98 V70XC Should I take the plunge?

Post by **rspi** » 02 Oct 2014, 07:56

These cars drive well with bad head gaskets. As long as coolant is in the motor they run at normal temp and fluids don't mix. Try to drive an hour and the car purges all the coolant out and overheats.

obayha · Post by **obayha** » 02 Oct 2014, 08:15

rspi wrote:These cars drive well with bad head gaskets. As long as coolant is in the motor they run at normal temp and fluids don't mix. Try to drive an hour and the car purges all the coolant out and overheats.

I think I understand. This car didn't make it around the block before leaking all water out and was turned off before over heating by me. Would best test be to put in new radiator and see if it purges the water under pressure? If it doesn't, then good to go. If it does, engine work ahead. How about bypassing the radiator with plugging off the hoses and putting pressure to the system through the overflow tank and see if it holds pressure. Or would a warm engine be the difference with the head gasket leaking?
Thanks

Post by **tryingbe** » 02 Oct 2014, 09:10

I don't think I'd allow an hour test drive by anyone, unless they want to pay for the gas and my time.
It's a $600 car, for crying out loud. Test drive for that long is an unrealistic expectation.

If I was closer, I'd pay for that $600 just so the poor lady isn't beat up anymore as she already is.

Post by **erikv11** » 02 Oct 2014, 11:42

Where does the coolant leak from, did you say? If it is leaking out of the radiator then the interpretations make sense, but if not then this is not sounding like a radiator problem.

obayha · Post by **obayha** » 02 Oct 2014, 12:02

Leaking right below the top hose. It will empty the radiator in less than 4 mins we drove around the block. Which makes me think she might of run it hot. It sat at her office for three weeks and then she had to drive it home. I am looking for one and this sounded like an OK one, but AC is not working, needs PCV, interior not good,ABS on, TB needed, miss fire on trip around the block and on and on. I expect to work on a 98, as I do mine and now it's looking like the radiator that came yesterday will go in mine this weekend.
I thought my upper hose was leaking, because of wetness below the hose, so I changed it. All that did was cause the crack in the radiator to open more and now I know the radiator is leaking with a new hose on it.

Post by **rspi** » 03 Oct 2014, 04:45

99 Times out of 100 they have overheated the car. The fact that it was misfiring tells you that the head is blown. If it's leaking that bad and she drove it home, hell yes it overheated even if the gauge didn't raise. The sensor needs fluid to make the gauge function properly.

It really sounds like a $300 turd. The overheat could have damaged the block and the turbo as well.

Post by **rspi** » 03 Oct 2014, 04:47

When you add up the restoration cost, it may exceed the cost of a decent running car. I've seen it several times. I have run across these cars that I wouldn't let the people give me.

obayha · Post by **obayha** » 03 Oct 2014, 06:58

Robert,
I hear you loud and clear. If only a head gasket and not a cracked motor, then the new price of $450.00 may be worth doing. Scrap will almost bring that much. Keeping in this year model helps me with a learning curve, as I have learned to do a lot through this forum. It can sit for a short period of time in the yard before the city starts talking. Is a $450.00 car needing maybe $1000.00+- under a shade tree worth it? To some with a garage it wouldn't be a problem and well worth it.

Will the interiors switch out?
Shane

Post by **rspi** » 03 Oct 2014, 07:29

Yes the interior will swap. I thought you said that your car looked better.

obayha · Post by **obayha** » 03 Oct 2014, 08:42

rspi wrote:Yes the interior will swap. I thought you said that your car looked better.

My car is "A tan" color and the XC is black interior with cloth (torn up) seats. I had been collecting parts for a few years to replace some broken things in mine. Have some good tan leather seats from a 99 to pull the skins from, so I thought I would just change everything to tan.
My car has been repainted a few time from run ins with South Carolina pigs and at 322,000, it's time to start looking for a replacement.
One more thought.
Will the front clips (bumper) switch out as well? The black on these cars just get grey looking and really show the age, or a good fix for the grey look.
Shane

98 V70XC Should I take the plunge?

Re: 98 V70XC Should I take the plunge?