Are there spare parts?
In Russia the Datsun dealer network has been discontinued. A network of Nissan dealers handles maintenance and the sale of spare parts.
The system works in practice. The writer checked it multiple times. Yet often the required parts were unavailable. Waiting a week or two was not appealing, so online stores provided alternatives. Spare parts are not in acute shortage, but occasionally replacements from China had to be purchased.
Does it not brake on a descent?
After a run of 82 thousand km, a metal rattle appeared during braking and the left rear wheel sometimes began to lock. Diagnostics at a technical center revealed a leaking left rear brake cylinder, acidic right cylinder, brake pads worn to 90%, and grooves worn into the brake drums. All components needed replacement. Handbrake cables also showed dangerous braid damage.
Officials quoted 17 thousand rubles for labor and another 7 thousand for parts. A side-sourcing option reduced about half the price. The front discs and pads also wore out and needed replacement. Initial ideas to resurface the discs were abandoned when a groove on one disc was priced at 1000 rubles. A complete set of discs and pads with installation costs less than 5,000 rubles, making the option similar in price to new wheels.
The CR2032 battery in the key is easy to replace, and the key body is collapsible. It is best to use well-known battery brands and check the voltage before installation with a voltmeter, as discharged batteries are common.
The rear wiper shaft requires periodic lubrication; otherwise the wiper motor can burn out, adding at least 5,000 rubles for the motor and its installation.
What’s broken?
The cause of creaking when turning the steering wheel was found after removing the engine guard. It was not mounted on its brackets but on lever mounts. The mounting bolt cracked, weakening the left arm. A new bolt fixed the issue. At 81,500 km tires were replaced, as the old ones wore down to the wear indicators. The tire center offered free installation and balancing but charged 16 thousand rubles for four tires.
A hernia appeared on the Formula Ice 185/55 R15 tire with studs in the rear. After a week of searching, one tire was found for 4,200 rubles with free installation and balancing.
On an 85,300 km ride the red oiler symbol lit up on the instrument panel. The level checked fine, but the indicator reappeared after restarting. Without a lift accessing the oil level sensor is difficult. The oil pressure sensor is accessible from above and easy to replace. A sensor cost 300 rubles, a tool set for 450 rubles, and five minutes were enough to change it. The red light disappeared afterward.
The oil pressure sensor sits behind the cylinder head. For diagnosis the removed sensor must connect to a pressure gauge, and the device adapter must be fitted in place of the sensor. When the engine starts, the pressure should rise and the instrument panel light should go out once the gauge reads 1.2–1.6 bar. If the light stays on, the sensor needs replacement.
Is the body okay?
The repair shops often refuse to fix a seven-year-old Datsun. Phrases like we won’t take it” or take your car elsewhere” are common, with corrosion being the major issue. Cars develop a red coating on exposed metal. Repairing body panels averages about 8,000 rubles per element in unofficial centers. Corrosion tends to reappear within a year, as internal damage cannot be eliminated without removing parts. Repairs are usually justified only if the car is to be sold.
In some areas, rust appears more quickly due to reagents. Factory protection helps, but even a well-kept car can show rust and corrosion after several years of urban use. Thresholds rust, holes appear, and fasteners corrode so that repairs are difficult. Seven years of ownership shows these issues clearly for the Datsun.
The driver’s seat foam softens over time. For out-of-warranty cars, high-quality seat repair typically costs about 7,000 rubles.
The valve cover gasket was replaced a year ago and later lubricated with sealant. It helped briefly, but oil leakage returned.
Subtotal
The Datsun mi-DO is not inexpensive to operate. A comparison shows costs per kilometer with several peers: Vesta 4.82 rubles, Largus 4.83 rubles, Datsun mi-DO 5.69 rubles, and a more expensive Citro C4 at 6.85 rubles.
While under warranty the car served well as daily transport. After reaching 60,000 km and a few years, corrosion issues became more noticeable, altering its value in the eyes of the owner. Yet the car remains in use as a personal vehicle, with plans to see what happens next.
Questions about the operation of any car from the Behind the Wheel range can be asked and answered.
Datsun mi-DO, 1.6 (87 hp), A4
- Manufacturer – AVTOVAZ
- Year of issue – 2015
- In operation Behind the Wheel – since May 2015
- Mileage at time of notification – 95,000 km
Operating and maintenance costs (0-95,000 km)
- Maintenance costs: 0–74,000 km 390 645
- Of this petrol (AI 95, average consumption 8.9 l/100 km) 252 361
- Maintenance costs: 74,000–95,000 km 149 975
- Of this petrol (AI 95, average consumption 8.5 l/100 km) 87 465
- Windscreen 150 000
- wiper blades 1 100
- Front brake discs with pads 4 800
- Brake drums, rear shoes, parking brake cables 10 750
- Bolt, left forearm 65 years
- Summer tires 4 pcs. 16 000
- Winter tire 1 pc. 4 200
- Ignition key battery 300
- oil pressure sensor 295
- TO – 75,000 km and 90,000 km 10 000
- General Expenses 540 620
- Cost 1 km running 5.69
* Excluding transport tax, as well as the costs of OSAGO and Casco.
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