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Thread: What to look for when S14 shopping

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Posts: 11-12 of 12
2011-03-14 01:28:25
#11
Originally Posted by Keo
floor pan behind the front seats, i've owned 2 and both had rust there. one rusted all the way trough and I've looked at 4 other S14 and they all had the same rust.


That's good to know about the floor pan.

I just picked up a '97 S14. It was in awesome condition and garage kept, but it's an automatic (for now...haha,) which is right-on for what you said about finding one that wasn't beat-up.

Northern cars are prone to rusted suspension bolts should be replaced during upgrades. If the exhaust is orginal, like mine, it will have a ton of cancer and should be replaced ASAP.

Some other things to check: rust under rear mudflaps (common for Northern cars) and Alternator or A/C compressor bearing noise. Check PS lines, which are prone to leaking. The shimmy when breaking is usually caused by rotors or bent/imbalanced wheels, but usually not pads.

If it's one of the rare S14's with ABS, you will not always get a code if it's malfunctioning. The ABS selenoid on my car was staying engaged when the car was off (no codes) and killing the battery.
Last edited by voiddweller on 2011-03-14 at 01-36-27.
2011-10-16 11:45:08
#12
I've had a couple have rust where the back panel meets up with the spare wheel well, when your driving along all the crap off the road ends up in that seam.

Also under my front cowl panel where my windscreen wiper bolts up to, there's a little well with a drain hole that's to far up the side instead of at the bottom, it fills up with water and crap and covers one of the windscreen wiper bolts. I ended up having to drill it out and change them for stainless ones. ( I recommend to every one to change their nuts to stainless even if its not rusting yet )

After pulling it apart for a respray I also ended up changing
Front bumper bolts that bolt your bumper skin to the bumper iron,
and the screws that screw in the rail for the window rubbers (peel back the rubber and have a look, its usually the ones running down the side by the rear quarter window ) they are just screwed straight into the panel steel, that's a bit dodge. I just put a bit of sealer on the holes before I screwed them in. These are some bolts/screws that are prone to rust out and should be checked

Another place is inside the engine bay just behind the strut tower underneath the little panel that's stitched to the tower.

They are pretty good really, as long as you check these places and keep on top of everything .

Hope this helps
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