2001 Nissan Primera SE 2.0
Summary:
Very good car - buy one!!
Faults:
General wear and tear.
In other words, nothing.
General Comments:
Underestimated car - my third Primera 2.0.
Only buy an sr20de 2.0 - good torque and moves at high revs. Most reliable and strong.
Very good handling - best in its class.
Very good engine the sr20 - proven since 1989 - same as the GTi-R without the turbo!
Anybody who slates this engine is mad. They probably bought a lemon that has been clocked or not looked after. Low mileage does not mean it has been looked after. The aluminium engine doesn't rev high when cold. My last one, a GT, had 168000 miles when I got rid, and did not use oil or water, and was still quiet. These cars can hit 140mph!!
91-96 p10 standard 2.0 115bhp GT 150bhp.
96-99 p11 standard 2.0 129bhp GT 150bhp.
99-2001 p11 144 standard 140bhp
Mine has been de-catted, stainless exhaust, lowered 60mm - 17" wheels, induction filter, spoiler, aluminium trim fitted - power was 140bhp, power is now 170bhp!!!!! BMW 325 eater!!
Get one bought - not the nicest to look at, but brilliant spec and ride. Mine averages on a long run 40mpg, and around town about 30mpg
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 4th September, 2007
29th Jul 2010, 11:33
This is in fact a quality Japanese engineered car that's proven to be reliable, well equipped, good to drive and incredibly cheap to buy. It suffers from few faults and most of these are easy to fix. It is easy for DIY maintenance and has the advantage of a cam chain rather than a cam belt.
It is much less likely that you will encounter a lemon with these Japanese cars, but problems are always possible now they are getting on. I have compiled a list of possible problems, but don't let this put you off as this is a great deal of car for your money and much better to drive and own than most on the road.
Items that may cause trouble:
Timing chain can break or stretch, later causes engine light on and maybe poor running (make sure oil level stays correct and that oil and filter are changed regularly and do the chain check if buying, as replacement may cost £650).
Crankshaft and camshaft position sensors can fail, leading to stalling and failure to restart (subject to a recall – check chassis number with Nissan to be sure it’s been done).
Broken ABS rings on drive shafts can cause ABS to come on at low speed (replace ring or whole drive shaft).
MAF (not oxygen sensor!) can wear out and cause the engine light to come on and maybe poor running (£80 genuine original exchange - avoid cheaper ones).
Coils can break down, causing hesitation under load and engine light on (keep a spare in car £20).
Rear brake calipers seize and are more expensive than the reliable front ones (clean them with brake cleaner and lubricate with copper grease or brake grease – there is a how to on Nissan Primera Owners Club forum).
Worn front wiper pivots (check for play by gripping and moving wiper arm and watching pivot) can give squeaky wipers, even with new wipers (pivots £25 per side, or £80 for 2 pivots and 2 connecting rods).
Top link bush (or lower) on front suspension wears giving a clonk over bumps (suspension arms cost £30 per side), but the Primera is allowed a lot of play here to pass MOT (according to VOSA instructions to testers).
Drive-shafts break where the balance weight collects moisture and rusts the shaft (the weight can be removed and rust treated).
Corrosion can appear in the front crossmember / radiator support panel, the sump, door bottoms and wheel arches.
Heater resistor board causes the fan to work only on high speed, not speed 1-3 (get new one £4 from breakers).
CV gaiters may split.
Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) may fail.
Idle Air Control Valve (IACV) may stick.
EGR valve may stick.
Throttle butterfly can become gummed up (clean with carb cleaner).
Coolant can leak from the cracked plastic cover on the thermostat housing.
Engine and body earths can break.
Water- pump may leak.
Electric window switches can stick.
The worst one is probably timing chain stretch, which is expensive, but the chain can be checked for wear.
Look on the forums http://www.npoc.co.uk/ for information.