Kossa - My '94 855 acquisition

Tremelune · Post by **Tremelune** » 08 Jan 2017, 00:04

Howdy. I'm in Los Angeles for the winter, so I figured I'd pick me up some wheels to roll around in and take me back to NYC once it thaws. So, I picked up this weathered whale. The photos are hiding cosmetic flaws, but so far it's got it where it counts, and there is just about zero rust. The plan is to spruce it up a bit and just see if it'll get me home. Hopefully it'll go farther in my stead than Varg did.

Post by **abscate** » 08 Jan 2017, 04:03

WELCOME TO THE MADNESSES,

Timing belt?
PCV?

You will need to build the simple LED code reader to diagnose problems on a pre OBD car.

crlande · Post by **crlande** » 08 Jan 2017, 06:01

They have the diagnostic A and B boxes in engine compartment. Just count the blinks.

101 · Post by **101** » 08 Jan 2017, 07:05

The real cosmetic flaws I see are the Bernie stickers.

Nice find! And like abscate said, don't bring it back across the country without a PCV check and known history on the timing belt.

Tremelune · Post by **Tremelune** » 08 Jan 2017, 08:47

The timing belt is due (done at 70k miles, car has 141k), but I think I'm gonna risk it. I paid $1,200 for the car, and I was quoted $550 to do the belts and rollers ($700 with a water pump) from Nino's. Even if I only do the belt, I believe labor is 2-3 hours at a minimum of $100/hr around here. I can't do the work myself until I'm back East. If I get 5,000 miles, I'll be happy.

That said, if anyone knows a shop that'll do an 850 timing belt properly in LA for less, I'm listening.

I'll look into the PCV valve...I had not heard of that one!

Post by **abscate** » 08 Jan 2017, 10:24

Give a good listen with a hose (in your ear) for sounds in the timing belt area. If you don't hear anything, Im a risk taker, and would drive it back across country. The price of a TB failure is 2000-5000 bucks depending on how much work you can do yourself, though.

PCV - put a glove on the oil filler and see how much pressure is in your crankcase, if any, and report back.

Post by **kahl** » 08 Jan 2017, 10:47

I have yet to come across a 850 with the correct mileage showing on the dash. With the gear driving the odometer being a high failure item be wary of your decision of miles on the timing belt.

Tremelune · Post by **Tremelune** » 08 Jan 2017, 10:51

Thanks for the tips! I'll see what cheap diagnostics I can do to inform my decision.

A nice thing about this car is that I have a stack of records back to the original owner in '94, and with the odo still turning, I'm confident in the mileage.

Post by **abscate** » 08 Jan 2017, 11:18

You should be about $500 all in (parts and labour) for a TB, even in LA. Will be same in NY.

crlande · Post by **crlande** » 08 Jan 2017, 11:47

You can also check the mileage via the A and B diagnostic boxes in the engine compartment.
1. Switch ignition on.
2. Plug wire to module A, terminal 7.
3. Push button 5 times.
4. When LED comes on and before it goes out, enter code 1-1-1 as follows:
- press button once while LED is still on
- wait for LED to go out and come on again
- press button once while LED is still on
- wait for LED to go out and come on again
- press button once while LED is still on
- wait for LED to go out and come on again
- read off the response, which will be the last three digits of the odometer miles or km
5. Repeat steps 3 to 4 but enter code 1-1-2 (that is, press the button twice on the last step); read off the response, which will be the first three digits of the odometer miles or km. Numbers that are zeros will read as 10 blinks.