I’m writing this while waiting for the diagnosis of car at the Nissan dealership. One thing I really like about having a car serviced at the dealership is the facilities. At least they provide you with a lounge where you can sit comfortably sit down while waiting for your car to be fixed. There’s coffee and some complimentary snacks. Too bad they don’t have wi-fi in the lounge. However, obviously, this kind of service doesn’t come cheap.They already charge something for the check-up.

Right now, the initial diagnosis stands - sensors. These folks readily assumed that the bucking and idling problems has something to do with the engine control system. But what’s good about having the car checked here is that they do have to proper diagnostic tools to confirm the initial assumptions.

Since I have a bit of time to spare, I let them do the 120+ point inspection routine that comes with the diagnostic fee. At least they get to have accurate inspection of all the issues concerning the car. This would allow me to create a plan as to the things that I have to fix in order to get the car back to tip-top shape though I am quite nervous to get the news that I have to change one of these:

1. MAP sensor
2. AAC valve
3. Wiring harness
4. Computer box

Just in case these things would need to be replaced, I am looking at buying used car parts due to the absurd prices of original parts. The combined price of the parts above would immediately sum up to my purchase value of the car. Buying used from a surplus shop would definitely total much less.

But I just have to wait another hour before I get the verdict….

***

Tada! Now I’m writing the day after. I was just too tired to have written about the results of the check up. The culprits:

1. Engine harness rewiring (including repairs on the Temperature Sensor wiring harness, fuel pump wiring harness, A/C control wiring harness, and fan control wiring harness)
2. Air leak in the AAC assembly

Good news, the MAP sensor and the throttle position sensor are all working. But still, these other problems are actually more bad news. Curse the former owners for having shoddy electrical repairs done on the car. So let’s see the budget breakdown. Here are some possible routes that I can take.

Solution 1 - Dealership
1. Engine wiring harness repairs - $150 / Engine wiring harness - $1200!!!
2. AAC valve assembly (genuine replacement part) - $130

Solution 2 - Surplus Parts
1. Wiring harness - have called a supplier for an estimate
2. AAC valve assembly - $60

Solution 3 - Mixed (Most attractive)
1. Engine wiring harness repairs - $150
2. Surplus AAC valve assembly - $60

The ECU’s also registering a no signal for the A/C detection but I’m hoping that it’s just the faulty wiring. A brand spanking new ECU costs $1200 so just the ECU and the engine wiring harness is worth more than my purchase price for the car. Really crazy if you ask me.

I just hope that the budget bleeding stops with the next $210 that I intend to spend. So far, I’ve already spent $600 on the repairs. I’m placing a $1000 (almost half of my purchase price) as the cap of the repairs. And that’s only for getting the car to tip-top shape.

And if still, with the $210 bucks, the engine control system doesn’t shape up. Converting to carb is getting to be the best attractive option if I intend to keep this car.