A bit of s13 help? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Link · 10-29-2012, 07:47 AM

Hey guys, whats up. I'm new to this, and I have a few questions. I just bought a black '93 se coupe and it has just a few problems I want to work out.

I'll list them.

1. My digital speedometer and HUD don't work
2. Only my highbeams go on, not the low.
3. There's some rust holes near the sunroof.
4. ODO stopped at 98k
5. My rear view mirror isn't attached
6. Cluster lights go off when i turn the highbeams on.
7. Back left speaker goes on and off, and turns on with highbeams.
8. Small crack in dash.
9. Paint on roof has white spots.

Obviously some are more important than others, paint isn't a big deal. Any pointers/tips you have are much appreciated. I really want to make this thing beautiful. Thanks in advance!

Croustibat · 10-29-2012, 08:36 AM

You might want to keep this one as a spare and buy one that is not already rusted to death. Transforming a pile of rust into something beautiful is very hard / tedious / expensive work.

First check the rust spots before deciding anything. Remove carpets and sound deadening around wheel arches and sills, check under the spare wheel too. If the car still has its oem wing, remove it (it fills with water then rusts the hatch to death) and clean your hatch. Seal your rear lights too (water tends to enter there )

Your beam problem is mostly created by your beam switch needing a clean. Disassemble it fully (even the white plastic casing inside, in fact you need to clean what is inside that thing), clean every copper contact, reassemble, and your cluster light and beam problems should be solved. If not, check relays / fuses . If these are still ok, prepare for some nightmares checking your whole electrical system (you may want to check the bulbs too)

Sorry to sound like a bad news bringer ... Anyway, have fun.

Link · 10-29-2012, 09:14 AM

ok so, heres the rust. i assume theres similar holes along it under the tape, but i dont want to peel it off.
it still has pretty much stock everything, except a quick release steering wheel.

p.s. i dont really have the funds to get a second car lol, so ill do what i can/must for this one.

Link · 10-29-2012, 09:31 AM

oh and this is the stupid mirror mount, and i have no idea how to attach it

Croustibat · 10-30-2012, 04:59 AM

I am going to say it again :

unless you have a lot of money, have everything needed to cut, form & weld car panels, you will only waste your time with that particular car.

When the shell is rotten, you can either change it or repair it . Both of these are expensive and time consuming, but the cheaper really is to get a new shell.

You can either go blindly at it and ignore these comments, spend all your hard earned money and end up dumping a rotten car in a ditch in a couple of years, or face the truth: use the car as it is now untill you can find a clean one, and use it as a donor.

But if you are already stuck with a mirror mount, i dont think re-shelling is a good idea either.

In the end, i can only see 2 reasonable paths :

1/ keep driving it like that, do the bare minimum needed until it breaks;
2/ sell it while you still can.

10-29-2012, 07:47 AM	#1
Link Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: New Jersey Age: 34 Posts: 87 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	A bit of s13 help? Hey guys, whats up. I'm new to this, and I have a few questions. I just bought a black '93 se coupe and it has just a few problems I want to work out. I'll list them. 1. My digital speedometer and HUD don't work 2. Only my highbeams go on, not the low. 3. There's some rust holes near the sunroof. 4. ODO stopped at 98k 5. My rear view mirror isn't attached 6. Cluster lights go off when i turn the highbeams on. 7. Back left speaker goes on and off, and turns on with highbeams. 8. Small crack in dash. 9. Paint on roof has white spots. Obviously some are more important than others, paint isn't a big deal. Any pointers/tips you have are much appreciated. I really want to make this thing beautiful. Thanks in advance!

10-29-2012, 09:14 AM	#3
Link Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: New Jersey Age: 34 Posts: 87 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	ok so, heres the rust. i assume theres similar holes along it under the tape, but i dont want to peel it off. it still has pretty much stock everything, except a quick release steering wheel. p.s. i dont really have the funds to get a second car lol, so ill do what i can/must for this one. Last edited by Link; 04-28-2021 at 03:42 PM..

10-29-2012, 09:31 AM	#4
Link Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: New Jersey Age: 34 Posts: 87 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	oh and this is the stupid mirror mount, and i have no idea how to attach it Last edited by Link; 04-28-2021 at 03:42 PM..

10-29-2012, 08:36 AM	#2
Croustibat Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: France - Toulouse Age: 44 Posts: 1,851 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You might want to keep this one as a spare and buy one that is not already rusted to death. Transforming a pile of rust into something beautiful is very hard / tedious / expensive work. First check the rust spots before deciding anything. Remove carpets and sound deadening around wheel arches and sills, check under the spare wheel too. If the car still has its oem wing, remove it (it fills with water then rusts the hatch to death) and clean your hatch. Seal your rear lights too (water tends to enter there ) Your beam problem is mostly created by your beam switch needing a clean. Disassemble it fully (even the white plastic casing inside, in fact you need to clean what is inside that thing), clean every copper contact, reassemble, and your cluster light and beam problems should be solved. If not, check relays / fuses . If these are still ok, prepare for some nightmares checking your whole electrical system (you may want to check the bulbs too) Sorry to sound like a bad news bringer ... Anyway, have fun.

10-30-2012, 04:59 AM	#5
Croustibat Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: France - Toulouse Age: 44 Posts: 1,851 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I am going to say it again : unless you have a lot of money, have everything needed to cut, form & weld car panels, you will only waste your time with that particular car. When the shell is rotten, you can either change it or repair it . Both of these are expensive and time consuming, but the cheaper really is to get a new shell. You can either go blindly at it and ignore these comments, spend all your hard earned money and end up dumping a rotten car in a ditch in a couple of years, or face the truth: use the car as it is now untill you can find a clean one, and use it as a donor. But if you are already stuck with a mirror mount, i dont think re-shelling is a good idea either. In the end, i can only see 2 reasonable paths : 1/ keep driving it like that, do the bare minimum needed until it breaks; 2/ sell it while you still can.