Need help before purchasing car..

[galaa]

i have a manager (co worker) who is willing to sale his 98 corolla for $500 with about 150000 miles on the clock...problem is he failed a smog test about a year ago and has never since fixed it...from what he told me is that the tech told him that he has no egr valve (i did my research on it already and found that it doesn't have one for those year) and that his car is not meant for california emission...NOW question is can it be the VSV next to the cansistor that failed his emission test...and also those who live in california please shime in on this problem...i don't have access to his car and dont know if there is a check engine light on for this issue as i am just stating what he told me today....the tech told him also that he can pass emission without the egr valve (i have no clue why the tech stated this to him)...i dont own toyota so i dont know forsure but i am asking you guys here cause a deal like that i can not let it pass..i will have the car soon to fix it if i can when i have the time....

[bail_w]

California law requires you to have a California OBDII Compliant catalyst converter.

Amazon

Amazon

[zythr]

Originally Posted by galaa

i have a manager (co worker) who is willing to sale his 98 corolla for $500 with about 150000 miles on the clock...problem is he failed a smog test about a year ago and has never since fixed it...from what he told me is that the tech told him that he has no egr valve (i did my research on it already and found that it doesn't have one for those year) and that his car is not meant for california emission...NOW question is can it be the VSV next to the cansistor that failed his emission test...and also those who live in california please shime in on this problem...i don't have access to his car and dont know if there is a check engine light on for this issue as i am just stating what he told me today....the tech told him also that he can pass emission without the egr valve (i have no clue why the tech stated this to him)...i dont own toyota so i dont know forsure but i am asking you guys here cause a deal like that i can not let it pass..i will have the car soon to fix it if i can when i have the time....

You can let this one pass. First 2 years of this Gen of Corolla had oil burning issues. There is probably more (read costly) problems with this car than he is stating, which is why he is trying to unload it so cheap. If you buy it, and it fails, California emissions, you'll be "stuck" getting it fixed to pass, if possible. There are better deals on this generation Corolla out there, I'd look elsewhere for a real deal.

[liensalebuyer]

if you knew what the code was, might be easier to track down. Normally the charcoal canister filter, VSV to the canister, or a cracked hose going into the canister. Offer him $300 and tell him you have to pay back reg and maybe he bites. The box is about $300 from dealer, about $60 from a wrecking yard. It's better to do a smoke test first on the car to see where the problem is cause I changed three different parts and did not fix the problem. The guy at work did not have a smoke machine, but he said it was a good idea. I was getting close to re registering the car and decided to sell it to my smog guy cause the smog was due. My smog guy has a smoker and he actually said he would smoke test the car for me, but I decided to sell because I picked up a 96 corolla. He told me the hoses normally wouldn't crack on a 99. Well, he fixed it and flipped it for a few bucks, but I actually flipped it to him cause I bought it for $400 and put about $1K worth of parts and work into it.

[fishexpo101]

Emissions Tech sounds like he is confused, no 1ZZ-FE Corolla/Prism use an EGR anymore, due to improved fuel injection, combustion chamber design, and valve overlap. He cannot "fail" the car for not having an EGR, as the car never came with one to start with.

Personally, this car sounds like a money pit - there are plenty of other decent condition cars out there. If I was in your shoes, I'd pass on this car and keep looking.