Sorry to hear about your daughter's accident, Bikeman!

I think you're right, it does look like a total loss. Rear end accidents are a bitch to fix, according to a friend of mine that does body work.

The airbag deployment alone would probably total the car. I am surprised to see that BOTH of them deployed. (I'm assuming that your daughter was alone in the car though..) Some older passenger bags deploy whether there is someone sitting there or not.

Nissan Sentras are okay. I actually almost bought one instead of my Corolla. I think Toyotas are better, but, I would consider a Sentra if the price and condition were right.

The most important thing is, that your daughter wasn't hurt in the accident!

Have a happy holiday season!

timkedz

Glad your daughter's OK.

I had a 1992 Sentra E - 4 speed which was pretty decent.

Only downside was a manually adjusted clutch.

Cost me only $7,200 new totally stripped as the dealer's loss leader in the Sunday paper.

no probably about it, the tercel IS totaled. just the windsheild and airbags alone total it. the rear end stuff totals it twice over.

so tell us more about the sentra? GA16DE or SR20DE engine?

I don't know much about Sentras.

My daughter's car is a standard with the 1.6L engine.

It has power windows and door locks as well as cruise control.

The insurance company still has not looked at her Tercel.

Maybe next week??

thats the GA16DE, a good engine.

The GA16DE is a 1.6 L (1597 cc) engine produced from November 1990 through 1999. All GA16DEs have 16 valves and DOHC heads. There are two versions, the NVCS (VTC), which produced 115 hp (85 kW) @6400 rpm and 110 ft·lbf (146 Nm) @4400 rpm and a non-NVCS version (European-spec) which made 102 hp (76 kW). Additionally 2 versions of the North American NVCS version exist. Earlier motors used pistons with 2 compression rings and 1 oil ring, while later GA16DE's have a single compression ring and a single oil ring. The GA16DE shares much of its block and rotating assembly with its predecessor the GA16I. Some engines have siamesed exhaust manifolds, while others keep the exhausts separated until the catalytic converter. Earlier ECUs contained the fuel & ignition maps on a discrete ROM IC, making retuning relatively easy, later ECUs buried the maps on a larger more integrated microcontroller's firmware, making retuning require the use of a daughterboard.

its just as peppy or more peppy than the 7afe and just as reliable.

NVCS is nissans term for VVT, variable valve timing. its pretty much the same as the later model 1ZZFE engines use and serves the same purposes. being that yours is a 98 then i'm 99% sure it has VVT. also it IS a timing chain driven engine so theres no timing belt to worry about. theres just TONS of information available about the GA16DE engine on the internet, such as what its common problems are.

thats the GA16DE, a good engine.

The GA16DE is a 1.6 L (1597 cc) engine produced from November 1990 through 1999. All GA16DEs have 16 valves and DOHC heads. There are two versions, the NVCS (VTC), which produced 115 hp (85 kW) @6400 rpm and 110 ft·lbf (146 Nm) @4400 rpm and a non-NVCS version (European-spec) which made 102 hp (76 kW). Additionally 2 versions of the North American NVCS version exist. Earlier motors used pistons with 2 compression rings and 1 oil ring, while later GA16DE's have a single compression ring and a single oil ring. The GA16DE shares much of its block and rotating assembly with its predecessor the GA16I. Some engines have siamesed exhaust manifolds, while others keep the exhausts separated until the catalytic converter. Earlier ECUs contained the fuel & ignition maps on a discrete ROM IC, making retuning relatively easy, later ECUs buried the maps on a larger more integrated microcontroller's firmware, making retuning require the use of a daughterboard.

its just as peppy or more peppy than the 7afe and just as reliable.

NVCS is nissans term for VVT, variable valve timing. its pretty much the same as the later model 1ZZFE engines use and serves the same purposes. being that yours is a 98 then i'm 99% sure it has VVT. also it IS a timing chain driven engine so theres no timing belt to worry about. theres just TONS of information available about the GA16DE engine on the internet, such as what its common problems are.

The car goes fine around town.

thats not normal, try cleaning the mass airflow sensor and giving it new plugs/wires and cap/rotor (if it has cap/rotor). every 1.6 sentra i've driven has been very responsive.

First things first, I'm glad your daughter is OK. That was not a minor accident! Speaks well for the safety of the Tercel. Shame to lose it, it looked like it was in great condition for it's age. Hope she likes the Sentra, they're good cars and should be just as reliable as the Tercel.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

First things first, I'm glad your daughter is OK. That was not a minor accident! Speaks well for the safety of the Tercel. Shame to lose it, it looked like it was in great condition for it's age. Hope she likes the Sentra, they're good cars and should be just as reliable as the Tercel.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Merry Christmas to you too.

The Tercel is totalled. It would have been a good car and kept for another ten years (maybe).

The Sentra has some minor problems that I am discovering.

It also has no radio (like that when I bought it).

I will check e-Bay for some parts.

It is not a Corolla, but it seems fairly equivalent as far as economy and quality.

We will see how it holds up over time.

don't be afraid to make a thread here about the sentra problems bike, i'm not new to sentra's or their engines.

don't be afraid to make a thread here about the sentra problems bike, i'm not new to sentra's or their engines.

The only things (so far) that the Sentra needs or has as problems is the bogging down at highway speeds.

It is missing the driver's sun visor, and it has no radio.

Also the rear window (electric/power) goes down with the driver's master control switch, but not up, except with the rear door switch.

I also had to take out the corner light to put the bulb in that had come out of the corner light housing.

I discovered the left front headlight pretty much just sitting there (loose) and when I pulled on it (only slightly) it came out.

I am not sure how it mounts to the car (it was dark when I saw it), but the mounts must be broken.

I really like the rear seats folding down (an excellent feature - should be on every sedan).

It gives access to the trunk and allows carrying longer items. Similar feature on a Corolla.

The front brake shoes are worn (I plan to inspect all the brakes).

The rear may be worn as well.

The car also has a cracked front grille and a crack in the front and rear bumpers (the plastic pieces).

I don't know if they can be fixed, but I will try some tape/glue/RTV (or whatever I think will work).

Last option will be to replace the front and/or back bumper covers that have the crack.

Do you have a good source for Sentra parts??

sentras are pretty common in junkyards too, you should have good luck finding bits for it there.

as for the bogging thing, try cleaning the maf and doing the usual tune-up items like plugs/wires. is the check engine light on?

the window problem sounds like it could be a bad switch, grab some window switches from the junkyard and just try swapping them. otherwise you'll need to do some electrical diagnosis.

seems like pretty minor problems, you should be able to pickup a new headlight on ebay for a reasonable price. i just got a pair for my gf's escort for $45 with free shipping.

sentras are pretty common in junkyards too, you should have good luck finding bits for it there.

as for the bogging thing, try cleaning the maf and doing the usual tune-up items like plugs/wires. is the check engine light on?

the window problem sounds like it could be a bad switch, grab some window switches from the junkyard and just try swapping them. otherwise you'll need to do some electrical diagnosis.

seems like pretty minor problems, you should be able to pickup a new headlight on ebay for a reasonable price. i just got a pair for my gf's escort for $45 with free shipping.

Next time I go to the local junkyard I will have to locate the Nissan section.

I usually frequent the Toyota section which is just inside.

Here's some pictures of the 1998 Nissan Sentra -

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200296.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200297.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200298.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200299.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200300.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200301.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200302.jpg

sentras are pretty common in junkyards too, you should have good luck finding bits for it there.

as for the bogging thing, try cleaning the maf and doing the usual tune-up items like plugs/wires. is the check engine light on?

the window problem sounds like it could be a bad switch, grab some window switches from the junkyard and just try swapping them. otherwise you'll need to do some electrical diagnosis.

seems like pretty minor problems, you should be able to pickup a new headlight on ebay for a reasonable price. i just got a pair for my gf's escort for $45 with free shipping.

OK.

 

Next time I go to the local junkyard I will have to locate the Nissan section.

I usually frequent the Toyota section which is just inside.

Here's some pictures of the 1998 Nissan Sentra -

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200296.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200297.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200298.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200299.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200300.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200301.jpg

https://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/Bik...82/PC200302.jpg

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-1996-1...sQ5fAccessories

thats a heck of a price for projector head lights, they give a much sharper and more focused pattern of light onto the road with less upward glare and illuminate a wider path infront of the car.

Bike:

Wow -- that '98 Sentra looks great for a ten year old car! Only cosmetic issues I could see were the headlights and a bit of bumper/fender rash on the right rear. I'm intrigued by Bitter's suggestion to polish the headlights with gel toothpaste and water. I'm going to give that a try on my Corolla's headlights, which are not quite as bad, but definitely looking foggy.

Bitter -- any suggestions as to which type of gel toothpaste works best? I've got some Aim flouride toothpaste, which is a gel. And why gel instead of a white paste? How about just using ordinary rubbing compound? I have rubbing compound in both the coarse (red) and fine (white) consistencies. I thought of using bit of the red on a fairly damp microfiber cloth first, followed up by the white. Would the red be too coarse? Is the gel toothpaste of a finer grit than the white rubbing compound? Also, would cotton be better than microfiber? I've found microfiber not necessarily the best for tasks like polishing shoes. I have work boots which I polish to a military spit-shine using just black Kiwi paste and a really damp cotton cloth -- an old T-shirt. The microfiber doesn't seem to work nearly as well, for some reason. Your suggestions, please!

gel has a finer grit that pastes.

rubbing compound i'm sure works better, but everyone has or can get toothpaste cheaply and easily. at work i just polish it on with fingers and wipe it off with a wet rag then clean the headlight with some glass cleaner. don't over think it, if you're going this deep in thought then just get the 3M headlight restoration kit for $30, it'll make them look new again.

gel has a finer grit that pastes.

rubbing compound i'm sure works better, but everyone has or can get toothpaste cheaply and easily. at work i just polish it on with fingers and wipe it off with a wet rag then clean the headlight with some glass cleaner. don't over think it, if you're going this deep in thought then just get the 3M headlight restoration kit for $30, it'll make them look new again.

OK, I'll give the gel toothpaste a try first. Spending $30 for a headlight restoration kit is not appealing to me in a big way.

gel has a finer grit that pastes.

rubbing compound i'm sure works better, but everyone has or can get toothpaste cheaply and easily. at work i just polish it on with fingers and wipe it off with a wet rag then clean the headlight with some glass cleaner. don't over think it, if you're going this deep in thought then just get the 3M headlight restoration kit for $30, it'll make them look new again.

OK, I'll give the gel toothpaste a try first. Spending $30 for a headlight restoration kit is not appealing to me in a big way.

I bought some headlights from e-Bay and am waiting for them to arrive.

My daughter has purchased a 1999 Chevy Cavalier convertible and does not want the Nissan.

I will fix some minor items on the Nissan and then put it up for sale.

I bought some headlights from e-Bay and am waiting for them to arrive.My daughter has purchased a 1999 Chevy Cavalier convertible and does not want the Nissan.

 

I will fix some minor items on the Nissan and then put it up for sale.

I bought some headlights from e-Bay and am waiting for them to arrive.My daughter has purchased a 1999 Chevy Cavalier convertible and does not want the Nissan.

 

I will fix some minor items on the Nissan and then put it up for sale.

A Cavalier? A Cavalier??? A CAVALIER????? AAAAAARRRRRRAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

No further comment.

I bought some headlights from e-Bay and am waiting for them to arrive.My daughter has purchased a 1999 Chevy Cavalier convertible and does not want the Nissan.

 

I will fix some minor items on the Nissan and then put it up for sale.

 

A Cavalier? A Cavalier??? A CAVALIER????? AAAAAARRRRRRAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

No further comment.

I bought some headlights from e-Bay and am waiting for them to arrive.My daughter has purchased a 1999 Chevy Cavalier convertible and does not want the Nissan.

 

I will fix some minor items on the Nissan and then put it up for sale.

 

A Cavalier? A Cavalier??? A CAVALIER????? AAAAAARRRRRRAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

No further comment.

Yea, it looks flashy on the outside - bright red convertible - but it is a piece of ---.

 

What!!! Talking about a Tercel on a Corolla Forum???!!!!

KIDDING!!!!!!

Seriously, though; does anyone remember when a Tercel WAS actually a part of the Corolla family???!!!!!!