# What to look for when buying an S14? **URL:** \ **Category:** SON240sx Automotive\ **Created:** [February 16, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944 "2006-02-16T17:30:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jlee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@jlee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jlee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/1 "2006-02-16T17:30:48Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Wiltzor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@Wiltzor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Wiltzor)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/2 "2006-02-16T17:36:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![spilner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@spilner](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/spilner)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/3 "2006-02-16T17:53:30Z")
rust everywhere… theres a myth about S14’s not having rust problems, but its very un-true. ---
**Author:** ![jlee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@jlee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jlee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/4 "2006-02-16T18:22:00Z")
Thanks guys. Now in terms of emissions, if the car doesn’t pass emissions what’s usually needed to make it pass? ---
**Author:** ![Wiltzor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@Wiltzor](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Wiltzor)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/5 "2006-02-16T18:33:55Z")
Is it a stock motor? If so, you probably wont have troubles getting it to pass. How many km’s on it? ---
**Author:** ![big-byrd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/big-byrd/32/3192_2.png) [@big-byrd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/big-byrd)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/6 "2006-02-16T18:39:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jlee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@jlee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jlee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/7 "2006-02-16T19:04:40Z")
Thanks you guys have been a great help ---
**Author:** ![s1495](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@s1495](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/s1495)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2006, 5:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/8 "2006-02-18T05:16:35Z")
> [@JLee](#): > > Thanks guys. Now in terms of emissions, if the car doesn’t pass emissions what’s usually needed to make it pass? 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. ---
**Author:** ![jlee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@jlee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jlee)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2006, 9:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/9 "2006-02-18T09:17:57Z")
Thanks that’s really helpful! Just curious, how many kilometers were on your car when you did this? ---
**Author:** ![s1495](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@s1495](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/s1495)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 11:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/10 "2006-02-20T11:24:38Z")
> [@JLee](#): > > Thanks that’s really helpful! Just curious, how many kilometers were on your car when you did this? 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: ---
**Author:** ![Sky14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@Sky14](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Sky14)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/11 "2006-02-24T13:39:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![dennisC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@dennisC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dennisC)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 10:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/12 "2006-02-28T10:15:47Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![stillslow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@stillslow](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/stillslow)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-look-for-when-buying-an-s14/92944/13 "2006-02-28T14:44:32Z")
> [@spilner](#): > > rust everywhere… > > theres a myth about S14’s not having rust problems, but its very un-true. OH ya its a myth alright I know mine is far from rust free.