Post Mortem: 1999 Nissan Altima GXE

Our 1999 Nissan Altima has ridden off into the sunset...on the back of a wrecker.

Goodbye, old friend!

After 16 years of great service since new, the car is no more.  Overall, it has been the most reliable vehicle I have owned.

Mileage: 163,575 miles
Repairs during lifetime: water pump, alternator, CV joints, entire exhaust system.
October 1998 - April 2015

Not so bad looking from 10 foot away

So what did it in?  RUST!

The body started getting a few rust spots a couple years ago - mainly the doors and runner boards.  These were mostly cosmetic issues and we expected to replace the door soon.  Underneath was the real problem.

Door rust

Runner board looking pretty shabby

After sixteen Ohio winters, the rear subframe  morphed into iron oxide.  This was the catastrophic event that would end this vehicle's service life.

Suspension shows some surface rust

In front of the rear wheel, this suspension piece completely separated

Another view of the suspension rust

After seeing the issue in the suspension, it was time to retire the car.  Its difficult to retire a vehicle that still ran smoothly, never stalled, and the exhaust system was as quiet as new.

Were there other issues?  Yes.

We had a slow oil leak that we decided to not repair about a year ago.  The oil pan was dented by a garage servicing the vehicle.  It appears that they tried to use it as a lift point.  Unfortunately it was the same week  I took it to three different shops for tires and a repair estimate.  Also, the engine was starting to get a slight oil coat on it.

In general, maintenance and repair work is fairly easy on this vehicle.

Since the car was not safe to drive, I figure now was the time to try debadging.  I was able to remove the Nissan logo using dental floss and a hair dryer.  I'm surprised at how good it turned out.  The paint under the logo is pretty close to the same as the rest of the trunk lid. That paint had not seen daylight since the Clinton administration!

Souvenir badge

Can't see the line, can you Russ?

Pontiac Vibe & Toyota Matrix (1st gen) Wiggly Seat Fix

Are you rocking and rolling in your 2003 - 2008 Vibe or Matrix?  That's not necessarily a good thing!

When I purchased my Pontiac Vibe back in August, the first thing the irked me was the driver's seat.  When hitting the brakes it seemed to rock forward slightly.  After a couple weeks, it was extremely wiggly under all conditions.

It is an easy fix - assuming that all the parts are still in the car!

Tools required: Torx T-40 driver
Time required: 10 - 15 minutes
Skill level: easy

First, remove the seat's plastic panel covering the bolts.  I was able to remove it by pulling the plastic toward the front on the car.  That will release the first securing point.  Its just a plastic tab that rests within a u-shaped groove.

The u-shape groove secures the front of the seat's plastic panel

Next, pull the plastic cover toward you. You don't need to remove it totally.  I just pulled it free of the next two securing tabs.

Now you need to find the bolt.  It is a the highest torx bolt on the side of the seat mounting frame.  It is usually just loose.  If its missing, check you floor for it.

The top torx bolt needs tightened

Tighten clockwise using a torx key.  Tighten it as much as you can.  Be careful to not strip the head!  I may need to replace the bolt the next time it needs tightened.

Now put the plastic panel back in place.  I focused on the first securing point.  I basically pulled the plastic unit toward the front of the vehicle while sliding it up into the u-groove.  Once this is in place, push any other securing points by applying pressure where they are located.