Most Kick parts are cheap ,except sensors.
get extra on ebay.
bottom rust #1, look at top of front strut mounts underneath for rust.
if you can look at the brace on top of rear axle for heavy rust damage.
tell the you can to drive it cold (dead cold). <<< do this first, and #9 below 1st.
see if tranny shifts cold and hot.
most of the things important are hard to get.
compression test is top of my list.
#3. look at CEL lamp on Speedo top light bar.
lamp on , at key on ,no start (if not bad ECU)
then the lamp must stay off while idling or driving.
#4 Tranny noise.
#5 Tranny stall test , in drive way.
stand on brakes, press gas pedal, emg.brake on hard , look at RPM 4wd has TaCHO,
I think? the rpm shoud stay below 3000. Im looking for , bad Torque converter
bad bands or low tranny pump pressure. Tranny slip this this is.
then pull tranny dip stick if it smells brunt , is brown color, or darker (must be pink) or has metal flakes in it , walk.
Bad news:
#6 , is the BRAKE LAMP ON ALL THE TIME? bad
#7 is the OD lamp flashing. same top row of lamps, but Overdrive flash means tranny bad.
#8 white or black smoke tail pipe tip. hot. Black ,tuneup or sensor, white eng. overhaul or tranny modulator valve bad.
in this car any knocking in the engine or any tranny problems is a walk signal.
then white smoke from tail pipe HOT.
#9
This might be #1a for some.
look at coolant over flow bottle , clean & green , ok, if mud , walk. ( 0 maintenance car)
ask to look inside filter cap of RAD, (cold only never warm or hot) danger never pop lid hot ,ever ever ever.
is it full and clean and green or is is mud. (rusty colored mud) same deal.
Vehicles are complex, especially Automatics and this is my short list.
cheers.
Last edited by jtgh : 10-25-2008 at 12:58 PM.
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