I got this from a site, hope it helps you out a bit!!
(Sorry bout the large post though)
We are fairly lucky that we have a wide range of Skylines available thanks to our second-hand car importing industry which has been going strong for over a decade. With so many cars on the market, there is no reason to buy a lemon.
Here are some points to watch for with Skylines.
· The year of manufacture can be found by looking at the front seatbelts, near the floor mounting point. There is a fabric tag with the seatbelt specifications and the year of manufacture sewn onto the webbing.
· Inspect the welded seams in the front door sills just below the plastic kick plate. This is where I have seen rust start to form on Skylines, especially the R32. The R33 has an identical seam, so these will also show in years to come.
· Remove the rubber around the boot rim - this is a prime rust spot in any car. While you are in there, look in the side panels and make sure they are not full of water.
· Feel inside the panels in the boot where the jack is - debris found here will tell a story.
· Watch for glass (broken rear window or tail lights at some point)
· Inside the engine bay, look for crayon or chalk marks on components - this may indicate they have been replaced with second-hand parts.
· Crawl under the car and inspect behind the front and rear bumpers for signs of collusion damage.
· If you are keen, use a set of vernier callipers to measure the panel gaps especially on the doors.
· Mechanical - a noisy ceramic turbo isn't a good sign - see if it has been replaced with a conventional steel type.
· With the front wheels off the ground, check the play in the top end - any more than 5mm and there could be expensive repairs needed.
· Watch the oil pressure when the car is hot - Keep in mind the oil pressure sender is prone to failure.
After Purchase
· As you may not know the history of the car, it is best to start with a full service.
· Air filter - replace.
· Fuel filter - replace.
· Run a bottle of injector cleaner through the system with the next tank of petrol.
· Oil filter - replace, and change the oil. If there is a sludge problem do a hot oil change and repeat within 1,000 km. Don't use an engine flush treatment.
· Automatic transmission - have the oil changed. The transmission cooler should also be flushed.
· Spark plugs - replace. Make sure they are replaced with the platinum resister type.
· Timing belt - inspect and replace. Nissan specify a 100,000 km life for these. Be safe and prevent the rain of valves.
· Radiator - add plenty of anti-freeze. Without the protection of anti-freeze (corrosion inhibitor) there are parts that will corrode and eventually cause you grief. Check the condition of all the hoses while you are at it.
· Battery - monitor and replace if needed. Japanese car batteries are smaller than the regular sized car battery, and it may be the factory fitted battery (over five or six years old)
· ECU - reset it. Make it learn our driving conditions.
· Drive safe, respect the roads and enjoy the ride...