Important! : Help with car purchase

1st February 2011, 22:51

Hey guys,

Looking for some help, I looked through the forum and didn't find anything on this....(I looked at buying a VTS today 2003). It needs some work...

The engine management light was on, the engine looked a bit oily/greasy at one part and there was a noise from the fan.... any advice?

I took some pictures what do you guys think?

Also I think I will need to change the brakes - how much?

Also needs to be serviced ( don't think its been done for 16k miles) - how much? and also has not had camblet changed so would like to do this, how much?

Sorry if these are noob questions as I am new to this,

Thanks in advance!

1st February 2011, 22:53

I can't post up the pictures as they are not on any websites?

1st February 2011, 23:07

Upload to photobucket or similair then use the img code

1st February 2011, 23:10

put the images on tinypic.com mate and post the image codes up.

brakes you can do for around 50 quid front and rear.
service it yourself for under 50 including a really good quality oil.

timing belt depends on who you take it to and weather your going to change the water pump at the same time.

as for the dirty oily engine is it just wear and tear or is it a oil leak if its just dirty wear and tear then should be ok.

but is it wise looking at a car that you don't know if it has any history and not sure if its been well maintained or if it hasn't had a service in the last 5 years.

1st February 2011, 23:38

Hey thanks for the advice,

These are the pics....

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Re the history, the car has been stamped up to 41k, so 3 services, it is now at 70K. I think it has been serviced at 54K when the mot was done as the computer states its been 16500 miles since last service?

Thanks in advance!

1st February 2011, 23:39

1st February 2011, 23:48

that looks like its just the rocker cover gasket that's gone but i cant be sure.
you cant get the gaskets for them now so you have to make your own using silicone gasket glue.

or the other option is to fit the jp4 engine covers as you can get the gaskets for them and also they bring the engine back upto date with the modern look.

your best bet mate is to find a mate or a bloke from the local garage to look at it with you to have a check over just remember its a saxo so there is bound to be some faults.

2nd February 2011, 16:19

Hey thanks for the advice,

Is there anything else I should be checking? How would i clean an re-seal this as i'm not very technically knowledgable? (also won't be able to get anyone knowledgable down with me)

Just worried about getting the car and the engine blowing up or something? or whether that is connected to the engine management light?

the car is fairly cheap at 1100 but i think after tax, mot, brakes, service, cambelt and sorting the oil leak out i'd be as well as buying a sorted one?

Thanks in advance

2nd February 2011, 16:34

Hi mate, looking at them pictures, it just like its leaking from the rocker cover gasket. Simple to fix with limited knowledge. ~£20 if that.

Brakes, as said ~£50 for front and rear.

Cambelt + Water Pump, ~ £100

Service, ~£50

Engine Management Light, (probably) new post cat lambda, ~£40 or pre cat lambda, ~£40 or catalytic converter, ~£80.

Tax + MOT, nothing much you can do to reduce them

Sounds OK mate for £1100, if your happy with the car then it's all good, nothing you have said seem like major problems..

3rd February 2011, 00:18

Cheers, thats what I needed to hear!

3rd February 2011, 11:55

I also think it'd be a wise idea to check the for sale section in here, some very good VTS's for sale. Where are you based?

3rd February 2011, 12:01

Get an HPI check done on it and I think the RAC ,AA still do vehicle inspections with a report.If th current owner is happy with an inspection it means he/she has nothing to hide & you might be able to haggle on the price if the inspection shows up anything.

Steve.