I should look for?

It has 120k highway miles on it, anything specific I should look at that may fail soon?

I know that with this many miles its kinda hard to tell just from this how well off it is, but are there any parts on the LT1 that are pretty predictable to fail with a lot of miles?

Thanks guys and girls, hope this car checks out great! Wish me luck!

 

brakes
optispark (drive the car)
intake manifold leak
tapping valves
smoke coming from exhaust pipes
bent frame
discoloration in body panels (possible accident)
alignment
leaks or wet areas under the car

Make sure to look at the service records for the car. Anyone reputable will have that information readily available. If you meet him somewhere, ask him to bring the repair records for the car. I ALWAYS want to see repair records before considering the purchase of a used car. If he/she can't provide this information then look elsewhere.

 

Drive it Drive it Drive it. Take it through the entire rpm band just as if you were racing. Check for leaks underneath. And a big one is to check the back of the intake manifold for the infamous oil leak. Just feel all the way in the back and see if you get oil on your fingers.

Also, look at the innner tire wells on the back and look to see if there is a lot of rubber clumps on it. (Burn-outs).

Check for alignment and throughly inspect the tires to make sure that they are wearing evenly, if not you can have bent steering components.

Get as much info out of the seller as you can about the vehicles history.

Good Luck, is this your first 4th gen?

 

Yeah, to elaborate on the optispark a little bit. If the car seems like its missing at high rpms, or at any rpms for that matter, it could be the opti. Ask him if its been replaced. Some optis go with as little as thousands of miles, some go for more than 150K, its really a crap shoot. Also, stick your hand behind the manifold and feel if there is oil, if there is, then you prob got a manifold leak, which isnt the end of the world, but its not good. Also, if there are fluids leaking from the front of the vehicle, it might be the water pump, which would be really bad, especially since that will not only necessitate a change of water pump but also a new opti probably, considering all the coolant would be leakin on the opti.

 

As far as the smoke goes, you will get a little smoke up high in the rpm band. It is normal. But a lot of smoke is BADDDD and stay away from it.

The bent frame can be checked by having a friend drive behind you and pretty much just see if its riding correctly.

 

wow... a lot of information.

thanks guys, very very VERY much appreciated. im going have to print this thread out just so i remember everything


yeah, my first 4th gen. actually, my first american car at all. all yota's before this.

 

Ask for receipts on parts thats he's replace, he should've kept records on this...................with that many miles if hasn't replace some of the more expensive parts you might have some room to
lower his asking price.
tony

 

$5500

from what they have said so far, it runs great. i'll see tonite if it actually does i guess.

 

well, in all honesty I would say that that is not a "killer deal" BUT...... I paid that much for my car a year ago and it has proven to be a GREAT vehicle even with all the miles.