Testing car thats for sale

[Coolshadey2000]

Ok for starters hello to everyone, I am new here and hopefully will be here for life. I am looking to buy a 91 Eagle Talon tsi awd. I know the jist of what to look over however I am still new to dsm. The car has been sitting for at least 2.5 years, should I be hesitant about trying to run it because of that? I plan on doing a full compression test, and rundown the entire car. The guy selling it doesn't know anything about cars and here is what he said, It needs a head gasket, and a transfer case. Well I started asking questions and his idea of a head gasket blowing is the car losing all power going up an exit ramp, as if it was in neutral, car running and revving good but not going any where. This leads me to believe that the transmissions blown, or the bolts that hold the flywheel on were broke off. Any other ideas? As for the transmission goes he had another one installed by a man who had one, after doing so he was told that the transfer case for that transmission was bad, and he would find him one, after that the transmission guy was never heard of. When all of this happened, the "head gasket blowing" he was driving it only in two wheel drive due to a lack of transfer case. Could the guy have installed a junk two wheel drive transmission and it blew? Any ideas? Sorry for it being so long but I really need advice being new to everything and what I have stated it what I have been told. Thank for any advice I really appreciate it.

 

[DSMjrv]

welcome to the forums, how much are you trying to buy that car for?

 

[coryd]

first off just look under the car and see if has a fwd or awd transmission....

 

[coryd]

oo and as for starting it, pull the dip stick and check the oil, if that looks ok then you should be fine to at least start it for a moment, but if u want to let it run and warm up then make sure there is coolant in there too.

 

[Coolshadey2000]

I planed on smelling the oil and checking all of the fluids, I also planned on checking the transmission out when I check the under body, I havent been able to look at it that throughly yet. The head is rebuilt and it has a new timing belt, receipts to prove. I am not new to cars, just new to eagles, dsm in general.

 

[Zmann42087]

read this --> DSM buyers guide

 

[Defiant]

The car has been sitting for at least 2.5 years, should I be hesitant about trying to run it because of that?

Do not even think of turning it over without doing a belt replacement job first. All belts.