Looking at a 92 Paseo..

[Infinitrium]

There's a 92 Paseo for sale in town. Silver in color, 5 speed, 320000 kms. It apparently has one hole above the door about the size of a quarter and some surface rust. It still runs, being driven a few times a week, it's still licensed, safety inspected and insured. I'm basically looking for a fuel efficient, non-domestic car with a stickshift that's fun to drive, and I think the Paseo will fit the bill. The car has a JVC cd player and all wired up for a sub and amps. Only thing about the car is the slight lack of headroom for me, as I'm approx 6'2. Also, no one will be able to sit behind me as I'll need to pull the seat all the way back for enough legroom. I usually don't carry passengers anyway and when I do, it's usually only 1 person anyway. The guy wants 800 bucks Cdn for it. Do you think it's worth it?

[Tercel GTS]

Wow that's a lot of miles. Ok, time to be dead honest with each other. Are you looking for a peppy car or fuel mileage? At that mileage the engine will need some repairs to stop a lot of leaks, it basically should need rebuilding. If you are looking for a point a to b car this one should work. If you are going to want a little fun out of it I'd suggest a lesser mileage car.

*edit* like this one... http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t144944.html

[Infinitrium]

Wellll...I went out to see it. It's in really nice shape, might need 2 tires though. It's got a nice stereo in it too. JVC mp3 cd player, 2 Rockford Punch 10 inch subs and a nice amp. So I took it out for a spin. drives nice and rides nice and whatnot. So I'm driving in 3rd gear and I put my foot to the floor. Revs climb up past 5000, then something bad happened. It felt like someone put their foot on the brakes, or something put a huge drag on the engine. It did that once, then it was normal again. Then just a minute later, it did that thing again and stalled. Me and my dad are rolling it down the hill trying to jumpstart it. All it did was drag the tires, it seemed like the motor wasn't turnning over when I let the clutch out. So after a few minutes on the side of the road we smell something burning!!! We popped open the hood quick and the battery cables were extremely hot. My dad yanked them off the battery and then we had to call the car's owner from someone's house. He comes up to the car and can't get it to start. The battery had power, but the starter wouldn't turn the engine over. We go back to his place, grab some booster cables then return to the car. A few minutes of charging then we tried to start it. It rolled very slowly then picked up some speed. Eventually the engine did start, but nor the oil pressure light is coming on and going off. I tried to turn around to get the car back to his place and it stalled again. Now, I should point out that each time before the car stalled, it made a loud squealing sound and something was putting a big drag on the motor. He comes back and it starts right up again. This is getting weird. So he says he wants to drive the car himself, so me and my dad follow behind him in his Focus wagon. The car stalled on him too once but he got it going again. We're cruising up the road, then me and my dad heard a horrible knocking/clacking noise. It was coming from the Paseo! Sounded like it was out of oil or a spun bearing type of sound. We turn around and finally headed back to his place. It's still running bad, but he said that the knocking sound would go away at WOT. So we let the car sit for a minute then I hauled the dipstick out. There's just a tiny little bit of oil on the end of the dipstick, and it was very hot and had a scorched smell to it. He opened the oil cap and a lot of smoke was coming out from down in the engine. Me and my dad headed for home, the guy says he's going to check it out over the weekend to see if he can find what's wrong. Such a god damn fucking shame that happened. The car is so nice too, and a nice stereo. Any ideas as to what happened? I'm thinking, for the oil problem, that either the oil pump or a bearing seized, or maybe it spun a bearing, but he said the knocking noise got quieter at WOT. I don't have any ideas what could have caused the melting battery cables.

[Donald]

I would pass on that one, at any price. I think it is about to die. It is lucky for you that it started acting up before you bought it.

[thoughthard]

Whoa. I would look elsewhere. A good stereo will not make the car any better when it is sitting DOA in your driveway.

[Tercel Drifter]

offer him 300 USD and do a swap.

[Infinitrium]

Originally Posted by Tercel Drifter

offer him 300 USD and do a swap.

That thought has actually crossed my mind a time or two. There's a 93 Paseo for sale in town, 700 bucks although I could probably get it for 500. The body is kinda rough on it but the engine runs fairly well.

[Celler]

Talking about the engine being sized right before your eyes . Let that car go unless you are planning a 4EFTE swap or some other one. Bro stereo don't make a car. By the sound of your story, you are new to cars. But thats cool every one was there at one point . When you are looking for car. Look at the key things. If you are looking for car that still have life in it for 1000$ to 2000$. Then look at the MILG first of all. should not be more then 135,000 to 140.00.(For that price hard to find but you can) The less the better. Usually if Tercel/Paseo driven vell with regual tune ups and oil changes and blah blah and clean an all. That type of car should last till about 230.000, or longer.
So lats say you found a car with 150.000 (Above # its just a giude line, you can go over a little). How can you tell the car is in some what good shape. Right of the bat look under it. See if it rust proofed. YES/NO if it has no runs or big holes doesn't matter then you are good so far. Any car that starts to go from the botton is no longer good. Bottom is good, then moving on. Pop the trunk, sniff it makes sure it doesn't smell like diry old water. If it does then make sure it didn't do dmage. Pop the dohnut cover, lift is up see if there is any bad rust under it? Is not you are still good. Moving on. Look though the holes of the wheel to see if brake are in good shape. If you see front brakes are gone, you can knok of a 100$. Get inside. Make sure all of the gauges, and signals are working. If the E-brake is not working. PARTY ON you can knok another 100$. Now the most important. Pop the hood. Key thing to look for. They was you can see how well the engine has been maintained is by. Fist cheking the ignition wires. Make sure they are some what new as they should have been changes atleast ones at that MILG. Look closely around the wire's boot, make sure there is no craks. If thre is cracks its ok, you can change them later. Right now youa re just looking at the integrily of the motor. Also chek the ignition coil wire for the same thing. Take off the oil cap, see how balck the engine is inside. It will be black unless it has been very vell takne care of. Pop rad cap see if there is any coolent, make sure there is some in the overflow tank. Look at the power and alt belts. Make sure they are still tight. Chek the air filter out on the light. It should be changed some times so make sure if not very black. If its very old and nasty that is one of the key factors that engine was not taken care of. Look at the brake fluid, make sure is some what clean. Take the oil stick out, the oil should be at max at all times. And should NOT drip/run from the stick fast/at all. If it does that car is way over due fo an oil change. If you have small tool kit and the owner will let you. Take the timing belt cover. If the timming belt is shit ANOTHER 100$. Take the spark plugs out, see if they ever been changes if not or have been look at them. Find the spurk plug chart on the net and it will tell you how the engine is doing on the inside. If you can take of the T-body air intake and look on the inside of the T-body make sure its still some what clean. Expect is to have oily dust. But so that is not blocking the ait flow. If the Tbody is very dirty that means that air filer has not been rearly changed, if ever. Even if it does look new they might just trying to catch you. Ask your dad or the owner to start the car. Preferbly do the inspection when the car is cold that way you will hear noises. When the car just been started. listen for the lifters under the cam cover make sure they all sound even. There is no knoking. Ask your dad to rev up the motor liste at higher RPM. Run around to the back, is there is smoke? shouldne't be alot infact the less the better, also look for the oil runs from under the cram cover. Not recomended to have any at all.(The leacky valve cover can suggest abuse some times but somes time they just leack) It can be fixed for 30$ though, but you can;t tell why its leacking. Look under the engine around oil pan area, look for gathering oil runs. The less the better. While you are down there look at the wheel alighment make sure tires wearing out evenly. Look at the owner for god sake. Make sure is not a teenager. As for sure he drove the shit out of this car. Look for the car from an middle aged lady. Talk to her for a little big about car, ask if she kepts any bilts from the work that has been done on her car. Or bils for that parts, if it has been changed at home. If she sound likes she was taking her car to mechanic every now and then, then its a good sign. If everything is some what good shape you are good. give her 1500 or 2000 and you got your self a car my friend. Ones you get it, come to us we will tell you how to beef it up and make it push out 200HP or more

Good luck.

Now look at how you can put in the stereo and amps and woofers and all that.

[Madcat]

You say the noise goes away/quiets down at WOT. That sound like my 'seo when I was driving with a knocking rod. Lowball him and swap in a better engine or run for the hills.


Madcat

[Infinitrium]

He has it for sale for 300 bucks now. If I knew how to swap an engine I'd do that.

[Tercel GTS]

Unless the body is really nice with good seats glass and door panels with an unbutchered wiring system I wouldn't pay more than $150.00. Engine swaps on that car are so simple you'll laugh after. Keep in mind it's going to need a lot of work that a car with less miles wouldn't.

[Infinitrium]

Actually the body is in really good shape, interior is spotless, glass is all good, wiring system hasn't been hacked apart, suspension is good, brakes are all good...IMO, that car would be well worth doing a swap.