Anyone think this is a dumb purchase?
Posted by Common-Swimmer-1729@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 9 comments
Need an A to B car for around 1k. This is one the only leads i’ve gotten, and wanted to see if anyone thinks it isn’t going to last.
Got this from the seller, “Transmission issues so it shifts wierd but still goes where it needs to” & “It has a issue where it won't go into 4th gear. It still drives fine in the city, it just revs high on the interstate”.
2004 Chevy Monte Carlo SS Coup 2 door, 187,000 miles.
Don’t mind getting my hands dirty and fixing issues on a car here and there if this might be a fluid or sensor thing. If this is an issue that’s manageable and won’t lead to catastrophic failure, that’d be fine too. If the transmissions going to need to be replaced to get from A to B, that’s beyond me.
Anybody think this is dumb to buy? Any car for 1k is going to have it’s issues. Just having trouble coming across anything better.
Gunk_Olgidar@reddit
A scrap yard will pay the seller \~$500, and that's the seller's only other option than selling it as-is to you with a known bad transmission. So offer $750 if you're willing to gamble with it.
Rebuild kits are in the $250-$1k range and probably worth a shot. Otherwise you're only out maybe $1500 even with the rebuild attempt. Can be a very smart buy if you have the tools and the rebuild works.
throwaway007676@reddit
I would start with a shift kit, that fixes many issues. Also, if the thermostat isn't functioning properly, it will lock out 4th gear and lockup. Being a 3800 it may be having intake manifold gasket issues and some moron may have just removed the thermostat. That would def cause the transmission to act up that way.
Just be prepared for the worst case scenario before you buy. Those engines will run forever if taken care of, one of if not the best engine ever made.
MaximumDerpification@reddit
It could be the pressure control solenoid and/or shift solenoids... but that's a pretty big gamble that I personally would not take.
Common-Swimmer-1729@reddit (OP)
Thank you, might see if that could fix it, though yeah, there’s probably safer gambles out there
Ok_Demand_3197@reddit
So I work on a lot of 3800’s. Change the trans fluid and put some sea foam “Trans tune” in it, and it will be as good as new.
Common-Swimmer-1729@reddit (OP)
Thank you, might have to give that a try!
TapeDaddy@reddit
These had electronic overdrive, so it could be a shift solenoid or something. Could also be serious internal damage, and not worth the hassle.
Back in my days as a shitbox salesman, we’d get the occasional car without overdrive. Just told the customers to drive in ‘D’ or its equivalent lol. Owned a couple myself.
If I were to buy something like this, I’d treat it as an around-town car. Go drive it, see if it goes through 1-3 smooth. If it does, hit them with a slight lowball and see what happens.
Common-Swimmer-1729@reddit (OP)
Work is like 5-10 minutes away on city roads, wife has a car and might only use that car if jumping on the highway is needed. Really just hope we don’t have to sell it to a junk yard within the year. Appreciate the input
Negative_Mushroom545@reddit
They are know for transmission problems