Learn Me: 2nd Generation Nissan Quest

Hey guys,

A 2000 Nissan Quest has essentially dropped into my lap and I was wondering what the common problems are with these cars. Searched and saw threads on the 3rd gen, but nothing about the 1st or 2nd gens. What I know thus far is that the van has 148k, runs and drives without any glaring/horrific issues that I can see, has an IMMACULATE (like borderline weird) interior with the optional VHS/TV combo! Exterior has some slight dents and dings but is pretty clean overall. Not sure about its maintenance history at all. Oil and other fluids look OK at a glance. Anything horrible that I should be on the lookout for? Hoping to get this thing to be a reliable daily for my dad...he had a 95 Quest (that he also acquired for free, weirdly) run to 170k with minimal issues until a drunk driver annihilated it a few years ago, so hes kinda sorta partial to keeping this thing. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

uses the good ol' VG motor. apparently modified to be non-interference, only in this application.

I love them for being a small mini-van. Just drove one 800 miles yesterday. I turned off cruise control because I was getting sleepy. Kept creeping up over 90 mph unintentionally. averaged 21mpg with the a/c on.

weaknesses include..... distributors? Never noticed anything else chronic about them.

Hmm yeah I saw the distributor thing on Wikipedia of all places. Upon closer examination, it seems that the radio and coolant temp gauge in this van don't work, but all other interior items do. Motor shakes a tiny bit at idle, but I drive a WRX daily, so I can no longer tell what's "normal" and what isn't.

Had one for a few years, passed it to my step-son and eventually it developed a condition where it would die after warming up. I sank enough time and $$ into it that I took it to a local garage, and they couldn't figure it out either.

Up to that point it had been a good van with no problems. I think it was up around 150kmi when it finally bit the dust.

In reply to petegossett:

1) ditto on the distributor bearing issue. 2) valve cover / head gaskets difficult to get to as it's transverse mounted.

i sold my a few years ago, but those are the issues i dealt with w/ 130K miles

Thanks guys. This thing seems to be pretty solid, so worth the keep. Any input on real world gas mileage?

With my wife driving, high-teens. I could hit 22mpg on the highway pretty consistently.