Is it My Head Gasket?

[JrDarknes]

Im sorry if I put this thread in wrong place

I just got my first car (nissan 240sx [ hatchback]) and when I got it it needed a new right tie rod and the speedometer needed to be fixed by this crosswire thing. So I had a few questions

For the Speedometer all I need is to get a new wire for this thing or do I need to buy a whole new one or a speed sensor? (If someone has or knows about the 1991 240sx can you tell me if it is electronic, analog or whatever)

For the Tie Rod can I buy any tie rod or do I have to buy the one for this car only?

ALSO PLEASE: can someone tell me how to get a smell out of a car. This car smells like complete 🤬

 

[Slash]

A good rule of thumb is when changing 1 tie rod, change the other side to then get it aligned if you don't know how to do it. More than likely you'll have to get it for that car or it won't fit right.

 

[JrDarknes]

A good rule of thumb is when changing 1 tie rod, change the other side to then get it aligned if you don't know how to do it. More than likely you'll have to get it for that car or it won't fit right.

I dont know how to align it so Im better off buying the one for the car and putting it myself? Or just buying 2 new ones and let a local mechanic do it?

 

[TheBook]

You can generally get the alignment close when you change tie rod ends. Just count the number of turns it takes to take the old one off then turn the new ones on the same number of turns. However, you should always have a mechanic align it afterward. Also, if you're not comfortable doing it, let someone else work on it.

 

[Slash]

You can also test drive it and determine the way its pulling. Whatever direction it pulls, generally speaking adjust the opposite side until its not so bad or shorten up the length of the side its pulling to but like we said, best have a mechanic align it. We have sensors that give us readings as to how far the wheels are out of factory specs, and from there we can adjust to get them back to normal.

 

[Keef]

ALSO PLEASE: can someone tell me how to get a smell out of a car. This car smells like complete 🤬

You'll need to take the seats and all the carpet out. Get a carpet shampooer. You mix detergent with hot water, then soak and brush the carpet and seats, then vacuum the water out. That should help quite a bit.

 

[Pupik]

For a smell/odor...clean everything. Leave nothing uncleaned. Of course, there could be mold underneath the carpet, of which buying/replacing a new one is your only chance, and a rare and expensive one for a 20 year old car. Let it dry for few days with the windows down.

Replace similar (inner or outer) tie rods in sets (per side), as said before. Good advice for any vehicle. Tie rods are all shapes and sizes, so pick out one specific to the exact model year and possibly even production date (month and year). They aren't expensive at all, most auto parts stores will have them.

I would do some research online at a dedicated forum about the instruments. With a car that old, it could just be a wire, replacing a single gauge cluster, or perhaps just about anything...wheel speed sensor, et cetera.

 

[JrDarknes]

Update:

Ok, when I start my car white smokes comes out of the exhaust. Sometimes its alot and sometimes its a little. Also my car leaks oil but not alot of it. As if I sat it there you kinda woudnt even tell unless it was like 2 days straight. I was wondering if My head Gasket is blown? Or is it leaking? Or does something just needs to be sealed?

 

[oopssorryy]

The oil leak could come from just about anywhere, and if its leaking onto the ground its most likely not the head. Oil pan, main seals, valve cover, all suspects, all your rubber is old and brittle, it happens.

Check your coolent, if its low, check for leaks. If you find none than its most likely a BHG, and the white smoke doesnt help, thats probably steam from were your boiling liqiud. Does it feel down on power? Overheat? Also if your anti freeze looks milky or your oil has an odd build up of residue (it would be on the inside of the oil fill cap, gray in color if memory serves me right) then your two fluids are mixing and its your head gasket letting them mix.

 

[MaliciousMD]

Sometimes a head gasket will leak coolant into the combustion chamber only and the milky oil doesn't show up right away.

Is your coolant overflow tank filling up? If it is does it smell like exhaust? This is a good sign the gasket is compromised or there is a crack from the cylinder to water jacket. Does the smoking get worse the hotter the engine is? Does it get worse under load?

If it is on start up only it may not be coolant but oil smoke. Sure it's white and not bluish? Could be oil seeping into the combustion chamber, again from a number of different places...