Things to look at in a second hand car (seeing one in a few hrs)

[ILLaViTaR]

I'm in the market for a first car as some of you know and i'm looking at this EA fairmont ghia that has a reco motor (old engine had done 350k) and from what he said it was all good.

What things should I look at when I'm inspecting it?

He said he bought it off a mechanic last year and hardly used it so it's been sitting around for around 8 months and been started every few weeks.

It doesn't have a radio or a battery but that's ok (he's putting in a battery to show me it working).

This is it...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/EA-Fairmont-G...QQcmdZViewItem

So what should I check for?

Milk under oil cap for head gasket issue?

What if it blows smoke what colours represent what?

Anything else major I should check?

He said the only thing he could think of was that because it's been sitting around for 8 months that the rubbers on the suspension could be dried up.

[EdFairmontGhia]

if it's been sitting around pull back carpet if you can, and check for rust spot, water puddles

[ILLaViTaR]

ok will do.

I'm going to look at it now

[Gunns]

Check the spare wheel well for rust, check that the A/C works and that the trans fluid is a nice clear bright red.

[Dezza]

Check all the electrics. Power windows can be troublesome so make sure they all work. Also another area that rusts is around the rear guards, particularily in the little dogleg at the bottom between the door and wheelarch, and on the top edge.

From the pics, and his description, the interior certainly looks tidy!

[ILLaViTaR]

Ok just took a look at it.

How do I check if the transmission fluid is red? Do I just use the dipstick?

Some great things and bad things.

Good.

Engine starts first go easily.

Interior tidy (besides minor things)

Body really straight. Only bad thing is tiny paint bubble with around 1 square mm of rust on rear right real arc.

Checked the oil cap and no milk like stuff at all.
He said he's gonna WD 40 all the windows and that when I go back to look at it.

Bad.

The fluid in the brake master cylinder is almost out (3mm below the minimum)

Not sure if this is ok but it blew the tiniest bit of white smoke (hardly noticable was basically clear) but never done it again after a few restarts.

All the things like power windows and mirrors seem dried out (don't move smoothly)

The back left power window struggles to go up but goes down (probably dried out).

Aircon needs to be regassed (probably) I'm not worried about it

Few cracks in dash (I don't mid)

Cruise control buttons dried white.

[ILLaViTaR]

Talked to my parents and the idiots won't let me buy it because it's to old.

[EF_Frmnt]

the windows is an easy fix, lots of silicone spray and it lubes em up easy as.

[JC]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

Talked to my parents and the idiots won't let me buy it because it's to old.

Yep, the typical response of a little kid. If you think you're so grown up, what's to stop you buying it yourself?

Maybe they're smart, because it's too old and will cost you more than if you bought a 7 year old small car for $6k.

[Chilla]

Always the first check is, that he owns it and not some finance company. After that any decent mechanic would give it a thorough check if you threw him an hours pay, tax free!

[webby_191189]

Save up for a newer car then. I was looking at bu a VL or Vk when i was after a car but my mum wouldnt let me get one that old so i got an Ef instead.

You just have to save up. get a job if you havnt already. Ive youve got 1 try get another Im working 2 jobs and it sure as hell helps.

When getting a first car always try get something with a current roadworty certificate. Even if it has no rego your better off. If its not roadworthy you could end up spending lots and lots of money on little things here and there eg. shocks, bushs, gaskets ect.. That also says the gas tank is out of date so you will have to get it all checked out before you can go for a roadworthy. It doesn't look tp bad but you dont know what its like underneath where it will get the most thorough inspection.

[Serial_Fool]

Just use some olive oil combined with a cloth to bring the black into the white buttons. Works a treat! :

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by JC

Yep, the typical response of a little kid. If you think you're so grown up, what's to stop you buying it yourself?

Maybe they're smart, because it's too old and will cost you more than if you bought a 7 year old small car for $6k.

Well for one I aint got any mode of transport to where the car is located.

I'm 2 months off 18 so I can't drive it back.

When did I ever imply or say I thought I was "so grown up"?

[ILLaViTaR]

Also the car said falcon on the model plates under the bonnet shouldn't it say fairmont?

It had fuel injection like a fairmont, the doors, the rims, the boot sticker, climate control, digital cluster, trip computer etc.

It had all the fairmont options (not keyless entry) but is it possible it was a heavily modded falcon?

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

Also the car said falcon on the model plates under the bonnet shouldn't it say fairmont?

It had fuel injection like a fairmont, the doors, the rims, the boot sticker, climate control, digital cluster, trip computer etc.

It had all the fairmont options (not keyless entry) but is it possible it was a heavily modded falcon?

The model plate on mine also says Falcon, not Fairmont. That'll be a genuine Fairmont Ghia. Only a genuine enthusiast would muck around with getting the digital cluster to work fully on a non Ghia. Also EA Fairmont Ghias never had keyless entry from the factory.

[ILLaViTaR]

hmmm.

I really like that digital cluster with the digital speedo and car door screen.

What e series models do they come in?

[Dezza]

It came in EA to EB1 Fairmont Ghias as well as NA-NC1, DA-DC1 Fairlanes and LTDs

[ILLaViTaR]

Thanks for that.

Any reason why they stopped it in the EB II and ED and further models?

It seemed like a very good idea

[Dezza]

I'm not sure why. The digi dash is quite controversial. A lot of people prefer the S-pack style cluster, that ended up being used on the EBII-ED Ghias, while others prefer the digital dash. Personally I love the digi dash! The only criticism is that it doesn't have the oil pressure and voltage gauges, like the S-pack clusters do, but I certainly don't lose any sleep over that.

[Xplode0185]

hey mate if your still looking for a car im looking at selling my ed xr6

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by ford ed xr6

hey mate if your still looking for a car im looking at selling my ed xr6

hmmm.

That will be outta my price range and Ballarat's to far from my location.

Thanks for the offer though.