From criagslist: http://denver.craigslist.org/for/180601881.html

 

I'd hope it's a timing belt or some such thing. I sent the guy a PM, so we'll see how he responds. I think I can see a 5spd in there. I've been wanting to trade up the sedan for a wagon, and this could be the right price!

 

Picutre this: White 92 Loyale sedan towing Blue 92 Wagon down highway 36. Just Kidding, although I wonder....

Hah, I e-mailed them last night about it. I was curious, mostly cuz I'm helping a girl look for a car.

 

HI,

the check engine light came on and it was making a clicking noise. It does crank over when you try to start it, it sounds like it will start but it doesnt.

 

That was their reply.

hey pat

i got new tires on my blazer so if you need a tow vehical let me know and aquire a trailer and i'd be glad to help

Shoup, ya beat me to it! Are you going to go check it out? If someone actually needs the car, I say go for it, otherwise I'll check into it more.

 

Thanks for the offer jeff!

This is what I got as a response:

 

"When you try to start it, it acts like it is going to start but wont."

Hey Pat I am glad to hear you are looking at this car.If you do end up getting it I would be glad to help you since you live so close to me.

You can have it Pat. The girl who needs a car is being ultra picky and won't take it.

Cool! I sent them an e-mail back about it. I'm thinking about going some night this week, anyone want to come with? I gotta get a checklist going of things to look at when you can't drive a car. I figure a car that won't start that's offered for $500 obo is worth about $3 - $350.

craigslist is working its magic already, e-mail reply says someone is looking at it in the next hour, we'll see what happens.

Try for cheaper than $3-350. I got my wagon with a bad driveshaft and worn rear wheels for $200, and it *ran* like a top...

No word yet, but someone else just posted an 87 GL 4WD for $400, and it's pretty close to me. When it rains it pours!!

Lost out on both of these. Craigslists really knows how to move em'. The wagon is "promised" and the 87 GL wasn't listed by the time I got home. Oh well, maybe this is the subaru gods telling me to keep the sedan on the road. There needs to be a balence of 1 sedan for every 187 wagons or so.

exactly maybe you should just do a 4wd swap:headbang: :brow:

I've got 4wd, just notr d/r, which I can live with.

The same person with the $500 wagon e-mailed me back. She relisted it on craigslist because the person she promised it to didn't show. Maybe it's me but the e-mails seem kind of desperate, so I think I'll make the trek up to Louisville to check it out.

 

So it acts like it will start, but wont. Hmm, spark, fuel, & compression, there's a lot of could be's there.

 

So if you were going to check out a car that wouldn't start, what would you check?

 

CVs, Tires, brake pads, belt / hose condition, rust....any tips to check transmission condition?

I would probly bring some starting fluid or intake cleaner and spray it in the intake and crank it and see if it fires.Also bring a spark plug wrench and pull one or 2 of those and see what they look like and maybe check it for spark when you pull one of them.

So if you were going to check out a car that wouldn't start, what would you check?

 

First, pop the distributor cap and watch the rotor when you crank it. If the rotor doesn't turn, it is probably the timing belt on that side, or the screw fell out of the rotor. I've driven myself half insane before trying to figure out what was wrong and it turned out it was that #%$@# screw.

I was just about to leave, checked my e-mail to get the ph#, and low and behold, it's sold. Dang, what a run around this has been. Oh well, glad to be done with the whole deal anyway.