Buying advice 2002 v6 duel fuel

[4x4ewok]

Brains trust,

I am going to have a look at a 2002 V6 duel fuel tomorrow and I am looking for advice on what to look for.

Bit of background, if I purchase this I will be upgrading from a 99 NL Exceed V6 duel fuel which has a blown head gasket, needs new shocks and possibly torsion bars, brakes are fading and the exterior and interior are in average condition with a few spots of surface rust.

The one I am looking at also has a blown head gasket and has been taken off the road by the owner as he feels it is too expensive to fix. Pictures I have looked at and the discussion on the phone indicate that this is also an exceed in quite good condition inside and out. The gas tank is fitted in the rear cargo area where the seats fold however those seats are still fitted (which is good for me since we have 4 kids). It seems to be bog standard with the only accessory a towbar.

Just wondering what things I should be looking for when I look at it? It is unregistered so I won't be able to do a big drive to check for the transfer lights, is there another way to check if this is playing up? he says it is currently running smoothly but is pushing water out of the radiator, so I should be able to check most things.

I am an aircraft mechanic by trade and know my way around a car so i should be able to check most things, but some experienced direction will be much appreciated.

As I type this out I think I will be mad not to do the swap if everything checks out.

Thanks for your help

[Roofchop]

I think you can select 4h 4hlc and 4llc etc stationary with ignition on, I will check in a mo.....


NM is more refined than NL



Are you planning the head job yourself or getting a mech to do it?
Also factor in could be a cracked head/need to skim them anyway then crack test....


Will report back re 4x4 lights in a min or so....
Dave

[4x4ewok]

I will be doing the work myself, I did the timing belt etc on my NL when I bought it so shouldn't be too much of an issue.

[Roofchop]

OK, just checked.


I was already in 4H.


Ignition on, no start, wait for check lights to do their thing. (4 greens and centre amber lights should self test) Then settle to 2 rear greens if in 2H (for me in 4h I have 4 greens)

selected all the positions 4hlc 4llc back to 4h all went perfect (lights going on as they should) you can hear the electric motor on the transfer case whizzing and selecting various modes.
Only thing is when you go to 2H the front 2 lights flash as you need engine running/vacuum to disengage the front diff!


So you can test the functionality of the transfer case switches without a test drive.
The switches seem to be the most common faliure as they often never get "exercised"
If you to this test and it's good, then do a quick start to check the front diff disengagement.
2 vacuum operated solenoids under the airbox, and a "vac actuator on the diff" (and a bunch of rubber vac lines)


If any of the above fail, they are all easy cheap fixes... but use as bargaining power!


Is it manual or auto? Autos have various issues, manuals are great!



When does the gas tank need re tested?



Has it got service history? When was timing belt done etc..


What is he asking$$ has to be cheap.


Wreckers would offer him jack shit.... Probably been quoted $$$$$ to repair it hence the sale...


I got mine for $1500 with a weird knock (again owners were quoted $$$$ to fix or new engine required.) it was a $30 tensioner pulley!


If you get it, do the heads, timing belt/pulleys & water pump (plugs while manifold is off etc)



Go and grab a bargain......


Cheers
Dave

[4x4ewok]

It is an auto.

He is asking a fairly low price, but sounds like he has no much of an idea, so I am pretty sure I can use a few things to talk him down a bit.

When I asked about the service history, he wasn't real sure so I am hoping to get a bit more information out of him face to face.

I really need to go over it and check a few things for myself but I am thinking for the right price should be a good buy.

Apparently the mechanic quoted him close to $4000 to fix it up. Seems a bit steep to me for what he has told me is wrong with it so either the mechanic over quoting or there may be more wrong that he hasn't mentioned.

either way doing the work myself, for the right price should be a good buy.

[4x4ewok]

Well I bit the bullet and bought it. Got it for $1300.

The guy I bought it off, bought it at auction a few weeks ago, drove it home to the mountains, cooked it on the way so got NRMA to tow it to the mechanics who has had it since and diagnosed the blown head gasket.

Looks like it was a family bus until 2014 when new suspension was put in it and I would guess used for it's intended purpose. It has a little bit of damage underneath and I am guessing the previous owners never cleaned underneath as there is a bit of surface rust under it.

I am pretty sure a good clean and a rust treatment should fix this problem.

The rest of the car interior and exterior is straight, clean and reasonably undamaged. The gas system is direct injection and the gas bottle was re-tested at the end of last year, so I am pretty happy with that.

Needs a new set of tyres, but the set on my NL are still pretty good, so I will probably just swap these over.

The engine has the usual oil leaks and the timing belt is 45K old so I will inspect it when I pull everything apart and make a decision from there.

I wasn't able to start it or check the electrics as the battery was flat and I am not sure what the mechanic has done to the engine as the radiator appeared empty and the TPS had been removed (not sure why he would do this for a blown head gasket). The car is still in the mechanic's driveway so I am hoping I can have a bit of a chat to him tomorrow when I pick it up.

The gearbox and transfer case are the big unknowns at this point, but he said it drove fine and seemed to shift gears smoothly so here is hoping.

Overall I don't think it will be a huge amount of work to get it cleaned up and back on the road, so I am pretty happy with the purchase.

[Roofchop]

Nice one!


I reckon the previous owner probably blew the gasket then put some magic goop in there to get it through the auction....


Time for some skinned knuckles now...