Should I buy this Paseo?

[turp23]

A guy at work is selling his 1997 Paseo with a 140K on the clock. He let me take it home to check it out, and I have to let him know tomorrow. Price is $800!

Interior is in decent shape, but needs a good cleaning. He was a smoker .

As soon as I got home with it, I did a compression check while the engine was still hot. These are my readings:

2 Cranks w/out (forgot too) depressing gas pedal :
1 2 3 4
134 160 115 135

2 Cranks w/pedal depressed:
1 2 3 4
160 170 150 140

5 Cranks w/pedal depressed:
1 2 3 4
195 200 200 200

10 Cranks w/pedal depressed:
1 2 3 4
225 225 225 225

My main concern is not having to rebuild the engine. My wife will hemmorage if I do. It does not smoke, but I knew the car had an oil leak before I thought about buying it. The lower part of the timing cover is caked up with oil residue, as well as the alternator. A little is on top of the valve cover, but not as much as the lower part of the motor.

Check engine light is on, and these are the codes I pulled, keeping in mind the car has a bazooka can and a CAI:

PO135
PO141
MIL ON
MONITORS
3 INC
CATALYST
O2 SENSOR
EGR
4 READY
MISFIRE
FUEL
COMP

What does all that mean? I am guessing it is because of the aftermarket exhaust and CAI.

I considered this purchase because this car is in better physical shape than my 94 terc, which I know inside and out and have rebuilt once. I thought I had everything under control, until I popped the hood on the seo and saw that it is a different motor.

Two major problems I see, oil leak, and it is missing a rear window.

What do you think?

[96paseo]

The price is good. Oil seals are likely cause of your leak(oil pump, crank, cam). Compression numbers look good. IIRC, those codes are 02 circuit slow response bank 2 and egr insufficient flow. Please correct me if i'm wrong. Pull your spark plugs and check them. Look for any signs of white ash deposits on the ground electrodes as that will signify that its using some oil. Get the car to a good tune before assesing what the CAI and muffler may be doing to it. Do a trans service just in case it hasn't been done. Is it a 5-speed? Cleaning the EGR isn't too bad. Make sure to clean the port that goes to the bottom of the modulator.

[turp23]

Ok, no problem on the seals. I can fix that, and I will get some pics once I re-remember how to post them. The plugs are defintiely white/ash. How do I fix that? And define using oil, as in needs new rings/stem seals or because of the intake/exhaust? I will return the car to stock if need be, simply because this is my commuter car. MPG's is whats important and a healthy motor not using any oil. It is however, fun to drive with all that noise! And yes, it is a 5 speed. I drove half way home before I realized I had another gear left. Damn Terc!

[turp23]

Thanks for answering by the way, I appreciate it.

[turp23]

What year car can I pull a rear window from that will fit? 1993 maybe?

[turp23]

Bought the car, title says 1996. Will the rear window from a 93 fit in a 96?

[Madcat]

96 is the 1st year of the 2nd gens. So no.

Congrats on the 'Seo

Pics...Pics..I demand pics LOL

Jim

[turp23]

Jim, whats up dude! Tell me how to post pics, I forgot. Yo have to promise not to laugh though, back window is taped up, and I got to fix the oil leak. Where is the oil coming from that is turning my spark plug tips white?

[96paseo]

Originally Posted by turp23

Jim, whats up dude! Tell me how to post pics, I forgot. Yo have to promise not to laugh though, back window is taped up, and I got to fix the oil leak. Where is the oil coming from that is turning my spark plug tips white?

Oil consumption is likely caused by the valve stem seals. Its a typical problem for the E series engines when over the 100k mark. Unfortunately, fixing this usually requires pulling the head which means you will replace the head gasket as well as send the head to the machine shop to check for flatness. Do a compression check to be sure its not the rings. Go to www.car-part.com and search for a rear window. Otherwise its off to a safelite near you.

[turp23]

96Paseo, I did a compression check, the numbers are listed in my first post above. I had a collision center check with a glass company, they said the glass was discontinued. Didnt think that was possible. LMK what you think about the compression numbers I listed.

[96paseo]

Originally Posted by turp23

96Paseo, I did a compression check, the numbers are listed in my first post above. I had a collision center check with a glass company, they said the glass was discontinued. Didnt think that was possible. LMK what you think about the compression numbers I listed.

LMAO I forgot to look. Those numbers look good. Try talking to safelight. I had to wait a while for them to find a windshield for me but they did.

[Madcat]

Using photobucket/photoshack etc. either click on the icon that looks like mountains and enter the link the sites give you or type in [IMG]URL[/IMG]


Jim

[turp23]

What about the old saying, if you rebuild the top, and not the bottom it will fail not long after? Can I get by with out rebuilding the bottom half?

[turp23]

Spent some time with the car yesterday. Lower timing cover, oil pan, and alternator are covered n oil. Oil is also dripping from the front of the oil pan, and the a/c compressor.

Cooling fans do not come on, so it ran hot on me. The fans only come on if the a/c is on, or if i remove the connector from the switch at the thermo housing.

The rear o2 sensor is hard wired under the car, in a pigtail conglomaration with barrel connectors. I do not like this, and is prob what is throwing one of the codes above.

To sum things up, Im sure the lower seals and oil pump gaskets need to be replaced. But how far do I go? Spark plugs are whitish, do I have the head reworked? If I have the head off, do I go after the rings as well, or is the compression good enough? Do I leave everything alone but the seals, and do I pull the engine just for that? I dunno.