am looking for a checklist to make sure that I check all the important stuff when inspecting a used ZX to purchase. Also, any hints and tricks to make sure that I check all of the common problems that might otherwise be overlooked. I tried to create my own, but i know i am leaving a lot of important stuff out. If anyone knows of a link to one or have one, I would appreciate it.
The Good Twin
Here's a couple of my own...
Take the car somewhere you can get it in the air.
-Look for rust in the wheel wells & joints of the body
-Leaking fluids
-Color / Smell / Look of fluids
-Interior condition (rust under the carpet), obvious tampering w/ speedometer, etc.
yada yada yada... just do a good check over of all the main points of the car.
Take the car somewhere you can get it in the air.
-Look for rust in the wheel wells & joints of the body
-Leaking fluids
-Color / Smell / Look of fluids
-Interior condition (rust under the carpet), obvious tampering w/ speedometer, etc.
yada yada yada... just do a good check over of all the main points of the car.
Doesn't post much...
I don't know of a "check list" persay, but I can tell you some major things to do and look for when shopping for a 280ZX.
Rust: Rust was not kind to these cars. Check it thoroughly for rust. The base of the windshield, the base of the rear window, the rocker panels are notorious rust areas. However, the whole car is proned to rusting. Check it over carefully. Look for bubbles in the paint that may indicate that a rusted out area was half-hazardly repaired and painted over.
NEVER LOOK AT NIGHT. Always make sure that it is daylight when you go to check out a car. A lot of things don't show up at night.
Take it for a hearty test drive. Don't just go around the block. Make sure you find some hills to see how it does under a load. These motors are pretty well bullet proof, but rare as it may seem, a head gasket problem can be a serious bummer and won't neccassarily show itself during a casual drive. This is why you want to get it on some nice steep hills and out on the open road and under a load if you can. If it knocks under load... not good. Drive it long enough to see where the operating temp settles in at. After about a ten minute drive, it should stay right about in the middle (or just below) of the guage. Any higher... not a good sign.
Check all the electrical stuff. Lights, turn signals, wipers etc. Electrical issiues are also very common, especially if someone has replaced the factory radio.
Check the tires for uneven wear. If the front tires are worn badly on the inner or outer edge, it probably has some worn out front end parts (Very common). Not a big deal, but an added expense you may not want to take on right after buying a car.
INTERIOR: The interior parts on these cars are notoriously cheap. If you happen to find a car with a good interior... it's probably a good car to buy. That is a certain sign that the car was well cared for. I have seen many mechanically sound 280ZX's with pretty bad interiors... They just don't hold up well to the elements. If it the inside is good then it shows the previous owner/owners went the extra mile.
Aside from all that, just don't let your heart speak for your head. Use common sense and you will do just fine.
Good luck!! Post pictures when you get one
Rod.
Rust: Rust was not kind to these cars. Check it thoroughly for rust. The base of the windshield, the base of the rear window, the rocker panels are notorious rust areas. However, the whole car is proned to rusting. Check it over carefully. Look for bubbles in the paint that may indicate that a rusted out area was half-hazardly repaired and painted over.
NEVER LOOK AT NIGHT. Always make sure that it is daylight when you go to check out a car. A lot of things don't show up at night.
Take it for a hearty test drive. Don't just go around the block. Make sure you find some hills to see how it does under a load. These motors are pretty well bullet proof, but rare as it may seem, a head gasket problem can be a serious bummer and won't neccassarily show itself during a casual drive. This is why you want to get it on some nice steep hills and out on the open road and under a load if you can. If it knocks under load... not good. Drive it long enough to see where the operating temp settles in at. After about a ten minute drive, it should stay right about in the middle (or just below) of the guage. Any higher... not a good sign.
Check all the electrical stuff. Lights, turn signals, wipers etc. Electrical issiues are also very common, especially if someone has replaced the factory radio.
Check the tires for uneven wear. If the front tires are worn badly on the inner or outer edge, it probably has some worn out front end parts (Very common). Not a big deal, but an added expense you may not want to take on right after buying a car.
INTERIOR: The interior parts on these cars are notoriously cheap. If you happen to find a car with a good interior... it's probably a good car to buy. That is a certain sign that the car was well cared for. I have seen many mechanically sound 280ZX's with pretty bad interiors... They just don't hold up well to the elements. If it the inside is good then it shows the previous owner/owners went the extra mile.
Aside from all that, just don't let your heart speak for your head. Use common sense and you will do just fine.
Good luck!! Post pictures when you get one
Rod.
Registered User
make sure its a COLD START!!! they have quirks with cold starting...so go out feel the engine and exhaust and see if its cold...not warm.COLD!!! fire it up and it should run nice...
