Should I buy 1999 XLT for $1500?

[maverick_2004]

I found a clean-looking 1999 XLT online, next state over. Like I said, the outside looks really clean, no rust, and lots of aftermarket stainless (rocker panels, fenders, rearview mirrors, door handles... I love that look). The inside also looks nice, gray cloth upholstery with nothing questionable.

The bad news, the guy says that it overheats after about 10 minutes, and says "coils or head gasket we're thinking".

I'm not sure why they would be saying the coil is causing the overheating, but it is possible that the overheating messed up the ignition coil. I was planning to put a Davis Unified coil pack in whichever vehicle I purchase anyway, so that doesn't bother me as a standalone issue.

I don't know if it's because of a rough idle or misfire that he brought up the coil, but if so, it's likely originally from the overheating... caused by a blown head gasket for whatever underlying reason.

I was originally hoping that the overheating was actually from the heater core, bad hoses, or something else more innocuous. The truck is about 300 miles away, so I can't really go look at it myself unless I've decided it's worth the trip (meaning I've decided that I'll likely be buying).

He said that the "tranny, 4x4 system, and transfer case" are all in good condition, just the overheating issue. Asking price was originally $1995, but he'll take $1500. My max is $3000. I've been looking online because I can't find any local. But for $1500, that gives me about another $1500 towards new parts, which really is how I think I'd rather do it anyway.

The mileage is unlisted, so right now I don't know how many miles are even on it, but I'll update with that information as soon as I have it.

I just wanted some advice from the experienced expedition guys here whether it sounds like it's worth it.

Thanks for any and all input and advice.

 

[maverick_2004]

By the way, I'm not terribly concerned about replacing the head gasket itself, that will give me a chance to replace or update some things that I wanted to anyway. I just don't want to get it open and find everything warped and fried.

Here is a preliminary list of the replacements and updates that I'd be wanting to do, likely to any expedition that I find in my price range:

Heater core
Radiator
Volent air intake
EGR tube
PVC breather hoses
Underdrive pulleys that replace crankshaft pulley, water pump pulley, and alternator pulley
200 amp alternator
Fuel filter
Davis Unified ignition coil pack
Spark plugs and wires
CV joints
Shocks
Brakes and wheel bearings
Flowmaster 50 series muffler
would like to get exhaust headers, but haven't settled on a price effective solution yet
would also like a custom tune, and a flex-a-lite fan, but those are probably outside of my spending range right now

So, like I said, replacing the head gasket isn't that big of a turnoff other than the risk of buying without knowing what else is in there... and the fact that it won't be drivable until that's done, and since I'll be doing other things at the same time, it would be a while before I'd be driving it.

In order to make the prices work to be able to update all this stuff, I'd have to find the vehicle pretty cheap. I just don't want to buy one that's FUBAR'd.

I'm wanting this vehicle as a winter vehicle and occasional road trip vehicle. I would like to do what's necessary to get several thousand more miles and/or a few years out of it. But it won't be a daily driver.

Thanks again.

 

[jglopic]

My first thought when he says "overheating after 10 minutes" is what is the vehicle doing for those ten minutes? Sitting still? Could be as simple as a radiator fan. Driving? Could be lots of things.

Also, is the radiator full? I am not sure on the '99, but most radiator systems can have fluid in the overflow but not in the radiator itself. Of course it could also be the water pump. I didn't see this on your list of planned repairs, but it work may be necessary (and probably just a good idea on a 15 year old vehicle).

$1500 for a '99 seems pretty cheap, unless of course it has 250k miles. Yes, it may be that the owner has no clue what is wrong, so he is dumping it cheap. Or maybe he is dumping it because he knows the repair is $$$$. I would be very careful. A full pre-purchase inspection would be recommended, but I also understand that with the distance from you, it is difficult.

 

[Vigilante]

Just on average, I would say the rig has at least 150k miles. So if you would be doing any of that planned work, a new water pump should absolutely be done. It would only be a matter of time before it failed at that point anyway.

I was working on my 99 Expy and had some problems with the coolant system. For one, did he recently do a thermostat? If he did, he could have used the wrong thermostat or gasket, preventing it from opening and causing the overheating issue. Also, the system may just have to be "burped." I've known about this for a while but just did it on my rig last week. Air gets trapped in the system very easily and needs to really be forced out. I undid the coolant reservoir cap and then kept gripping the upper radiator hose. I could see the coolant level in the tank dropping each time I let go of the hose.

Any oil in the coolant or vice versa? That will tell you about the head gasket integrity.


If you are really interested in the car, even though its 300 miles away, I'd say go take a look. Print out the thread that mentions everything worth looking at too. If you're going to go all that way you better make sure that shes exactly what you want. Sometimes you really are better off waiting for the next, closer ride to come along.

 

[maverick_2004]

Thanks guys.

I asked him if it was knocking at all or whether it was leaking coolant.

"Doesn't leak ani freeze...miles 200,000
Runs and drives nice..it knocks only when it starts overheating of course..
Other wise it's quiet..
Thanks"

I'll ask whether it overheats on idle and if he's noticed any signs of coolant in the oil.

Yes, I should have included water pump and thermostat on the list of repairs, like I said, it was a preliminary list.

Vigilante, yeah, I'm keeping my eyes open for something closer to home and with less miles as well, but it really is a clean LOOKING truck, so that's the only reason I'm still considering it. If I find something else, I'll post it in here.

 

[maverick_2004]

I asked "Does the truck overheat when idling, or when driving for 10 minutes? And have you noticed any signs of coolant or white gunk in the oil?"

and he responded "No white junk..I'm sure it probably would overheat when sitting but it would take longer to over heat"

So, if that's correct, then it's probably not that bad whether the head gasket is blown or not, right?

 

[maverick_2004]

Just as an example, there's another truck that is 200 miles away, also a 1999 that looks very clean on the outside and inside. It has 144,000 miles. The dealer doesn't list any problems with it, so that's whatever. But the asking price is $6900. They said they would take $5900. But we're offering to pay in cash, and the blue book price for Excellent condition is $3831.

I've been watching autotrader for several months now, and started making some calls this past week. A lot of the vehicles on there are already sold. The ones we do find are either way too expensive, of questionable mechanical status, or simply have too many miles. I really don't want to go over 150k miles or $3000, and I think that should be fair, but I'm having trouble finding any that meet that criteria.

With this in mind, as well as the fact that I'm guessing that my repair list will need to be done to the majority of these ~150k vehicles soon enough, I'm thinking it makes more sense to go with one that they're selling for cheaper, even if means that I'd be buying it knowing that something's wrong with it.

 

[Lightnig]

Overheating could be as simple as low coolant, collapsed/blocked rad hose, bad fan, or stuck (closed) thermostat.

I doubt it's a bad head gasket, unless he ran it long while being overheated. In which case there is far more difficult (expensive) things to be concerned about. Only way to tell for sure would be to do a compression and a leakdown test...