question on 99 coupe

[dkhntr20]

I am looking to buy a 99 coupe for my gf. The car we looked at is a 99 with a repaired title. We do know that is is in need of a power steering pump, and some interior parts due to theft. My questions are: while it was running I could hear a slight knock, similar to either a solid lifter in a small block Chevy. Is this something of concern, or is it more because the car needed warmed up more? And also, the check engine light stayed on, the owner told me that was because the previous owner put on an aftermarket throttle cable. Why would this make a difference, and should I just steer away from this car?
Thanks for any input.

 

[AlaskaB16]

For the knock sound, wait for it to warm and be sure to check the oil as well. If it has the correct amount of oil and at normal temp it still knocks, engine is probably on it's way out. As for the check engine light, a throttle cable should not cause this. You'll need to get a code reader and hook it to the OBD2 port. Test drive it and take it straight to an auto parts store that will loan you one (many do in the hopes you'll buy the parts you need right there). It may have all sorts of codes, not just one. Or just straight up ask the seller you want to scan the codes. If he tells you no, stay clear. No stand up seller will refuse to let you know what the problem is unless they know damn well what it is and they'll lose the sale because of it.... Then again... If you can fix it yourself, you may be able to low ball your way into a score of a deal. Who knows..

Have any pictures of it? Depending on the price and body condition, it still may be a good pick up if you can do the work on it yourself.

 

[dkhntr20]

Thanks Alaska. Is there a list of codes somewhere that I can print out to take along with me when I drive this tonight?

 

[xxBLOOD88SHOTxx]

google honda obd2b codes you'll find a bazillion pages of them

Things I always ask is how long they have owned it, why are they selling it, do they know the car's history, pics of the damage from the rebuild etc. The only reason I pics up my 05 srt with a rebuilt title was because dude had pics of the damage and it being repaired correctly by a professional shop.

 

[AlaskaB16]

Here you go. You can also just write down the codes and search them later or use your smart phone.

... or just print this. LOL

http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/honda/

 

[dkhntr20]

Blood88shot and Alaska, thanks for your input. Thanks for the links, i have bookmarked them in my phone for ease of checking on my test drive. Does anyone have suggestions of a nice reader that I can get ahold of for myself. I have a 97 EX that is getting up there in miles, so a tool like this would be bice to have on hand, plus, the car we are looking at isn't registered at the moment, and it resides in a part of town that the popo patrols heavily, so I am not sure I would want to wander too far from the house on this test drive.

 

[AlaskaB16]

Check your local parts store and see if they have a loner program. Many do. Oreilly's for example will rent you a tool for 48 hours. Bring it back in that time and you get 100% of your money back. If you don't, you just pay the price of the tool. Simple. Anything that scans OBD2 should be fine. I wouldn't go out and get a top notch one if you're only going to use it this one time or once in a blue moon. That'd be a waste.

 

[dkhntr20]

Thanks again Alaska, I will go check O'Reilley's there is one just down the road from my work.

 

[2slo4u]

just check the codes yourself..all you need is 3-4 inches of speaker wire

 

[dkhntr20]

Ok the oreilleys guy followed me to the car and only pulled one code a P505 idle control system malfunction. What is that usually from?

 

[xxBLOOD88SHOTxx]

Ok the oreilleys guy followed me to the car and only pulled one code a P505 idle control system malfunction. What is that usually from?

Anything that controls the idle, IACV is usually the case in older hondas. What are you looking to do with this car?

 

[dkhntr20]

We were looking to buy it. I just wanted to pull any codes since the current owner was saying that after the aftermarket throttle cable was put on the check engine light has stayed on. The car drove pretty nice. Whatever is causing this code doesn't seem to be making it run bad in any way.

 

[AlaskaB16]

I wouldn't pass on a well priced honda because of that code. Should be easily cleared. Did you end up taking it?

 

[xxBLOOD88SHOTxx]

I wouldn't pass on a well priced honda because of that code. Should be easily cleared. Did you end up taking it?

I would pass on it because the current owner is a complete dumbshit. Aftermarket throttle cable, are you kidding me....

 

[AlaskaB16]

You'ld pass just because he claims it has an aftermarket throttle cable? Just because someone is Honda dumb, doesn't mean the car isn't worth it "well priced". I picked up a Toyota Celica for $200 once and the owner claimed it was AWD. When I got there the first thing I did was look for a rear dif. There was none. LOL.. I bought it anyway and sold it for $1600 2 days later. As a 2wd of course

 

[xxBLOOD88SHOTxx]

You'ld pass just because he claims it has an aftermarket throttle cable? Just because someone is Honda dumb, doesn't mean the car isn't worth it "well priced". I picked up a Toyota Celica for $200 once and the owner claimed it was AWD. When I got there the first thing I did was look for a rear dif. There was none. LOL.. I bought it anyway and sold it for $1600 2 days later. As a 2wd of course

Well we have no idea what the price is, what trim or anything else for that matter. The current owner has no idea what is exactly wrong with the car. It still has an unidentified sound that "sounds" like a knock, but we have no idea. It has also been stolen and wrecked. Someone like you or I buying shady vehicles is different than the OP because, and take no offense to this, he doesn' seem to know what to look for and is not very honda-jucated, and neither is the current owner of the vehicle. Those are good reasons why I would say just move on to another vehicle.

-not trying to fight, just saying

 

[AlaskaB16]

I agree with you 100%. I was just saying "well priced" for what ever the actual situation happens to be. Broken car, well priced for a broken car. Running car, well priced for a running car. Just in general is what I meant.

... but agreed.

 

[dkhntr20]

So since the car doesn't have the badging in it what is the easy way to tell what trim package it is? It has power Windows, moon roof, 5 speed, air. It is a 99 coupe. It seems to have all the same bells as my 97 EX.

 

[mymmeryloss]

Sounds like an ex to me

 

[xxBLOOD88SHOTxx]

if looks like ex, sounds like ex, and smells like ex, then it's probably ex