What to look for when buying an S14?

SON240sx Automotive
1

Hey guys, maybe someone here can help me out. What are some things i should look for when trying to purchase an S14 (95-98). Any way you guys can help would be very much appreciated. Thanks

2

Rust in the rear quarter panels and along the rockers.

Ticking from the engine (most likely just timing chain guides that need to be removed).

Other than that just do a general inspection.

3

rust everywhere…

theres a myth about S14’s not having rust problems, but its very un-true.

4

Thanks guys. Now in terms of emissions, if the car doesn’t pass emissions what’s usually needed to make it pass?

5

Is it a stock motor?

If so, you probably wont have troubles getting it to pass.

How many km’s on it?

6

so long as the car was maintained properly over the years, passing emissions on a stock motor shouldn’t even be an issue. my motor currently has 220,000+kms, and passes emissions with flying colors.

7

Thanks you guys have been a great help

8

If it shows rich on the e-test, first look for the 2 oxygen sensors - the bottom o2 sensor was cracked (but both seemed lagged on diagnostic scanner).

This might be useful - I bought the car as is and did e-test on it (risky but g00d deal - zenki s14 95 KA).

my first emissions test:

ASM2525 TEST
HC ppm Actual / Limit / Result: 34 / 64 / PASS
CO % Actual / Limit / Result: 0.48 / 0.35 / F***ED
NO ppm Actual / Limit / Result: 355 / 485 / PASS
RPM: 2779
Dilution: 15.0 / VALID

CURB IDLE
HC ppm Actual / Limit / Result: 27 / 200 / PASS
CO % Actual / Limit / Result: 0.10 / 1.0 / PASS
NO ppm Actual / Limit / Result: N/A
RPM: 715
Dilution: 14.7 / VALID

my second emissions test (2 new O2 sensors, new spark plugs / bit of manifold spray cleaning / and e-test cleaner bottle):

ASM2525 TEST
HC ppm Actual / Limit / Result: 24 / 64 / PASS
CO % Actual / Limit / Result: 0.17 / 0.35 / *** PASS
NO ppm Actual / Limit / Result: 256 / 485 / PASS
RPM: 2774
Dilution: 14.7 / VALID

CURB IDLE
HC ppm Actual / Limit / Result: 24 / 200 / PASS
CO % Actual / Limit / Result: 0.03 / 1.0 / PASS
NO ppm Actual / Limit / Result: N/A
RPM: 709
Dilution: 14.3 / VALID

I run the car hard both times for 1 hour on highway. Before you shell out money on the 2 sensors, check them out physically (also do spark plugs, maint/etc. - unless u don’t mind 16 bucks for each retest) - if no probs there - hook it up to diagnostic and see if you get a good signal from both sensors. Both were bit laggy - the bottom one kept getting stuck in rich then lean for a long time instead of cycling.

9

Thanks that’s really helpful! Just curious, how many kilometers were on your car when you did this?

10

Around 193k. I hear a bit of ticking but tends to go away when it warms up - I’m debating if there’s any point in removing the chain guides as I’ll probably go with sr swap for the summer anyways…

Jack

p.s. There are some good places where they do e-tests without raising ur hood to check what made it fail… :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

11

if u ahveent bought one yet. theres a black s14 with sr for sale it checked it out. no rust at alll and it pullss. but there was a accident to the driver side.

12

i purchased my s14 last year it had about 180k and recently had to change the water pump, and 3 belts other than that everything is working ok
so just beware of replacing some wear and tear items in older cars…

13

OH ya its a myth alright I know mine is far from rust free.