Checking a 89 Vette when buying it...
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Checking a 89 Vette when buying it...
Hello, this is my first post on the Corvette Forum, but hope not the last! I want to buy a C4 L98 Vette in Spain, my country, and for sure need your assistance.
The last owner (the second one, I thing), has replaced the gear box, engage, tires, shock absorbers, discs, brakes and some other parts the last year, so I think the car will not have mechanical problems. So my doubt is about the electrical...
I know that electrical can be a problem in the C4s, so I ask you to tell me how can I exactly check it on buying the car. Also, If you can, I will for sure appreciate any other advice about engine temperature, oil status, etc.
Thank you all very much! I will wait your response...
The last owner (the second one, I thing), has replaced the gear box, engage, tires, shock absorbers, discs, brakes and some other parts the last year, so I think the car will not have mechanical problems. So my doubt is about the electrical...
I know that electrical can be a problem in the C4s, so I ask you to tell me how can I exactly check it on buying the car. Also, If you can, I will for sure appreciate any other advice about engine temperature, oil status, etc.
Thank you all very much! I will wait your response...
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Originally Posted by mitcher
Hello, this is my first post on the Corvette Forum, but hope not the last! I want to buy a C4 L98 Vette in Spain, my country, and for sure need your assistance.
The last owner (the second one, I thing), has replaced the gear box, engage, tires, shock absorbers, discs, brakes and some other parts the last year, so I think the car will not have mechanical problems. So my doubt is about the electrical...
I know that electrical can be a problem in the C4s, so I ask you to tell me how can I exactly check it on buying the car. Also, If you can, I will for sure appreciate any other advice about engine temperature, oil status, etc.
Thank you all very much! I will wait your response...
The last owner (the second one, I thing), has replaced the gear box, engage, tires, shock absorbers, discs, brakes and some other parts the last year, so I think the car will not have mechanical problems. So my doubt is about the electrical...
I know that electrical can be a problem in the C4s, so I ask you to tell me how can I exactly check it on buying the car. Also, If you can, I will for sure appreciate any other advice about engine temperature, oil status, etc.
Thank you all very much! I will wait your response...
Not sure how you can 100% satisfy yourself on electrical problems since they can happen at anytime. But i would be sure everything electrical worked! Make sure all dash displays work! All the radio speakers work! All the seat and Mirror switches work! Be sure the cooling fans come on when you switch to AC! Be sure all the lights work and headlight moters are running without hesitation!
As to temps, I can't speak metric, but in US at cruising coolant sould be in the 180 to 190 range and oil about 15 to 20 degrees higher. Stopped and idling, coolant temps will climb fairly quickly into the low to mid 220's
Fan should come on around 220
There are some things you can do do keep it running cool!
Pull the radiator and clean any junk out from in front of it...install a 180 deg thermostat...install sitch to turn fans on at 205 degrees
welcome again
Jack
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Joined: Feb 2000
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From: BLOOMINGTON Il
check warning lights
Don't forget to turn the key to the ACC position (as far as you can go without engaging starter) and make sure that all warning lights illuminate. There have been owners who will simply remove a warning light bulb when a problem is indicated rather than repair. Otherwise, just make sure everything works as it should.
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From: West Islip New York
Originally Posted by BUTCHANDHIS96C4
Don't forget to turn the key to the ACC position (as far as you can go without engaging starter) and make sure that all warning lights illuminate.
Also, check the horn. The previous owner of my car pulled the horn fuse to 'fix' a bad alarm system.
See if you can find another Vette owner to take a look at it, another pair of eyes is a good thing. Check all the records and receipts for all the work recently done, see if there any warranties in affect.
Good Luck
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Some clarifications, PLEAAAASE! ;)
Thank you for your assistance my friend! Forget my ignorance, but I still need some clarifcations. Your help is very much appreciated for sure!
First of all... we here, in Europe (except the genuine english people), use the celsius degrees. When you speak me about degrees, must I know what type they are?
Like cruising coolant must I intend engine temperature? So, if the car is stopped, must engine temperature be at about 220 and if it is running, at around 180-190, right?
Finally, should fan come on around 220 what? Revolutions? Degrees? I do not understand what you mean
Again, thank you very much, I will wait your response...
First of all... we here, in Europe (except the genuine english people), use the celsius degrees. When you speak me about degrees, must I know what type they are?
Like cruising coolant must I intend engine temperature? So, if the car is stopped, must engine temperature be at about 220 and if it is running, at around 180-190, right?
Finally, should fan come on around 220 what? Revolutions? Degrees? I do not understand what you mean
Again, thank you very much, I will wait your response...
Originally Posted by jackdaroofer
Welcome
Not sure how you can 100% satisfy yourself on electrical problems since they can happen at anytime. But i would be sure everything electrical worked! Make sure all dash displays work! All the radio speakers work! All the seat and Mirror switches work! Be sure the cooling fans come on when you switch to AC! Be sure all the lights work and headlight moters are running without hesitation!
As to temps, I can't speak metric, but in US at cruising coolant sould be in the 180 to 190 range and oil about 15 to 20 degrees higher. Stopped and idling, coolant temps will climb fairly quickly into the low to mid 220's
Fan should come on around 220
There are some things you can do do keep it running cool!
Pull the radiator and clean any junk out from in front of it...install a 180 deg thermostat...install sitch to turn fans on at 205 degrees
welcome again
Jack
Not sure how you can 100% satisfy yourself on electrical problems since they can happen at anytime. But i would be sure everything electrical worked! Make sure all dash displays work! All the radio speakers work! All the seat and Mirror switches work! Be sure the cooling fans come on when you switch to AC! Be sure all the lights work and headlight moters are running without hesitation!
As to temps, I can't speak metric, but in US at cruising coolant sould be in the 180 to 190 range and oil about 15 to 20 degrees higher. Stopped and idling, coolant temps will climb fairly quickly into the low to mid 220's
Fan should come on around 220
There are some things you can do do keep it running cool!
Pull the radiator and clean any junk out from in front of it...install a 180 deg thermostat...install sitch to turn fans on at 205 degrees
welcome again
Jack
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 379
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From: Buffalo Grove IL
The temperatures he mentioned are in degrees Farenheit. Doing a rough conversion, you should see the radiator fan come on at about 105 degrees Celsius.
I'm assuming from your post that what they call engine temperature there is what we call coolant temperature here. While just driving down the road at 100 to 120 km/h, you should see a temperature of around 90 degrees Celsius.
The tips people mentioned about checking all the lights on the dash before the car starts and making sure the horn works are excellent!! Make sure you do that!
Ben
I'm assuming from your post that what they call engine temperature there is what we call coolant temperature here. While just driving down the road at 100 to 120 km/h, you should see a temperature of around 90 degrees Celsius.
The tips people mentioned about checking all the lights on the dash before the car starts and making sure the horn works are excellent!! Make sure you do that!
Ben
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A last question, please!
Thank you so much Ben!
A last question: the owner saw me that, at high speeds, the Vette vibrated a lot and then he decided to repair it and change some parts. Afther that, the vibration was reduced to a minimum, but still existed. The last owner visited the Vette factory again, but they said that, for a car of this power, it is normal a minimum vibration...
...it is true?
A last question: the owner saw me that, at high speeds, the Vette vibrated a lot and then he decided to repair it and change some parts. Afther that, the vibration was reduced to a minimum, but still existed. The last owner visited the Vette factory again, but they said that, for a car of this power, it is normal a minimum vibration...
...it is true?
Originally Posted by bmalec
The temperatures he mentioned are in degrees Farenheit. Doing a rough conversion, you should see the radiator fan come on at about 105 degrees Celsius.
I'm assuming from your post that what they call engine temperature there is what we call coolant temperature here. While just driving down the road at 100 to 120 km/h, you should see a temperature of around 90 degrees Celsius.
The tips people mentioned about checking all the lights on the dash before the car starts and making sure the horn works are excellent!! Make sure you do that!
Ben
I'm assuming from your post that what they call engine temperature there is what we call coolant temperature here. While just driving down the road at 100 to 120 km/h, you should see a temperature of around 90 degrees Celsius.
The tips people mentioned about checking all the lights on the dash before the car starts and making sure the horn works are excellent!! Make sure you do that!
Ben
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From: W.V.C. Utah
Originally Posted by mitcher
Thank you so much Ben!
A last question: the owner saw me that, at high speeds, the Vette vibrated a lot and then he decided to repair it and change some parts. Afther that, the vibration was reduced to a minimum, but still existed. The last owner visited the Vette factory again, but they said that, for a car of this power, it is normal a minimum vibration...
...it is true?
A last question: the owner saw me that, at high speeds, the Vette vibrated a lot and then he decided to repair it and change some parts. Afther that, the vibration was reduced to a minimum, but still existed. The last owner visited the Vette factory again, but they said that, for a car of this power, it is normal a minimum vibration...
...it is true?
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Originally Posted by mitcher
Thank you so much Ben!
A last question: the owner saw me that, at high speeds, the Vette vibrated a lot and then he decided to repair it and change some parts. Afther that, the vibration was reduced to a minimum, but still existed. The last owner visited the Vette factory again, but they said that, for a car of this power, it is normal a minimum vibration...
...it is true?
A last question: the owner saw me that, at high speeds, the Vette vibrated a lot and then he decided to repair it and change some parts. Afther that, the vibration was reduced to a minimum, but still existed. The last owner visited the Vette factory again, but they said that, for a car of this power, it is normal a minimum vibration...
...it is true?
Please tell us more about the vibration!!!
I can run 120mph and get no vibration in my 88 rdstr with top down! And I have 120,000 miles on it!
What did former owner replace to solve vibration?
Why is there still vibration?
seeya
Jack
