Ok, so here's the deal. There is this stellar, almost too good to be true, deal on a 98 Limited 2WD with 167k in immaculate condition for $6000
In every way (almost) this car checks out:
No rust on the frame. Almost zero exterior or interior cosmetic faults. The carpets are a little worn, but just in the corners and hardly noticeable with floor mats. The seats are immaculate. Minimal fade and wear and not a single tear or crack anywhere. All the panels line up. The magnet test didnt reveal any bondo issues. Belts look new, tires look new, engine is detailed, fluids are clean and topped off.
Cosmetically superior vehicle with only 167k miles
Here's the catch: the first test drive I took, I pushed it up to 65mph it wouldn't go any faster, which led to the CEL popping on. I mean I had the pedal floored and it just wouldn't push. The guy then tells me he had a vacuum leak fixed recently and it must have been poorly done.
I tell him ok, fix it, and I'll come back and we'll go again. He did, so I went for a 2nd test drive.
I can tell somethings up from the start because the engine doesn't easily turn on the first try. It does, but it skips. So i let it warm up, there are no other sounds, but I do notice a low idling issue. I temporarily brush it off (because I want to do this test drive) and pull away towards Autozone to get the codes pulled.
It throws a p0171.
At this point I get ready to take it back rather than have pre-sell diagnostics done. When I get back I notice the CEL is back on. I turn the car off. Let it sit for a couple minutes to do a warm startup and now it wont turn.
Here's my dilemma: I can wait for this guy to fix again, then take it and have diagnostics done. I'm confident, given my issues with it, and my patience, I can talk the guy down off that 6,000 price. But, is it worth it given the issues I described above?
I've had a 30 year mechanic tell me to abandon it. I've had a younger, local mechanic and T4R enthusiast tell me to not pay anything over $4,500 for it in anticipation of repairs.
What are yalls thoughts? Both on next steps and what the issue might be?
PS: I wish I had pictures but the guy has taken the thread down for the time being.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
In every way (almost) this car checks out:
No rust on the frame. Almost zero exterior or interior cosmetic faults. The carpets are a little worn, but just in the corners and hardly noticeable with floor mats. The seats are immaculate. Minimal fade and wear and not a single tear or crack anywhere. All the panels line up. The magnet test didnt reveal any bondo issues. Belts look new, tires look new, engine is detailed, fluids are clean and topped off.
Cosmetically superior vehicle with only 167k miles
Here's the catch: the first test drive I took, I pushed it up to 65mph it wouldn't go any faster, which led to the CEL popping on. I mean I had the pedal floored and it just wouldn't push. The guy then tells me he had a vacuum leak fixed recently and it must have been poorly done.
I tell him ok, fix it, and I'll come back and we'll go again. He did, so I went for a 2nd test drive.
I can tell somethings up from the start because the engine doesn't easily turn on the first try. It does, but it skips. So i let it warm up, there are no other sounds, but I do notice a low idling issue. I temporarily brush it off (because I want to do this test drive) and pull away towards Autozone to get the codes pulled.
It throws a p0171.
At this point I get ready to take it back rather than have pre-sell diagnostics done. When I get back I notice the CEL is back on. I turn the car off. Let it sit for a couple minutes to do a warm startup and now it wont turn.
Here's my dilemma: I can wait for this guy to fix again, then take it and have diagnostics done. I'm confident, given my issues with it, and my patience, I can talk the guy down off that 6,000 price. But, is it worth it given the issues I described above?
I've had a 30 year mechanic tell me to abandon it. I've had a younger, local mechanic and T4R enthusiast tell me to not pay anything over $4,500 for it in anticipation of repairs.
What are yalls thoughts? Both on next steps and what the issue might be?
PS: I wish I had pictures but the guy has taken the thread down for the time being.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
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