
Thing is, in my neck of the woods a quote for all of the above would probably be 3-4k. Only way a car like this is feasible if you do your own work and have access to the tools and knowledge needed. It's tough 'cuz sometimes it really is a better call to buy a car for 5k and not have a laundry list of problems.
I bought a Corolla from a small town, back woods mechanic shop. They swore up and down it needed all sorts of parts to fix the engine and the customer couldn’t afford it. So being a Toyota master tech I brought my laptop with me and it had a cam/crank correlation code. The intake cam was off a tooth cuz the shop broke the tensioner. So I took the cover off, corrected the timing, and replaced the tensioner. It’s been running good ever since.
I looked at a used truck at a dealership once that had a few parts under the hood that obviously came from a wrecking yard. It was raining really hard that day and the truck ran out of gas on the test drive. Someone from the dealership had to pick me and the salesman up. When we got back to the dealership, the manager jokingly said,' I guess that means you don't want the truck". I responded by saying, "goodbye" as I walked out of the dealership.
those Xterras can make good off-roaders with a couple modifications.
Hey Wiz love these interesting and fast movinf mechanical reviews. Could you put markers so some of us could bypass some irrelevant parts of these?
Why don't you get grimes to go with hoovie and save him a broken wallet on his next purchase?
Mechanically sorted cars don't get TH-cam views
Lol
plus car wizard wouldn’t be able to buy a new boat
Making stupid purchases is how Hoovie makes his money.
Power wash the undercarriage, a used alternator and put it up for $4,500
These are great rigs. I picked up a 2010 for next to nothing last month. Previous owner thought it had SMOD due to a shorted TCM but the transmission was clean as could be. New valve body and it drives great
Thank you, Wizard and Mrs. Reminded of a story my father told. Mid-30s, everyone was poor. He'd see a Cord ($$ think Rolls Royce) sitting in a lady's yard on his walk to and from work. He asked about it, broken - did not know what was wrong. He bought it ($100 - think 2 months pay) found the transmission part ($50 - months pay) fixed and had a front wheel drive car for Minnesota winters. Made more money towing cars off railroad tracks
I just picked up a 2009 G37X for $1500. Broken driveshaft. I picket it up from my friend - stock, clean, maintained by dealer and 230k miles. He had it on offerup and was ghosted by a buyer - so I asked him to sell it to me. This thing is clean and not beat. Buyers are flakes so all you really need to do is show up bc people do weird stuff and just ask if it's available yet never show.
Dave, when are you gonna send Grandpa"s "67 Chevy Malibu to the junkyard where it belongs ? I don"t care how much time or money you spend , even doing an LS swap, it would be a total waste, because it will still be an UGLY looking 4 door Malibu that usually came with a 327 and the 2 speed Powerglide and was pretty slow , so making it FAST would be like putting lipstick on a pig !
No pre-purchase inspection? Even by a mechanic buyer?
You can take every last Nissan product to pick n pull and throw that crap away. Nissans suck
Oh wait… I’m sorry. The gas mileage is incredible. You will love a Nissan . Psych
Hey thanks wizard. Now I know where to get the wires I need to repair my vehicle electrical issues.
Man All this time Just hiding behind the drywall.
😅
I've had 3 of these current one is an 05. 181k. Miss the old 2000 I had. Less power but they were easier to work on and didn't have the constant emissions codes the 05 and 06s are plagued with.
I really think you should start giving a car wash before you start working on it. Appreciate the cars more when working on them man! I've been following you guys for a while, but you don't seem to be upgrading or improving.
And also that leak could probably be the oil pan gasket, very common
That’s a very good deal mileage means nothing if you do the maintenance on time rear main seal put heavier oil pennzoil high mileage oil works I have 98 Camry with leaking rear main seal now it’s stopped leaking I use pennzoil high mileage or AT205 reseal to rejuvenate the seal or gasket
I had one with 306,000 for 12 years until I wrecked it
I had a 2000 Xterra with over 230,000 miles on the original V-6, it never used a drop of oil between oil changes.
Little detail, the step rails are crossed. The one on the drivers side is supposed to go on the passenger’s. Notice it curves out, and it’s supposed to curve into the body. Just swap them ☺️
Seriously, nobody needs the interior reviews
You never know, someone might have never sat in a car before or are new to the internet.
Always look. Gives a real clue to how well it was maintained. And a sagging headliner speaks to leaving the windows open because the ac wasn’t fixed and they will have dirt and grime in every corner. Bought a Lexus one time and ignored the glitter in the carpet. Bad move.
Still have a 2013 Pro4X that I got in 2015 at 28500 miles. Now past 134000 miles I’ve never owned a car so long. And looks like it will see me out. A real jack of all trades vehicle. Powerful, lots of room for cargo (OK the back seats are tight but I take em out and have a station wagon). Roof rack is great when you’re 6’4” and you can step in and wear a hat. Only drawback is the wife, who is not short, has to pull herself into the passenger side. Tried the sidesteps but they just got my pants dirty and were not at a helpful height for anyone.
Our daughter and a string of her friends and mine are in line if we ever decide to part with it.
But that’s likely fifteen years out.
The limiting factor for such vehicles is parts, and how long they will be cheap and available.
Had a 2012, best car ever. Drives like a car, powerfull, amazing in snow.
LOL at these people that selling a car for peanuts because it needs an eight hundred dollar repair then go and get into debt for many thousands.
Repping the xterra fam 00 with 255k miles and pushing
$800 for anything that runs and drives these days is a bargain.
I always loved the Xterra, but mpg 💀
Wait a minute... The 3.5 is SO MUCH BETTER than the 3.3 isn't it?
I own a 2000 Xterra with 230.000 miles and It's an absolute piece of crap since day 1. Cracked the radiator shared trans cooler and put all the coolant in the transmission and had to be rebuilt along with new radiator, mega bucks shelled out .Jumped a timing belt before service interval and destroyed the engine had engine replaced, Burnt a valve on new engine because of blocked converters, and had to pull the heads 4500 dollars later with new converters and heads. And it goes on and on. Pure junk by Nissan. Never again.. I have around 11,000 dollars in major repairs and will NEVER buy another Nissan.
If you don't know what youre doing don't buy a vehicle with 230k miles
You sure it's a real female this day and age Mrs. Wizard?? Lol
good question, lol
what type of goop will you add to help with the rear main seal leak??
AT205. I’ve sworn by it for years
@@GrimesGarage tried it twice on a yukon xl, it almost killed the oil pressure and did nothing.
@@GrimesGarage do you have any tips on how to best apply it?
It's a shame that good mechanics are paid like this and need to buy shitty cars...
Maybe he likes spending his money elsewhere and not on vehicles. blow and hookers........
I agre that talented mechanics don't get paid anywhere near their worth, but I suspect Grimes is paid above average and is on track to own (take over?) his own shop. As far as owning old used cars, I am a software engineer working in Silicon Valley. I own a 2006 Toyota Highland Hybrid, a 2012 CRV, and a 2012 Odyssey all bought well used at around 100k miles. I do all work on my cars (timing belt/water pump last summer on the Highlander) and prefer driving my older cars even though I can afford to buy a new car. I taught my kids to buy used cars.
I make good money and all my cars are classics or antiques including my motorcycles. 4 cars and 2 bikes. I bet if I traded them all in I couldnt get a brand new truck for their worth . I like my old stuff. Car payments are a joke and new cars are mostly all junk.
@@donaldlee6760 I understand that, but you know what I mean..
If Grimes isn't making at the very least $100k/yr he needs to go elsewhere or start his own shop.
Had one of these a while back. It wasnt comfy, nor luxurious, and the 3.3l was a dog.
But dang was it reliable. Apart from a maf sensor, it needed nothing for the few yrs i kept it.
Amazing vehicles!
When you can do your own repairs, you can gamble on these things. A distributor. I haven't seen one of those in a while. I used to rebuild alternators back in the late 70s. It probably has some bad bearings. Scotty would say to put some AT 205 reseal in it.
You guys need to start the carnivore diet
Honest question. How reliable are this xterras like 2000 and 2001 any experiences?
I put over 450K on my 2000 SE before trading up to a 2010 Off-Road.
According to another popular mechanic TH-camr they’re trash! I think you know who I’m talking about. 😏
@@AFJ80 S…
I had a 2001 with the 3.3 v6, wasn't ever a problem.
@@j-pvergaman7292 yup! Mr. Revupyourengines himself!
My sympathies. Those are junk
Got my 99 QX4 with almost 300K miles many years ago. Same engine, similar overall condition and price. Did a complete reseal on the engine just for age's sake but its an absolutely reliable vehicle. Common issues are the knock sensor, which is buried deep and initiated my total re-seal project and especially the optical distributor which is easy and not too expensive....just don't use aftermarket units, OEM Nissan only.
What on earth is an optical distributor?
Hell yeah!! I've got a silver 2002 Xterra, too! Manual transmission! Fun as hell
Man I wish the Wizard was close to DFW- I have a 07 Nissan pathfinder 4x4 that the check engine light comes on sporadically …..
You can buy the same tools he uses and perform the exact same diagnostics he does. Follow the links in the description and get a scan tool.
I typically sell off my cars between 100k and 150k miles I don't think I would even consider buying one with 200k miles on yes I know Toyota can go well beyond that I just don't take them that far
It’s certainly a risk for anything over 200k.
I think Grimes bought the tires and wheels and got the rest of the Nissan for free with ice cold air conditioning to boot!
Excellent purchase! That's a 'double your money' vehicle right there. Keep costs below $1200 and sell for $2400 as a runner with A/C quick.
VT247
Use AT 205 re seal instead of stop leak
That’s the good stuff. 💪
The real question is does the heat work? The heater core is plastic where the hoses connect. It will break eventually.
Also change the timing belt.
Hoovie should just give his $$$$ to Grimes to buy his cars...
They were decent vehicles but I live in Maine and they rust away in 4 or 5 years
Man my old man, his best friend, bought a 2003 Frontier new. Same engine and drivetrain. It's a Crew Cab, 4x4, in silver. And Stick shift. He has used that thing for daily driving (and his job required long distances), hauling stuff, cause he has a small farm, and also off roading cause to get to the farm you have to crawl up it on 4LO.
He visited my dad one time, last time I was back home about almost 4 years ago, and the truck sounded smooth, and I brought it up and he said it has over 300,000 miles. Still running and everything is functioning. Love this generation of Xterra and Frontier, and also the one that followed it. The one thing Nissan always got right.
I have a 2001 Xterra SE I bought from my sister a few years ago. I was planning to do a minor cosmetic refresh and flip it but I kinda fell in love with the old beast. Might want to look into doing a timing belt,tensioner, and water pump as these are interference engines. Also my powersteering leak was just from the old supply hoses. easy peasy.
Would you recommend a non mechanic buy a vehicle with 200000 + miles?
Only if you’ve got a good mechanic and a decent amount of money. A pre purchase inspection is crucial
I got my 03 RWD Xterra for 200 bucks with 250k had been sitting for 5 years and had moss growing on the outside 😂
I fixed everything in a span of 6 months buying stuff on eBay and Rick auto discounts.
Power steering
Timing belt, water pump
New AC system.
O2 sensor
New tires.
Lifted it, all ball joints replaced, shocks, front end steering was changed.
New brakes
Mine also has the same rear main seal leak, so that's probably going to stay like that 😂 I just keep oil in the truck.
So far the trucks been great for bringing the kayak fishing, and bringing deer in the back during hunting season.
Body and paint look good . Was taken care of.
What?! $800 for a running Xterra!
I am an Xterra fan and been Xterra groups for years. This is the first generation and they were excellent SUVs. These first gen are in demand actually. The main reason is affordability. Second Gen from 2005-2009 had the SMOD issue with transmission and the 2010-2015 are priced as if they are gold LOL. My guess is the previous owner was told she needed a rear main seal, timing belt, alternator, axle seal, ball joints among the few items mentioned here and the SHOP bill was like $3500-$5500. For a DIY or semi pro person, this is a golden opportunity.
Just bought one of these from MY mechanic! 02 4WD Xterra in MINT condition, 117k miles, runs wonderfully with ice cold A/C......I paid $3500 though! I'm loving it so far
Good deal. Can't beat it. I like these trucks. Being a Nissan. I always thought this was my favorite vehicle.❤👍👌😎
My buddy has an Xterra that he loved. The radiator failed and allowed coolant into the transmission. Totalled it.
The one your buddy bought cannot be a first generation. Secondly the transmission radiator/transmission cooler failure cannot total a car. Someone doesn’t know what they are doing, or they don’t know what they are talking about. The first generation Xterra engine and transmission are very durable, two of the best in the business. If you replace the radiator on the the 2005-2012 it will be a long lasting vehicle, well over 300k. I am a mechanic just to say how I know, not that I know everything.
I love my Xterra, 2005. My son has it now though. I wish they still made them. Mine didn’t seem
To have the trans fluid/ antifreeze milkshake, but somewhere before I got it, had a new radiator put in. 170,000 miles. Paid about $8000 for it a few years ago. Since they don’t make them I ended up with a 24 Bronco. Bronco is faster but that 4.0 V6 was pretty peppy.
BIG score!!! $800 for a clean title *anything* that runs and drives is a deal these days, even if you have to drop a few hundred on parts. Especially if you have the skill to do the work yourself -- we all know Grimes has plenty of that. Well done!
I had one of these with a Manual trans. A blue one. I really didn't want to sell it. But my wife is in a wheelchair. We needed something she could more easily get in and out of, so we got a 2003 Highlander. Two weeks after i sold me Xterra, the man i sold it to lent it to his friend, and he rolled it over and totaled it. 😭 I should have kept it.
I like these when they have three pedals.
The 3.3 had timing belts. Make sure its good!!!
We had a 1999 Pathfinder LE . It was a dealer demo with 5000 miles with this engine. My wife drove it for 10 years, than my daughter drove it for few years, than I sold it for $2200. Replaced it with a used 2003 LE that she drove for 10 more years.
The 3.3 is really a great motor!!!
292k miles on my 2003 Xterra SE 2WD with only routine maintenance needed.
the styling on these xterras are awesome
I worked at a Nissan plant in tennessee and there was a 2003 xterra in orange that was a plant car, taken off assembly and never registered, never left plant grounds, never even had paperwork. And it had 3000 miles.
Sounds like a good candidate for a burned car's VIN plate
It's 6:51pm and 105° here in Vegas.
My only concern is that an experienced mechanic with oodles of talent (especially electrical) has to buy an $800 car.
Hopefully not anymore, as we expected, he left..
It’s been a solid rig so far
the high miler 3.3/3.5 v6 engines on Xterra are famous for timing chain issues and bad injectors. I had one Xterra have both issues acting up at the same time, really pulled off some hairs with my co-worker, who used to work in nissan dealership.
The gen 1 Xterras have timing belts, not chains, so it will be periodically changed anyway.
😮 let’s check it out
Actually surprised the XTRERRA hasn't had the McConaissance that 4Runner and the like had in 2020 and beyond.