Thinking about buying -- What should I check for?

[Ed Hall]

I’m going to be looking at a 99 Seville SLS this evening and was wondering what I should check for before deciding to buy. I did get a Carfax report and it came up clean. I will also be prepared to be able to check for codes.

The vehicle has slightly over 100k miles so my main concern is the head gaskets. Is there any way to check this? If guess I could drive the car around and see if it overheats. Looks like a code is set if engine over-temperature is met, so I’ll be checking for this code. Are there any other major failure items I should be wary of on this particular type of car with this many miles?

[JimD]

If the seller can produce maintenance history documents, look for evidence of a coolant drain - refill somewhere around the 5 year / 100,000 mile mark. Probably the single most important item to be aware of.

Drive it as hard as you can and keep an eye on the engine temp. gauge; it should not move from the middle of the scale.

Others will have to speak to the 'major failure items' because my '98 has not had such a failure in 148,xxx miles and I plan and expect to drive it for many more years and miles with only routine maintenance.

Good luck with it....

[BodybyFisher]

I would find a hilly area and run long inclines with it. Get it up to about 70 and see if you have any shimmy, moaning, pulling. Check the TCC by tapping the brake at 60 and see if your RPM rises. Hit the brakes at 60 and see if you have any shudder from 'warped' rotors. See if you can get the service records.

As Jim mentioned, coolant maintenance and knowing that it was changed is important. I would ask if GREEN was ever used also.

[Ed Hall]

Thanks for the responses. I’ll check to make sure the coolant is orange color.

I’ll also be sure to let you guys know what I find.

[Poobah]

I would find a hilly area and run long inclines with it. Get it up to about 70 and see if you have any shimmy, moaning, pulling.

Ed,

Sounds like the Conejo grade to me.

Incidentally, the grade at 70 MPH is where I got my first overheat when my head gasket went.

[BodybyFisher]

Actually those two 'tests' are independent, my statement implied that I wanted you to do 70 up a long grade, more correctly, I wanted you to test the head gaskets by taking it on a long up grade, and

I wanted you to test the suspension by driving 70 and feeling for shimmy, vibration, moaning (hub bearings) and pulling.

I wouldn't want you to do anything to CAUSE a head gasket to blow...

[adallak]

My major concerns would be the engine and tranny, but minor things like power windows, seats, wet trunk, BOSE, A/C, suspension, brakes can help to negotiate a better deal. If the battery is original, it's time to replace it as well.

[tjtjwdad]

I've heard that struts can be pricey. If so you may want to check them out and any other suspension components.

Jim

[Ed Hall]

I looked at the car last night, got scared and did not buy. It started right up and seemed to run smoothly however, I ran a code check and wrote down a long list of codes. I ran out of room to write down all the codes so there are probably 10 additional codes. I asked the owner if it ever had an overheating problem and he said it did and the thermostat was replaced. I could not get a definite answer whether or not it still overheats because he said the car has been sitting since then. Anyways, I did not get a warm fuzzy impression of the car so I backed off. Additionally, the car was very dirty both on the outside and inside.

Oh yeah, I did check the radiator fluid and it was orange.

Here’s a partial list of codes:

C1242 - Pump Motor Circuit Open

C1243 - BPMV Pump Motor Stalled

B1147 - Driver Side Air Bag System Malfunction

B1148 - Passenger Side Air Bag System Malfunction

History

B1004 - Keep Alive Memory (KAM)

B1327 - Vehicle system voltage below 9.0 volts

B1983 - Device Power Circuit Low

U1255 - Class 2 Communication Malfunction (Serial Data Line Malfunction)

U1255 - Class 2 Communication Malfunction (Serial Data Line Malfunction)

B1327 - Vehicle system voltage below 9.0 volts

P1300 - Ignitor Circuit

P1376 - Ignition Ground Circuit

P0603 - Control Module Long Term Memory Reset

B1016 - Passenger Deployment Loop Resistance Low

B1160 - Loss of Serial Data - VIN Not Received

B1652 - Loss of Keep Alive Memory (KAM)

B1983 - Device Power Circuit Low

B1652 - Loss of Keep Alive Memory (KAM)

B1983 - Device Power Circuit Low

[BodybyFisher]

Its possible that many of these codes are related to bad battery/low power/bad connections, these codes make me feel that. Before you got there the owner may have jumped it but the battery was either bad or not fully charged yet.

B1004 - Keep Alive Memory (KAM)

B1327 - Vehicle system voltage below 9.0 volts

B1983 - Device Power Circuit Low

[KHE]

I looked at the car last night, got scared and did not buy. It started right up and seemed to run smoothly however, I ran a code check and wrote down a long list of codes. I ran out of room to write down all the codes so there are probably 10 additional codes. I asked the owner if it ever had an overheating problem and he said it did and the thermostat was replaced. I could not get a definite answer whether or not it still overheats because he said the car has been sitting since then. Anyways, I did not get a warm fuzzy impression of the car so I backed off. Additionally, the car was very dirty both on the outside and inside.

Oh yeah, I did check the radiator fluid and it was orange.

Here’s a partial list of codes:

C1242 - Pump Motor Circuit Open

C1243 - BPMV Pump Motor Stalled

B1147 - Driver Side Air Bag System Malfunction

B1148 - Passenger Side Air Bag System Malfunction

History

B1004 - Keep Alive Memory (KAM)

B1327 - Vehicle system voltage below 9.0 volts

B1983 - Device Power Circuit Low

U1255 - Class 2 Communication Malfunction (Serial Data Line Malfunction)

U1255 - Class 2 Communication Malfunction (Serial Data Line Malfunction)

B1327 - Vehicle system voltage below 9.0 volts

P1300 - Ignitor Circuit

P1376 - Ignition Ground Circuit

P0603 - Control Module Long Term Memory Reset

B1016 - Passenger Deployment Loop Resistance Low

B1160 - Loss of Serial Data - VIN Not Received

B1652 - Loss of Keep Alive Memory (KAM)

B1983 - Device Power Circuit Low

B1652 - Loss of Keep Alive Memory (KAM)

B1983 - Device Power Circuit Low

I've looked at a few cars that were absolutely filthy inside and out and couldn't help but but wonder... if the owner didn't care about keeping it clean, did he care about keeping the oil level up oir the coolant changed???

[OynxSTS]

Almost all of the History Codes can/are generated when the battery is replaced/disconnected... The two troubling ones are the Driver and Passenger SIR Malfunctions...

This screams two things...

1) Bad frontal accident and

2) Even worse accident repair.

Before you buy any car have a bodyshop that you know and trust look at the car... I'll bet that one had a bad crash... I'd also bet the air bags have been gutted.

[Ed Hall]

I did run a carfax report and it came up clean so the airbag malfunction is puzzling to me.

Another thing that that I didn't like seeing was the fact that after 5 minutes of idling, the temperature gauge needle was up halfways. This seems kind of high to me.

This is what I know. The owner wants $4000. It had an overheating problem. It had the thermostat replaced then it was park and not driven. Engine sounds good. There is a new Lincoln Navigator in the driveway.

This is story I've put together based on what I've seen and heard. The car had an overheating problem so the owners took it in and had the thermostat replaced. The problem did not go away so they brought it in and the mechanics told them that the head gasket needs replacement and it is going to cost $xxxxx to fix it. They didn't want to spend the money so they went out and bought a new Lincoln Navigator and let the car sit. It is now cold and winter time so it doesn't overheat as easily so now they're trying to sell it.

It is possible that it could be something other than the headgasket that is bad and if that were the case, it would be a hell of a buy but I'm not willing to take the chance. I'll just be happy and keep driving my faithful 88 Eldorado which keeps purring along.

[BodybyFisher]

If it was clean and it had no codes it would be a great project car if you wanted to do the head gasket yourself or even a good buy if you got it repaired. As you said however, to many unknown questions and a poor condition. Kevin raises a good question about maintenance. Did the seller tell you the story about the head gasket.

[adallak]

If the person does not care to wash the car before offering it, he probably did not care of it much while he'd been driving it. Stay away of that car, drive your beautiful Eldo, which is not your only transportation as I recall.

Allante?

[Ed Hall]

Did the seller tell you the story about the head gasket.

No, the seller did not tell me the story about the head gasket. The only information he gave was it overheated, so the thermostat was replaced and the car has sat. I tried to get more information but I could not get a direct answer . If the headgasket is bad, I don't think the car is even worth $3500.

If the person does not care to wash the car before offering it, he probably did not care of it much while he'd been driving it. Stay away of that car, drive your beautiful Eldo, which is not your only transportation as I recall.

Allante?

Good point. Yes, I do have an Allante that I drive during the weekends or on special occasions. The Allante had a bad transmission when I bought it. After I did my shadetree overhaul on it, it's been a good car and I haven't had any problems with it. It's one of these cars that I'll probably never get rid of for a long time. It's the perfect back up car for me.

[KHE]

I did run a carfax report and it came up clean so the airbag malfunction is puzzling to me.

Another thing that that I didn't like seeing was the fact that after 5 minutes of idling, the temperature gauge needle was up halfways. This seems kind of high to me.

This is what I know. The owner wants $4000. It had an overheating problem. It had the thermostat replaced then it was park and not driven. Engine sounds good. There is a new Lincoln Navigator in the driveway.

This is story I've put together based on what I've seen and heard. The car had an overheating problem so the owners took it in and had the thermostat replaced. The problem did not go away so they brought it in and the mechanics told them that the head gasket needs replacement and it is going to cost $xxxxx to fix it. They didn't want to spend the money so they went out and bought a new Lincoln Navigator and let the car sit. It is now cold and winter time so it doesn't overheat as easily so now they're trying to sell it.

It is possible that it could be something other than the headgasket that is bad and if that were the case, it would be a hell of a buy but I'm not willing to take the chance. I'll just be happy and keep driving my faithful 88 Eldorado which keeps purring along.

Ed,

If the temp gage was at the 12 o'clock position after 5 minutes of idling on a cold start, there is definitely a problem but it may not be the head gasket. It may be a stuck waterpump belt tensioner or the purge line to the surge tank could be plugged. The seller may have been running the car for another prospective buyer - who knows???

You rebuilt the trans. in your Allante, you can handle replacing head haskets in a Northstar. You might want to have a dealer check it out and if the diagnosis is a bad head gasket, you could use that as a barganing chip to really get a good deal on the car.

[Ranger]

I think you made a wise decission. Always go with your gut.

[OynxSTS]

I did run a carfax report and it came up clean

The sad truth about carfax is that a "clean" report tells you nothing. While a "dirty" report is worth its weight in gold... There are just too many dealers, service centers, body shops and insurance agencies who do not (will not/can not) forward client/vehicle information to the Carfax database...

For example, my wife's '99 4Runner Limited was a total loss theft recovery that I bought directly from the insurance company (were my wife worked ) I knew the complete history of this car, and the insurance companies "vehicle disposal" team were totally honest with what the poor car had gone through and what they had done to make it right.... Plus it was a screaming deal. (about $10K less than wholesale)

For fun, about 3 years later, when I bought my '02 STS I ran a carfax on her 4Runner... a car that I know the "checkered" history of... Carfax was clean...

A clean report is a step in the right direction but it is by no means the final word...

Good Luck and Happy Car Shopping!

[tjtjwdad]

For example, my wife's '99 4Runner Limited was a total loss theft recovery that I bought directly from the insurance company

Man, that is scary. I realize that if a car is totaled and the owner opts to keep the car instead of taking the money then there is no way to trace that. But in your case (99 4-runner) the INS CO actually totaled the car and it in all likelyhood did not end up in the INS CO data base which I believe is where CARFAX gets it's info.

I'm not sure what the link is (if any) is with the state DMV records.

Jim

[cdictas]

Ed,

Based on your input and lack of input from the seller - you made the right choice. I always assume the worse when buying a used car. It's one thing to know you have a blown head gasket especially if it happens to you, but it's another thing if it happens to a ordinary consumer who knows nothing about cars and is reluctant to discuss the issue. God only knows the real story.

The group did a good job of listing things to look for. I'd like to add one more. always try and check to see if the half case is leaking oil, this is a costly item to repair (~$2000.00).

If there's one thing I'm certain of, there's another car waiting in the wings to be purchased.

Regards,

Chuck

[OynxSTS]

For example, my wife's '99 4Runner Limited was a total loss theft recovery that I bought directly from the insurance company

Man, that is scary. I realize that if a car is totaled and the owner opts to keep the car instead of taking the money then there is no way to trace that. But in your case (99 4-runner) the INS CO actually totaled the car and it in all likelyhood did not end up in the INS CO data base which I believe is where CARFAX gets it's info.

I'm not sure what the link is (if any) is with the state DMV records.

Jim

LOL In my neck of the woods the insurance company IS the DMV! And the Total is in the Insurance Co's Database... I used to work there in the IT department too... Thats how I "knew" the car's history...

My point is that not all regions and/or insurance co's are hooked up to Carfax... Regardless of what they say!