1983 Nissan Pulsar nx from North America - Comments

Turbo went bad right of the start.

Catalytic converter went bad.

Distributor went bad.

CV drives went bad.

Car on board computer went bad.

Timing belt went bad.

O2 sensor went bad.

Short in the charging system happen.

Car would over heat and stall.

Car would hesitate on freeway speeds.

Car in and out shops and could never fix.

Days the car would handle superb.

Neither motor or transmission went bad.

Would not recommend to anybody even enemy.

Parts are expensive and hard to get.

will make you go broke were is Nissan now.

I have read your review and feel I need to add a comment. I am driving a 1984 Nissan Sentra. This car shares exactly the same engine, E16,and drive components as your 1983 Nissan Pulsar. I have replaced the Oxygen Sensor and Timing Belt and some other parts. This really is to be expected with vehicles of this age. It is not the Car Manufacturers fault as you suggest in your review. All cars need Timing Belts and Oxygen sensors replaced at certain service intervals. You were just unlucky in that your Timing Belt broke before you thought of replacing it. These are excellent vehicles, mine does one hundred miles a day seven days a week and has never broken down on me yet. I am a firm believer in preventative maintenance. My Nissan now has 152,000 miles on it and it does not even smoke or misfire. The engine has never had the valve cover off even. It really is to do with how you drive and maintain the vehicle.

I agree with the first comment. We have had Nissan cars for over twenty five years now and have yet to break down. Although obviously you do have to follow the maintenance schedule as the gentleman before mentioned.I hope this helps.

I agree wholeheartedly with the two previous contributors. I have owned five Nissan Sentras and one Pulsar, all of which I brought back "from the dead"; When they are given their due maintenance, they are terrific vehicles! Economical, responsive, reliable, hearty and very forgiving.

I believe the person who felt gypped was sold a genuine lemon of the previous owner's doing; You simply cannot account for a previous owner's treatment of a car before you get it. Preventative maintenance speaks volumes! It makes the difference between low-3-digit cost prevention and low-to-mid-4-digit correction.

The E-series engine is brutally tough and the RN4/RS5 manual transmissions are great as well; I'm not at all a fan of the automatic, though the one in my white '85 Sentra is holding up fair enough.

With no offense to the guy with the bad Pulsar, you might be happier with an Altima or a Maxima. Just my opinion.

The 1983 Nissan Pulsar with the E-16 engine works terrific with the Weber carburetor and a header that eliminates the catalytic convertor and stock exhaust. The transmission is just as good. The old cars allow for more modifications to correct the factory mistakes. Stay away from computer controlled disributor systems. Nissan had the right idea for their vehicle, but had to stay within regulations for this country.

Original writer here a few years later. This does not have anything in common with any Nissan Sentra like you people suggest. Does you're Nissan Sentra have turbo or fuel injection no I don't think so. Those cars had carburetor n were non turbo. Mine had tons of sensors related to injection system back in the day. another difference my engine was 1.5 liter not 1.6 liter clearly a different motor. Lemon clearly hope those cars Nissan pulsar 1.5 turbo fuel injection are out of commission from this planet before someone gets killed in one of them. My family almost did, that car liked to stall on intersections OK thanks for hearing me out.

The 1983 turbo Pulsar used a fuel injected engine, however the non turbo Pulsar used a carburettor and many of the parts are interchangeable with the 1983 Sentra.