Car wouldn't start the other day so I had it towed to the AAA place off of Avent Ferry.

They tell me that I need to replace the distributor and the spark plugs/wires and it will cost $1000.

He said the distributor alone cost about $700 and I thought it was bullshit. So I looked online for a distributor for a 98 Sentra and $250 is the most I saw the part costing:
http://www.am-autoparts.com/AM/Distributors-and-Coils/Nissan/Sentra/-/AM-23165125/?utm_source=google_base&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=new_google_base_feed

It seems to me that I could save a few hundred dollars if I bought the part myself then pay someone to replace it (as a side job). I don't know enough about cars to do it myself but this website made me think that this wouldn't be that hard of a fix:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4506478_replace-distributor-nissan-sentra.html

Any advice on what to do? I don't have $1000

Thanks,
The Dude

10/17/2008 10:48:54 AM

hahahahahhaaha

$1000?!

like i said in your cc thread

down the road, not across the street

10/17/2008 11:07:58 AM

I can do it. I have the tools at my house. is it the 2.0 or 1.6 sentra?

10/17/2008 11:38:27 AM

shit Kings in downtown replaced me starting, distributor, and did a complete tune up for under $600, i know thats a lot but when you need a car for work next day it was worth it.

but a fuckin grand? dude I know my 97 sentra is barely worth that, yours might be more like $50 bucks for since its a year newer haha

10/17/2008 11:57:04 AM

NISSAN = SOME JUNK


METRO SON

10/17/2008 12:31:54 PM

You need to contact either myself or Jeepman.

I've had a lot of experience with Nissans, and Matt does good work.

both of us can hook you up if you furnish the part.

Nissans have used an optical pickup for years, and it has been known to be a failure prone part in some models. However, you really need to have it properly diagnosed. I don't know if those yahoos there know what the hell they are doing. There's only one guy that used to work there that I would trust. And I don't think he's there anymore.

And I'd wager it's the 1.6 (GA16DE) engine. Usually most folks that have a Sentra SE-R have some sort of clue as to what the deal is, and the SR20DE isn't that common. The GA16DE, however, is out there in DROVES.

[Edited on October 17, 2008 at 1:16 PM. Reason : blahblah...]

10/17/2008 1:14:29 PM

it's a 1.6 liter engine

10/17/2008 1:54:40 PM

get zxappeal to do it.

i can get you a rebuilt hitachi distributor for ~$210 plus tax.. part is listed "w/ no vacuum" if that is what you need (i'm not very familiar with nissan stuff).. just mentioning it b/c he said you would have to get your own parts.

10/17/2008 2:38:51 PM

nah...none of 'em have vacuum pots. Basically, the dizzy houses an optical crank position sensor (shows #1 cyl, TDC on all cyls, and has 360 notches for crank position). Computer fires the coil directly through a power transistor.

10/17/2008 2:59:14 PM

Quote :

"You need to contact either myself or Jeepman."

FYI yall arent the only ones doing side work.

10/17/2008 3:20:28 PM

Naw, I know. YOU ain't doing side work, much as ya bitch about how it ain't worth it!

10/17/2008 3:23:25 PM

its the people that sometimes sour it for me. i like to be very professional about how i do mine. "bring the car and drop it off" type service. im not into the "can you bring your toolz over here" or "can i hang out and watch while you work" jobs.

10/17/2008 3:28:08 PM

That's totally understandable.

Reminds me of the whole shop labor joke thing"

LABOR RATES
$30/hr
$60/hr if you watch
$500/hr if you help

10/17/2008 3:53:56 PM