So I found d this 99 eclipse spyder with 111xxx miles on it and its and auto. But they said its not running and that it Had overheating issues, replaced thermostat, radiator, cooling sensor, Battery, Car has been sitting since, will turn over, but will not fire, Radiator fluid smells alittle like gas. I'm thinking headgasket but not sure. I'm interested in buying it mostly because she only wants 400$ for it. What do you all think?

I'd buy it for 400 bucks and fix it.

Buy it! Then checked the compression before anything. If it had overheating issues, probably be bad head gasket maybe even a warped head.

Good advice from the previous poster. Wish I would of done that with mine before I started tearing everything down. I am sure you have probably already heard this already but budget for a timing kit/fluids even if the compression is good. Good luck

Okay sweet, thanks so much my fellow dsmers!! I'll see if there's a way I can get home for cheap.

What all fluids should I replace?

Okay i gota a little more info she said also "The car never blew smoke it indicate a blown head while it was running.. I believe the original over heating issue came from a blown fan fuse under the hood..when I purchased the car it had some shady wiring from the fan to the fuse box. But the car was purchased in the winter which the heat was ran and I didn't experience overheating till the following summer..which I was still fine to drive it as long as I used the heat fan. It wasn't till after I sat in road work and overheated..replaced the thermostat and others till I realized the fan wasn't working..but I think the actual over heat at that point was too much. At that point it began acting up until it quit running.." So you all still think headgasket?

I would double check coolan level and make sure your fans are turning on when the car gets warm. As far as fluids go, personally I would do a collant flush, change engine oil, transmission fluid, rear end etc. That way you know everything is fresh. Check out vfaq.com for some detailed information regarding specfic fluid types for recommendations. Everyone seems to havea different preference. With a headgasket goes I was always under the impression that if the headgasket was leaking, your oil should be milky in color. Not sure that the coolant would smell like gas. Maybe somebody more experienced can verify that. Dont get frustrated like I tend to do. And always remember you are smarter than a piece of machinery. .

I'll go and look at it tomorrow or Monday and see if the oil is milky. The headgasket could cause it not to start couldn't it?

I wouldnt think that would cause a no start unless it was really bad. Hell my first car had a blown headgasket and I drove that car for two years without fixing it haha

Lol yeah, I'm just trying to figure out why its not starting.

Anyone have any idea why its not starting?

If you have fuel and air the only thing that could be missing is spark. I would test your plugs to make sure they are firing.

StanleyDSM said:

So I found d this 99 eclipse spyder with 111xxx miles on it and its and auto. But they said its not running and that it Had overheating issues, replaced thermostat, radiator, cooling sensor, Battery, Car has been sitting since, will turn over, but will not fire, Radiator fluid smells alittle like gas. I'm thinking headgasket but not sure. I'm interested in buying it mostly because she only wants 400$ for it. What do you all think?

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Do a compression test on it

Do an compression test inspect the spark plugs for discolouration also From a cold start the engine up remove the rad cap see if the water boils with rad cap off and also do a test with coolant for hydrocarbon in the coolant to see if you've go a blown head gasket also check the oil for suspected coolant and oil mixture

StanleyDSM said:

Anyone have any idea why its not starting?

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burnt valves could be a reason milky oil or not milky oil is no way to diag a blown head gasket the gasket can pop between cylinders and not a drop of coolant would reach the oil it all depends on the way the gasket breaks down i would recomend a compression test and make sure to pull all the spark plugs and prop open the throttle prior to starting test also a leakdown test would be good for burnt valves or bad rings good luck take your time and spend your money once

Pacey said:

If you have fuel and air the only thing that could be missing is spark. I would test your plugs to make sure they are firing.

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but if he has fuel air and spark but no compression it still will not run gotta have compression and if it over heated valves burn up very easily