Nissan 100 NX 1990 1995 User Manual

BUYERS GUIDE: Nissan 100NX

A sports car for the masses

Quirky open top motoring for peanuts

NISSAN 100NX: 1990 – 1995 WORDS: ANDREW JONES

The concept was simple;
bring the sports car feel to
the masses for very little
development cost. Take an
existing successful
‘shopping trolley’ model
i.e. the Sunny; cloth it in a
pretty coupe style body
and hey presto the 100NX
was born. The 100NX was
effectively an evolution of
the Nissan Pulsar NX also
known as the EXA
produced from 1987 –

1990. Designed in
California, the 100NX w as
an approach that many
manufacturers of the time
attempted to achieve.
Honda released the CRX,
Toyota with the MR2 and
Mazda the MX3 and the
MX5 to name a few. The
100NX fitted nicely into
the 200SX and 300ZX
family as the little brother.
While it could never be
called a market leader in
sales (5000 models sold in
the UK from 1990 –

1995),it has attained a

devout following even
among ex-owners who still
fondly remember their old
model.

‘Even the best
100NX’s are
reasonably
priced’

BODY WORK

Rust proofing is comparable
with other cars of its day.
Adequate, but with newest
cars now over 10 years old,
rusty examples are
becoming increasingly
common. The NX shell is
very good at hiding severe
structural rot. The first area
to inspect of any potential
purchase is the rear wheel
arches, right up in the strut
tower, both on the inside
and out. The rot found here
is so well hidden it’s very
often missed - even by
MOT inspectors. The strut

tower is a highly stressed
area taking the full
compressive forces of the
attached road spring - the
first time some owners find
out they have corroded rear
inner arches is when the
springing mount gives way
with devastating results.
Repairs are possible without
having to disturb the outer
arches by removing the strut
towers from inside to gain
access to the inner arch
panels. However it is not a
straight forward operation
and patch repairs are rarely
satisfactory – you would
better to walk away and find
a rot free example. The NX
sports a full length body
which is can hide all sorts of
nasties. The body kit panels
are attached directly to the
body work with a
combination of screws and
clips, providing plenty of
places for corrosion to take
hold. If the example you are
looking at shows signs of
loose body kit ask the

vendor for an explanation,
if the answer is anything but
plausible, it could be that
fixings are no longer
gripping sound steel, again
walk away. Next have a
look at the bottom of the
doors and rear hatch check
for corrosion and evidence
of blocked drainage holes.
The NX’s front doors are
fairly heavy causing flexing
of the ‘A’ pillar; the flexing
causes the paint to crack
around the seams allowing
water to get in and the
inevitable corrosion. Strips
clipped to the door tops can
suffer from plastic disease
resulting in a crazed texture,
new ones are available but
are expensive. Most owner
unclip them and paint with
a matching colour. The rear
hatch lower panel below the
spoiler has a tendency to
trap water, bubbling paint is
the result. Also the gas
rams are probably weak
allowing the lid to drop.
New ones are available on
e-bay. Check that the T-top
roof locking mechanisms
work and check the
condition of the sealing
rubbers. The sealing
rubbers are still available
from Nissan Japan but are
very expensive. Fear not
however, as long as the
rubber is not physically
damaged such as a cut or
gash, most seals can be
revived using one of the
many rubber revival
treatment products available
from restoration specialists.

ENGINES

The 100 Nx was released in
Europe with a choice of two
engines: the 1.6 litre
GA16Ds and the larger two
litre SR20DE, which was
available on special order.
Early 1.6 95bhp engines
featured conventional
vacuum operated fuel and

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BUYERS GUIDE: Nissan 100NX

ignition systems that were
quickly superseded by the
less successful 90bhp
catalyst friendly
electronically controlled
version in late ’91. By the
end of 1993 power had
crept back up to a more
respectable 102 b.h.p. with
the phasing out of the
problematic carburettor
cars and the introduction of
full multipoint injection.
Don’t be surprised if the
air intake heater relay is
missing out of the fuse box
on carburettor cars, it is a
recognised ‘modification’
that improves fuel
economy. Official 2 litre
cars are as rare as hen’s
teeth. Only 5 were
registered new when
available although a few
Jap spec 2 litre models
have since being imported.
Engines are extremely
reliable. Expect to at least
150,000 miles from the 1.6
before expensive rebuilds
are required, as long as the
9,000 mile service
intervals are adhered to.

One thing the engine will
not tolerate is the use of
cheap engine oils; the cause
of many a stretched timing
chain, which are expensive
to replace and an awkward
DIY repair. Either use
Nissan’s own oil or a good
quality semi synthetic.

STEERING AND
SUSPENSION

The NX’s rack and pinion
steering is obedient and
light, if lacking in feel due
to the power steering. The
driving experience is not
exactly sporty, but holds the
road well, its character
being more like long
distance tourer than a street
screaming banshee. The car
is easy to drive but soon
reaches its limits with
plenty of warning. Body
flex is noticeable without
the roof, as is the wind
noise over 50 mph. Front
end knocking from the front
is usually caused by worn
suspension bushes or ball
joints. Listen out for clonks

on full lock indicating worn
CV joints or track rod ends.
Clonks from the rear end are
usually caused by failed
shock absorbers, budget at
least £200 to have these
replaced. The suspension
boasts four-point
adjustability, check tire
wear for uneven tracking.
Pay special attention to
uneven wear on the rear
tires, anything untoward
found here could just be a
maladjusted wishbone arms
or the tell-tail beginnings of
strut tower failure.

WHEELS AND
BRAKES

Steel wheels were available
on the NX but most owners
opted for the 14” tear drop
alloy wheels. They are not
the most attractive but are
well made. Many owners
have ditched the original
alloys in favour of slightly
larger and wider aftermarket
items. It seems universally
accepted that a 15” wheel
clothed with 6” rubber
seems to be the optimum
combination. If the car
you’re looking at sports
aftermarket ask for evidence
that the alloys have the
correct offset, as the wheel
bearings do not like constant
side loads. Braking ability is
adequate for all but the most
spirited of driving, but
remember, the car is based

on the Nissan Sunny and
shares its braking
components. Seized front
callipers are a common
problem, replacement seals
and pistons are available,
but it is easier and more
satisfactory to replace with
reconditioned items. Carb’
versions came with rear
drums the later injections,
disks. Both systems are
reliable if serviced
according to the
manufactures instructions.

‘Engine and
transmission is
bullet proof’

TRIM

The NX’s interior is typical
90’s Japanese – acres’ of
plastic. The dash board
could have been built to a
slightly better quality, but to
be fair nothing drops off.
Heater vents and switch
gear are made from ABS
which could have done with
a few more screws to
prevent the materials
natural tendency to creak.
Controls are easy to use and
well laid out, except for the
electric window switches
which are not illuminated
and subsequently awkward
to operate at night.
The NX officially seats
four, but realistically

SPOT THE GROT

1. The engine is extremely reliable, but check for
untoward rattles and oil leaks indicating abuse or
neglect.

2. Check wheel arches, sills and seams for
evidence of rot and T-top mechanism and seals

3. Check all electrics including switch gear
illumination.

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