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What to do with a 2004 with 5000 miles?

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Speedtouch

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Discussion Starter · #1 · (Edited)
Hi folks, I realize I don't have a lot of posts. Well, that's because I didn't have a Frontier and didn't have much to talk about. That's changing. I will be picking up a 2004 Frontier XE, Crew Cab, 4x4, auto, V6, long bed, with 5000 (yes, 5K) miles on it next weekend. Apparently an elderly couple bought it new and the husband died a few years later. The wife barely used it after that...just to take trash to the dump, pick up flowers and veggie plants for her garden, and other light truck duties.

It's never been off-roaded and judging by the owners' ages, I think I can assume the truck has never been abused in any fashion. The used auto dealer I am getting from said he just gave it its first oil change after he bought it from the elderly lady.

My question is: what else do I need to do to this truck before I really use it as a daily driver? Dump the differential fluid and get new fluid? Drain the radiator? Empty and refill the transmission? Flush the brake lines? Power steering? Replace some hoses?

I'm not a mechanic at heart as I am sure many of you are. In fact, I honestly don't like working on vehicles. I'm just a computer nerd (read: professional systems/network administrator) who will use this truck as a daily driver back and forth to work and as an occasional hauler for furniture and other big stuff. I do not plan on pulling any boats or trailers with it.

I figured I should go to where the collective Frontier truck brainpower is: these forums. I appreciate any and all help you guys can offer. I'm the first to admit I don't know much about vehicles. Heck, I still have as my daily driver a 1991 Honda Civic with 177K on it. Yeah, I'm cheap. But it keeps going, and going, and going, with only minimal maintenance. I've been looking for a Frontier *exactly* like this one for about 6 months now and this just magically appeared yesterday. It's a truck I don't think I can pass up on.
 
03CrewSC

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#2 ·
Welcome! I think you're on the right track. I'd change the coolant, diff fluid and tranny fluid. You have a 6 year old new truck. Good luck with it!
 
Speedtouch

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Discussion Starter · #4 ·
Thanks, 03CrewSC. 6yrs old, but new! Pretty cool.

Thebavarian, I know what you mean. The guys at work were drooling when I showed them the truck. I have to fork over $14,500. I'm ok with that. The truck comes with a number of extras like power windows, remote lock/unlock, cruise, CD, tailgate extender, and roof rack. None of which I have ever had in a vehicle (see 1991 Honda Civic DX Hatchback). Oh, I forgot to put in the opening post that it's a crew cab. I'll edit it now.
 
Malice

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#5 ·
Congrats on the clean find...post a pic when you get a chance just for the heck of it. At 5k the truck needs nothing but maybe some fresh fluids...
 
0

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#6 ·
I don't think you need to do anything yet - I'd change oil and filter again ( use synthetic) in about 3k miles and wait to change others until 10-15k.
 
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F

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#10 ·
foppinanrockin said:
New tires after only 5k miles? i doubt you'll need new tires
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I would for sure put new tires on it. Granted, they don't have many miles, but rubber doesn't age all that well. You stand a good chance of throwing a tread the first time you get it up to a normal speed, in my opinion. I had this happen with some old tires on another car I bought - they looked good, but two of them peeled the tread off in the first 100 miles.
 
F

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#11 ·
frumper64 said:
I would for sure put new tires on it. Granted, they don't have many miles, but rubber doesn't age all that well. You stand a good chance of throwing a tread the first time you get it up to a normal speed, in my opinion. I had this happen with some old tires on another car I bought - they looked good, but two of them peeled the tread off in the first 100 miles.
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Yeah, youre right i completely forgot about rubber rot, my bad.
 
Speedtouch

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Discussion Starter · #15 ·
Hey guys, thanks a lot for the replies. I read all of them. I agree, a good round of fluid changes will be good. Especially oil. I use full synthetic on my 91 Civic and have been for the past 5 years. It's been good to me, so I figure I'll transition the Nissan to synthetic as well. I'll probably change the oil with 50/50 (synth/natural) for the first time I do it. After that I'll go full synthetic.

You know, I never thought about tires. That's a good idea. I'll have them inspected properly so I can figure out what to do. Ugg, I am sure they're expensive. The bad thing is that I have to drive it 750 miles back to my home in IL.

Jammintrey, fear not, the truck is blue. I will be able to get you all some good pictures next Saturday when I fly out there and get it.

Thebavarian, I'm have to decline. As beautiful as the 08s are, I'll stick with my 2004. :D

Thanks for all the input fellows. It's a tremendous help.
 
Critterman

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#20 ·
As the dealer what he did? did you put tires on it, if not you need to 6 years is a long time on the rubber55

did he change fluids? If so what, what he didn't change you change. Other than that drive it like it is brand new off the lot, don't drive it hard, vary your speeds for the 1st 500 miles and then bring it up to highway speeds
 
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Malice
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