ok... need some gen 3 help.***update with new question

[mrstwistedmunky]

Ok so...I've found a red gen. 3 with 150,000 here in town that the guy is trying to sell with no luck because no one in town knows what the SHO is but our little group here. So I'm looking into getting it and keeping it as my dd instead of my gas hog explorer. I was looking around the forum trying to get an idea of the problems I may be getting myself into and so far I know that he has had the tranny rebuilt and the cams have been welded and it needs the front suspension done. But other than that it seems to be in good condition. Am I missing anything else I should be looking for?


***I am wondering now. We went to look at the 98 and just got home and I'm wondering if anyone else has ever had it rev up when they put it into park? We didn't see it happen but the guy said that he's had it do it twice in the last 2 months. He said when it did it he just put it back into gear and then back to park and it stopped.

 

[luigisho]

Have you looked at it and driven it yet? Those 2 items you listed are the big ones. Other than that they are fairly reliable depending on the previous owners.

 

[mrstwistedmunky]

i know he drives it about 45 min. to school and back 5 days a week and he says it is great! but i will be going to look at it in a couple of hours that's why i was making sure there wasn't anything else i needed to look for. i'm more of a first gen girl but we like to keep ours as toys so i wouldn't mind a 3rd gen for a dd.

 

[SHO U UP]

Don't overlook the coolant hoses and the rear hard brake lines too. The hoses can, and will, crack from the inside out and you really can't tell from the outside. Look and see if the hoses appear new now. As for the brake lines in the rear, that will depend on where it was from. Up north they spray the roads for the bad snow storms and they get brittle and will break. Same goes for the sway bar end links. And you didnt mention what year it was, but the SARCs/struts could be on their way out if they're the original. Hope this helps a little more.

 

[luigisho]

Good call. The brake lines along the body going to the rear are known to rot out for sure.

 

[mrstwistedmunky]

Thanks so much guys!

 

[Izzmo]

The rev up while in park has happened to me (and my brothers) SHO. Sometimes it can be remedied by cleaning out the MAF, but usually you have to either replace your TPS or the TPS connector.

 

[mrstwistedmunky]

you are awesome!! so that would be an easy cheap fix! thank you!!!

 

[tardboy21]

I've had the rev in park as well, but I wouldn't throw it back into drive. Just shut it off and turn it back on. Likely the TPS or connector, I cleaned a little carbon out of my throttle body and it fixed my problem. Either way it's nothing major that effects driveability.

The other two general maintenance items which go quickly are what SHO_U_UP mentioned. The brake lines to the rear like to rust out and blow, and the front sway bar end links a composite (plastic) and wear easily. Both cheap to fix.

If the cams were welded and tranny replaced, there shouldn't be anything to critical to worry about. Still drive it to make sure the new tranny is alright, and like any engine ensure there's no major fluid leaks.

 

[TwistedMunky]

We drove it yesterday and it felt good. Front end clunked when it went over a bump, so maybe time for struts. I will have to say this being the first gen 3 I've driven. There is such a power difference between the gen 1 and gen 3. Thanks every one for the input.

 

[stephen newberg]

That clunk could easily be other parts of the front suspension other than the struts. Depending on the roads it was on and such, end links or ball joints might need replacing. These are much less costly than new struts, by the way.

pax, smn

 

[Izzmo]

The main thing that happens (in most cases) when the RPM's rev up, is that the computer is getting a false reading and the most likely cause is that the wire has too much resistance somewhere causing the readings to fall short or become too high. Keep that in mind when diagnosing this.

 

[mrstwistedmunky]

so the next question....nothing major is wrong with it then and it has 2 dents on the passenger side and a cracked bumper....is it worth $1800? it seems like a good deal to me none of the damage is major. but like i've said before you guys know more about the gen 3 then i do.

 

[luigisho]

you could haggle a little lower but I don't see a good running car with no major issues going for under $1500 no matter what it is.