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[cruisetopoland]

My (not interested in cars) mate has a very tidy Nissan Almera facelift on a 2000-X plate and took it for an MOT recently.  It failed on the normal bits like a bulb, wiper, brake imbalance etc, but the shocker was:

"Severe structural corrosion of the front cross member and chassis legs"

Now this is a 70k mile, near-mint, never crashed, known history car and to all intents and purposes looked brand new inside and out.

I have just seen the photos our farmer friend took while he stripped it and welded in the new cross member and they looked like something off an abandoned Morris Minor project, not a 2000 plate car-absolutely shocking 

When ordering the part, he was surprised that:
1/ several pattern parts were available
2/ the place had one in stock!

This suggested it was a regular problem with the Almeras-possibly due to frequent request for crash repair parts, but the MOT garage said it was likely that it been subjected to water damage or had had a blown rad and the hot water had affected the rustproofing.

Anyway, I was telling the story to Welung666 and said my mate's tidy X plate Almera had failed the MOT; guess what for?
He said "Front crossmember and chassis corrosion?-they're all like it!"

I was surprised to say the least 

So take note if buying an Almera 1999-2003.  Look first at the front chassis legs and cross-member, before anything else.  It cost (on mate's rates) £600 to get it through the MOT (including brakes etc)-nearly as much as the car was worth.

Lordy   

[waspy]

I had a Datsun 280ZX some years ago, half of the chassis was replaced by myself & work's steel plate

[cruisetopoland]

Strange to get huge structural issues when the bodywork, sills, arches etc etc all absolutely perfect-no clues even to take a look 

I guess it is a manufacturing fault-the parts were not internally rust-proofed correctly at the factory and 10 years of wet and salt ate through...

[waspy]

Strange to get huge structural issues when the bodywork, sills, arches etc etc all absolutely perfect-no clues even to take a look 

I guess it is a manufacturing fault-the parts were not internally rust-proofed correctly at the factory and 10 years of wet and salt ate through...

My mate just up the road bought an Escort diesel & the body was excellent, but the underneath was "well erm" really bad. He borrowed my welder to do the job, but gave up & sent it for scrap

[tunnie]

Uh-oh, mother tunnies is a 2000 plate one 

[cruisetopoland]

Uh-oh, mother tunnies is a 2000 plate one 

Go and have a look underneath 

Hope it is ok 

[Welung666]

When you told me it had failed the MOT I told you what it had failed on didn't I G?

Did my sister-in-laws 2001 Y a few months back, it's every single one of them!

[cruisetopoland]

When you told me it had failed the MOT I told you what it had failed on didn't I G?
Did my sister-in-laws 2001 Y a few months back, it's every single one of them!

As per original post above 

[Welung666]

When you told me it had failed the MOT I told you what it had failed on didn't I G?
Did my sister-in-laws 2001 Y a few months back, it's every single one of them!

As per original post above 

  Sorry only scanned through it I'm busy pretending to work at the same time

[cruisetopoland]

When you told me it had failed the MOT I told you what it had failed on didn't I G?
Did my sister-in-laws 2001 Y a few months back, it's every single one of them!

As per original post above 

  Sorry only scanned through it I'm busy pretending to work at the same time

You too?  8-) 8-)

[SillyBilly]

Blimey!
My daughter's 03 Almera has exactly this problem - virtually the whole of the front cross member has gone.  Anyone know the part number and cost.  Is it a bolt-on or bold-on and weld job?
 

[Del Boy]

Blimey!
My daughter's 03 Almera has exactly this problem - virtually the whole of the front cross member has gone.  Anyone know the part number and cost.  Is it a bolt-on or bold-on and weld job?
 

Here you go mate £38 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NISSAN-ALMERA-2000-2006-FRONT-CROSS-MEMBER-/200504355280?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2eaefda9d0

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I had a Datsun 280ZX some years ago, half of the chassis was replaced by myself & work's steel plate

Ah yes, the early Japanese cars that were built for the UK market but complying with Japanese specification that didn't allow for our wet climate!  As I understand it that is why few are left

[Ken T]

Yes, My Datsun 100A front cross section and subframe went.

Its an engineering fault, they forgot to fit the small oil leak present in all proper Mini's, which stops the front subframe rusting.

Ken

[omegod]

They are chronic for timing chain stretch too, basically a crap car.