[Cluster_Lizard]

I´m about to buy a 96 LX. Is there anything special I should pay attention to?
I looked today under the hood. What stroke me is that it seems like it´s quite tricky 1. to pull the timing belt cover off, 2. to get to the spark plug #1 (because of the alternator) and 3. to reach oxygen sensor. Any ideas about this?
How are these cars in general? What is reliable, what is not?

 

[93SuperScort]

LOL the funniest part is that all those parts are extreamly easy to reach. I quees you never worked on VW dont´ you?)
Timing belt cover. Mine is actually off long time ago. There are 2 screws you have to unscrew and I believe some tubes and some other bolts. Thats the hardes of all. !st spark plug is easy. You´ll just need a long extension for a rachet handle. One of those 10". Oxigen is ok. Will need to loose radiator and have a wrench thats all.

About the car. Last year of production is the best year. Most of problems are fixed. You´ll just have to watch for a rear fenders they may rust. Engine. Regular oil change (syntetic is the way to go) Tunnning up. Replacing sensors once in the while like TPS, O2, TEMP..
If some one lined up Escort Cavaler and Neon. My choise will be upon escort. Then cavaler then Neon. Great little car.

 

[PTMD]

As with any car I would look for proper documentation of service and especially things like the 70,000 mile timing belt change.In my experience if someone has properly maintained the car they will have reciepts,if they have no reciepts the chances are if something has gone wrong with the car they may have shortcut the repairs over the life of the car.Even having said that the 2nd gen scort is a great car, they are good on gas and easy to maintain.I am thinking of buying another 2nd gen as soon as I have the room to park it.

 

[Cluster_Lizard]

It has 51K miles and was maintained OK. I think it´s due (overdue?) for coolant change, perharps spark plugs, wires and rotor cap, and I guess the timing belt in the near future. I dug some info on the internet, and it seems that the engine is not interference one. Is that right? So I don´t have to sweat about the timing belt, do I?
No, I never worked on VW

I worked on old Mazda 626. It has a blown head gasket and I don´t feel (at least for now) to have enough guts to tear it apart

 

[Cluster_Lizard]

Oh yeah, the guy asks $3700 for it. Is it a good/bad price? It´s WA if it matters...
Edit: the only options it has is dome/map lights, tilt wheel and aluminum wheels (maybe they are standard, not sure).
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[ Edited by Cluster_Lizard On Date 08-28-2002 ]

 

[93SuperScort]

I would say it´s a good price. But still be little bit too high. Just make sure that it´s real 51K!. Check strats as well. Listen to the engine. It´s should run smooth with little pinping of injectors and nothing more. Let someone rev the engine and listen.

Timing belt. Well I say it´s easy enough. On some VW you need to take engine out to replace timing belt. But not as easy as for example mustangs. So I would say 4 out of 10 dificulty.

BTW LX doesn´t have a distrebutor. It´s Destrebuterless. It has a coil pack. Stock coil pack is fine for long time.

 

[Cluster_Lizard]

Thanks!

 

[Juggernaut]

aluminum wheels (7 spoke) are standard, correct? though everyone replaces em for better looking ones

well me anyways...