Going to look at a C4 here in the next few days, any tips on what to look for? I work on all my own stuff and am all set with the engine/trans, mostly looking for C4 only problems. It's an 86 coupe with 86k.


Thx

 

The paint seems like the most important item on a C4 due to the cost of repainting. Also look at all the weatherstripping around the doors & windows. Ask them if you can test drive it through a drive through car wash and then you will find the leaks before you buy it.lol Look at the filler neck area on top of the fuel tank,they are prone to rusting there. 86k the drive train should all be OK if it was maintained well and not mistreated but all the vacuum lines will need replacing if they have not been done by now along with a tune up. Check to see if the headlights open & close properly. Test out the heat ac controls to see if defrost and all other modes work correctly. Check the windows by rolling both all the way up & down. My main word of advise is not to go in too deep because the resale sucks unless it is a museum quality car. There is not a better driving car of that time period than C4's in my opinion.

 

Cool & thx, that's a good checklist.

 

I agree with what the above poster said but I would like to add to it.

Make sure the windshield wipers don't lock together or go off the molding when they're on. Make sure the spray works too.

Test all interior lights, exterior lights, make sure the back up lights work.

Make sure the headlights work and the adjustable seats and mirrors.

Check the signals and hazards because the flashers can get stuck after 27 years.

Turn on the radio and make sure the antenna goes up.

If it is a manual, make sure that it goes into overdrive, and stays in overdrive. It will need to be running above 160 degrees in order to go into overdrive.

Check to make sure that the vacuum lines are not cracked or torn, same things with cooling hoses.

On the throttle body, there should be a screw that is capped off for adjusting the position of the throttle plate, if the cap is removed, ask why. People tamper with this sometimes to get rid of idle fluctuations but, an idle fluctuation means there is something wrong.

Make sure the check engine light is off.

Look underneath the car to make sure no one jacked a hole in the floor or the rear storage compartments.

Make sure you have your spare tire and your lug nut lock key!

Also, listen for knocks or ticks, and ask how frequently the oil was changed.

Then take it for a test drive and listen for clunks or looseness.

And most importantly, test to see if it has power. I know of a few c4s that don't have all their power that they used to have, and it can be a number of things. That car should do 0-60 in under 6 seconds, if it doesn't feel like 6 seconds, something is wrong.

It should not bog either when you accelerate.

And I'm sure other people will come in with some other tips for you as well.

Good luck and hopefully you'll end up with a nice c4!

 

Ask for maintenance records

 

More good points, thx guys. Should be going to check one out here in a few, been talking with a few potentials.

 

Well checked a few out and I'll add to the list, pretty sure the last one I looked at was a flood or hurricane car that got cleanned up.

-make sure doors close good and don't need a super slam LOL

-check to see if it's a glass or plastic top(look for scratches)

 

Make sure you know how the parking brake works.

 

Hi boot the tops are all made of plastic on all years of the C4

 

Coulda swore when I was researching tops there was 3 kinds, idk I do rem people complaing bout a brand of tops that were plastic.

 

All C4 tops are acrylic see through or solid fiberglass. 3rd gen Camaros and firebirds had both glass and acrylic T-tops.

 

Yah looked again think a lot of people refering to them as glass and complaining bout an aftermarket ones led me to that false conclusion.

Thx