Non-running S13...any suggestions...

[TurboSE]

I'm looking at buying a 93 hatch/automatic that isn't running. It has 170k on the original motor/trans. I planned to use it as a daily driver for a bit then possibly part it out.

The owner doesn't know what's wrong with it, but said it just stopped running. I haven't personally looked at it yet...but I'm wondering if there's anything particular I should look for.

I'm not sure I believe it just "quit"....but if so, it's probably a pretty easy fix...charging system?

If it's something more sinister, what should I look for? I planned to look for milky oil and try a jump start...how do I check the timing chain? Anything else I should look for?

I don't want to have to swap/rebuild motors to have a daily, just more work than I need right now.

I'll prolly buy it either way, but whether it's a parts car or a driver dictates the price.

[TurboSE]

update: talked to the owner and he said he was driving and it felt like it just locked up....timing chain? His dad who "knows a little about cars" said he thinks it the motor...what a diagnosis...

[projekt_s13]

look at both sides of the block for holes or cracks.

[TurboSE]

look at both sides of the block for holes or cracks.

is that common with a timing chain? Should I look for sludge at the cracks? I've never had a timing belt/chain let go, so I'm not really sure what to look for...

[OBEEWON]

update: talked to the owner and he said he was driving and it felt like it just locked up....timing chain? His dad who "knows a little about cars" said he thinks it the motor...what a diagnosis...

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahaha

[sirfallsalot243]

If the timing chain let loose, that motor is fucked.

If you can hook it to a good battery and it turns over, it may be worth a shot. From the sounds of it though, its not gonna turn over. Without turning it over, all you have to go on is visual inspection of the exterior of the motor, which doesnt really tell you anything. Milky oil would be a blown head gasket, but motors dont usually just "quit" when they blow a head gasket, and Im sure theyd have mentioned the white plume of smoke it wouldve been throwing.

If its locked up, and youre not looking for a project, walk away.

[OBEEWON]

On the real, it's probably something simple like the engine or something.

[TurboSE]

yeah, after he gave the description of how it died, I don't think it's a head gasket. I guess I'll jump it and see if it turns...if not, it might still be ok for a parts car/shell

Not sure if I can get my money back out of it for parts with a blown motor and an automatic tranny.

[sirfallsalot243]

In its current shape.. non running, automatic, high miles, I wouldnt pay more than $500 for it, and thats for an exceptionally clean shell.

If you get it for that or less, you can definitely get your money back out of it if you decide to part it.

[TurboSE]

In its current shape.. non running, automatic, high miles, I wouldnt pay more than $500 for it, and thats for an exceptionally clean shell.

If you get it for that or less, you can definitely get your money back out of it if you decide to part it.

The shell is very clean, not even much paint fade...it's one of those fairy tale second owner (old lady was first) kinda cars. I offered $500, but I found a running DE (with auto, sadly) for a couple hundred more.

Is $800 too much to pay for an S13 hatch daily driver? If I can part it out in a year or so when my project is done?

[93nismo]

id pay 800 for a reliable s13 as a daily. but if you just need reliability why don't you go find like a geo metro lol 50 mpg beast an s13 hands down. you could get a neon in good condition for 800 easily. unless you hellbent on an s13 id say just look for something reliable.

[TurboSE]

id pay 800 for a reliable s13 as a daily. but if you just need reliability why don't you go find like a geo metro lol 50 mpg beast an s13 hands down. you could get a neon in good condition for 800 easily. unless you hellbent on an s13 id say just look for something reliable.

A. I have a very cool S13/RB26 project that I may need to steal parts for.

B. Would you drive a Metro or Neon?

C. I don't need super reliable, my gf's house is my longest drive, and that's only 15 miles.

D. I have a Durango that I daily now, but 15mph get's a little spendy. I could buy this car by skipping a few fill-ups,

E. I'd hate to see a good S13 shell become some high school girl's beater.

[TurboSE]

I went and looked at it in person today...it wouldn't turn over, all it did was click. There were tons of black sludge coming from the front of the valve cover. The owner said it was making a terrible rattle before it died. And what sealed the deal for me, since it locked up, the dip stick wouldn't go back in the whole way...felt like it was hitting something metal, and the end was kinda kinked.

I passed on it, he had an offer of $700 as it sat....I told him to take it and run. It is exceptionally clean, but just too much for me right now.

[I LUV MY S13]

probably didnt change the oil and somehow fucked up the crankshaft..offer him $200 and part it out to buy a better daily

[TurboSE]

probably didnt change the oil and somehow fucked up the crankshaft..offer him $200 and part it out to buy a better daily


if it was a few years ago and I was looking for a chassis for my RB project...I'd have matched the $700...but I told him just to take that offer.

Anybody near York Pa looking for a nearly perfect S13 shell that may be interested, feel free to contact me and I'll point you towards his contact info.

(mods, sorry if that was considered an "ad"...just tryin to help other Zilvians, I'm not the owner of the car)

[sirfallsalot243]

B. Would you drive a Metro or Neon? Beleive it or not, Im picking up a 2000 Neon this week. Needs a trans. Im paying $300 for the car and $150 for a trans. Ill be driving the neon while I swap in my SR, and then selling it for like $1500. Not too shabby.


I think youd find better reliability in a newer, shittier car as opposed to an older S13. I say shittier in reference to what it is, not its condition. Especially with an auto- what fun is an auto 240? Id rather daily a 5 speed fwd than an auto rwd.

[SinGarage]

You would actually be surprised how reliable an S13 could be. Mine is a 90 auto that I bought from the original owner. It has almost 400k miles on the car and it's the original engine. It had been well maintained and it shows. It also helps if you know about cars just in case lol.

[sirfallsalot243]

Meh, I dont consider any 240's to be THAT reliable. I mean, mine has never left me stranded, but theyre CONSTANTLY needing maintenance. You could drive a Honda for 200k miles and as long as its still got oil in it, its fine. You know 240's arent the model car for reliability.. theyre not terrible, but theyre certainly no civic.