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26 Posts
Hi all
I joined looking for some input on a potential purchase (this week) of a 2002 Xterra. I figured this forum was as good as any, to ask my questions. I've been able to find all sorts of information, just from searches, too.
That said, I have a few specific questions. My current van as 440 on it and it's done, entire front end needs to be rebuilt, rack gone, at least one or two wheel bearings, all other components. So, I am looking at a cheap short-term fix and believe I found one in the 2002 Xterra. I haven't been a kind driver to my mini vans tho can also suck the max value of life from them ... but I want to hear from people who own or know this vehicle what they think of it ....
Previous to owning a lot of dogs, I always had 4 wheel or rear wheels many years ago... I am assuming this xterra will pass a safety (something we need to buy a vehicle in Ontario). BUT the oil pan is rusted out, at least one of the lines on the bottom of the rad needs replacement, I suspect there may be a minor leak on the rear diff ... none of this makes a difference on the safety, but I know it needs to be done ... it had the valve cover gaskets done, is blowing great balls of black smoke right now, running way too rich ... owner previous to this did all maintenance ... in 8 months of new owner I don't think ANYTHING has been done. Nothing. While I generally drive my own oil around 12 to 14 k, and certainly pushed it higher (on 40 k right now over an oil leak I refuse to fix), it's all highway driving, I drive about 70 - 80 km km a year and have for 25 years. This oil is at 9 k and it's all short city trips ...
For what I am spending, it isn't a huge amount of money but I'm thinking if I just do all the basic maintenance, all of it, then it has some serious potential for a reasonable life. The body, mounts, etc all good.
I've owned an 81 Ford Bronco, 94 Chev Blazer and 2002 Ford Explorer ... the 2002 4x xterra strikes me as in between my Bronco and Explorer ... I definitely do not 'need' the kind of 4x the Bronco was but it needs to be better than my Blazer not that it was poor (don't want to shovel the 3 foot plow banks in winter - I want to drive over them - but have somewhat outgrown my desire to squash beaver dams and go swamping tho the xterra looks like it could do it with maybe a lift
Anyway, based on description, what do people think of what I found? I think it lacks in basic maintenance ... I made a list of everything I think it needs for that ... but thought to ask, too ... I otherwise have a lot of Alaskan Malamutes and spend a lot of my time, outside, thanks for any help
tanya
I joined looking for some input on a potential purchase (this week) of a 2002 Xterra. I figured this forum was as good as any, to ask my questions. I've been able to find all sorts of information, just from searches, too.
That said, I have a few specific questions. My current van as 440 on it and it's done, entire front end needs to be rebuilt, rack gone, at least one or two wheel bearings, all other components. So, I am looking at a cheap short-term fix and believe I found one in the 2002 Xterra. I haven't been a kind driver to my mini vans tho can also suck the max value of life from them ... but I want to hear from people who own or know this vehicle what they think of it ....
Previous to owning a lot of dogs, I always had 4 wheel or rear wheels many years ago... I am assuming this xterra will pass a safety (something we need to buy a vehicle in Ontario). BUT the oil pan is rusted out, at least one of the lines on the bottom of the rad needs replacement, I suspect there may be a minor leak on the rear diff ... none of this makes a difference on the safety, but I know it needs to be done ... it had the valve cover gaskets done, is blowing great balls of black smoke right now, running way too rich ... owner previous to this did all maintenance ... in 8 months of new owner I don't think ANYTHING has been done. Nothing. While I generally drive my own oil around 12 to 14 k, and certainly pushed it higher (on 40 k right now over an oil leak I refuse to fix), it's all highway driving, I drive about 70 - 80 km km a year and have for 25 years. This oil is at 9 k and it's all short city trips ...
For what I am spending, it isn't a huge amount of money but I'm thinking if I just do all the basic maintenance, all of it, then it has some serious potential for a reasonable life. The body, mounts, etc all good.
I've owned an 81 Ford Bronco, 94 Chev Blazer and 2002 Ford Explorer ... the 2002 4x xterra strikes me as in between my Bronco and Explorer ... I definitely do not 'need' the kind of 4x the Bronco was but it needs to be better than my Blazer not that it was poor (don't want to shovel the 3 foot plow banks in winter - I want to drive over them - but have somewhat outgrown my desire to squash beaver dams and go swamping tho the xterra looks like it could do it with maybe a lift
Anyway, based on description, what do people think of what I found? I think it lacks in basic maintenance ... I made a list of everything I think it needs for that ... but thought to ask, too ... I otherwise have a lot of Alaskan Malamutes and spend a lot of my time, outside, thanks for any help
tanya