Just Did a Compression Test on My New Baby... Now What

[neghsmoke]

Alright I bought a 95 Eagle Talon DOHC and was told by the owner that it wouldn't start, but the compression tested fine so I purchased and and decided to make it a project. Once I got it home and got a compression tester, I tested it and discovered that none of the cylinders will read over 80PSI and the radiator was nearly empty. The first conclusion I came to ofcourse was that he let it overheat and there is a coolant leak somewhere, but what should I do?

Since he told me it had good compression should I just return it and find a better one? Ask for a partial refund and try to fix it, or ? what would you do?

 

[David15151]

well since you did a compression test after you bought.. i think you are screwed. Good luck on the rebuild... er actually 6 bolt swap.

 

[Phat95Talon]

, did someone sell you my car? I could have swore it was still at the damn shop!

 

[neghsmoke]

he made a verbal contract that the compression was "fine"
this is anything but fine... what about the lemon law?

 

[David15151]

not sure about the laws about this kinda stuff. I mean.. if you can prove that he said the compression was fine.. then you might have something there but whats to stop him from saying that he didnt say that heh.


Lol phat95talon I dont think he got your car across that country.... and maybe he paid a lot and did you a favor! Though.. I may have to take a little road trip down south and grab me a blue front bumper .

 

[trbotaln]

try pouring a teespoon of oil in the cylinder from the spark plug hole. If the compression numbers increase by a good amount then the rings are bad. If compression is still bad after that then pull the head and check the head gasket and make sure all of the valves seat right.

 

[Phat95Talon]

try pouring a teespoon of oil in the cylinder from the spark plug hole. If the compression numbers increase by a good amount then the rings are bad. If compression is still bad after that then pull the head and check the head gasket and make sure all of the valves seat right.

If that's the problem it is my car!!! That's what's being done to it right now, .

 

[99gst_racer]

he made a verbal contract that the compression was "fine"
this is anything but fine... what about the lemon law?

Yes, he said it was fine. As far as used car sales go, "as is" is "as is". If a used car is sold "as is", then there is no implied or expressed warranty. No matter what he said to sell the car, once the sale is final, there is nothing that can be done. There is no way to prove that the damage was not done after the sale was finalized. I've been to small claims for this same thing. I was on the loosing end. I didnt understand it all then, but after taking a semester of Business Law in college, it all makes sense now.

The only way to get your money back, is if he's will to give it back. He is unfortunately not legally obligated to comply. Good luck with this. If you keep it, it definitely sounds like it needs a rebuild of some sort (hopefully just a headgasket).

 

[Black95TSIawd]

doesnt the car need to be warmed up in order to do a compression test? no start means no warm up. then again 80psi is a tad bit low.

 

[99gst_racer]

doesnt the car need to be warmed up in order to do a compression test? no start means no warm up. then again 80psi is a tad bit low.

Yeah, when doing a compression test, the motor should be at operating temperature. But you're right, even still, it wouldn't read that low......

 

[saw wave analog]

it reads that low on all cylinders? lack of coolant seems to imply a headgasket.. but it would have to be seriously janked to affect all 4 of them.. how does the oil look? drain it all and look for coolant. pulling the head isnt THAT big of a deal and since the car isnt operational anyway i say go for it.

confirm yer fears

 

[saw wave analog]

...try using someone elses compression tester as well.. if they are all reading that low it implicates your tester as much as it does the motor. a buddy of mine thought he blew something when his compression came out wacked.. he was ready to pull the motor, then he realized his tester was bad and it was a simple fix after that.. though i guess another theory is that his radiator blow, he ran it without coolant and warped the shit out of the head... hmm.. first order of buisness- test it on another gauge, or test your gauge on a car that runs good

 

[fostytou]

Yes, he said it was fine. As far as used car sales go, "as is" is "as is". If a used car is sold "as is", then there is no implied or expressed warranty. No matter what he said to sell the car, once the sale is final, there is nothing that can be done. There is no way to prove that the damage was not done after the sale was finalized. I've been to small claims for this same thing. I was on the loosing end. I didnt understand it all then, but after taking a semester of Business Law in college, it all makes sense now.

The only way to get your money back, is if he's will to give it back. He is unfortunately not legally obligated to comply. Good luck with this. If you keep it, it definitely sounds like it needs a rebuild of some sort (hopefully just a headgasket).

The legal idea is its fraud/misrepresentation if they told you something and it would have changed the deal (amount for purchase, whether or not you bought it etc etc) BUT YOU have the burdon of proof to show that the car was a) sold under the verbal contract, b) had bad compression when he sold it to you. I'm guessing you have neither of these, so I'm guessing you lose.... like me.

As for the exact words he said.... these don't matter as much in person to person cases. Even if you said something completely different than what you meant, there has to be a "meeting of the minds" in the sale, or there is no sale legally. So if he was saying something else but giving the impression that the compression was ok right now, there is no legal sale... but again YOU have the burden of proof. Good luck.

(and check that tester too!)

Thanks professor hill, for all your pounding law into my head!

 

[IamCool]

Where can i get a reliable and cheap compression tester? autozone? advance auto parts?also how much?

 

[saw wave analog]

id ask the store, not us

 

[86MCSS]

Do a leak down test and find out whats wrong. From there you can decide on what needs to be done....

The car might just need a new head gasket?
Maybe the timing belt was just done and was put on wrong and bent all the valves?
Maybe the rings are gone?

Do you a leak down test!

 

[neghsmoke]

okay so bad head gasket could account for low pressure in all 4 cylinders? is this the most likely cause? btw i did the wet test with oil, didn't raise it at all

 

[IHeartTurbo]

okay so bad head gasket could account for low pressure in all 4 cylinders? is this the most likely cause? btw i did the wet test with oil, didn't raise it at all

So that means it's not rings. You got headgasket and valves left. If you can get ahold of a leakdown tester like someone said, that would be your best bet. If not, just rip the head off and go from there.

 

[86MCSS]

Just take the head off. Its going to have to be done. If you dont already have one buy a chiltons manuel or some kinda manuel for the car. Also vfaq.com is gonna be your best friend

 

[neghsmoke]

alright, head is coming off this weekend.

While i'm torn into the top end are there any mods you would suggest i consider?

 

[99gst_racer]

It depends how far you want to go.....
HKS cams
3G lifters (no ticking)
Ferrea valves
etc......

 

[SexyDSM95]

It depends how far you want to go.....
3G lifters (no ticking)
etc......

Still not finding 3G lifters

 

[DevilSperm]

shit 80 psi isnt that bad...my car has 60-80 and she still runs 13's....i know its well below the service limit but it runs so im not to worried..throw some coolant in there and start that bi*** up

 

[kalla]

Slowboy and DSM Motorsport both sell them .. around $8 each I think.

 

[Jeff_Jeske]

You need to give us some more info.....were the timing belt and timing marks still lined up?

Can you crank it by hand and not hear anything like valve to piston contact?

Does the oil have antifreeze in it or does the antifreeze look to have oil in it?

You can get a rebuild ready to install head on ebay for $250.

That is your best bet.

JJ