Thanks for the post.

Regarding the broken springs, the mechanic said they were broken toward
the bottom of the spring. He showed me, but is was difficult to see as
the lower part of the springs were slightly concealed by the wheel.

He said the danger was the springs could break in another place higher
up causing the car to be undrivable as you mentioned. The mechanic
said Escorts in before and up to the 98 year were notorious for this
problem. However, he also said in their current condition, these
springs could be driven on another 2 years.

Considering the price, I am not that excited in this 98 Escort. I
will keep looking.


Michael Pardee wrote:
> <webmaster@tfy.com> wrote in message
> news:1150904769.047863.83170@c74g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
> >I explained to the owner what the Edmunds TMV price was for average and
> > rough condition. Since I really need to get a car soon, I thought I
> > would go above what the Edmunds TMV price of 2739 for an "Average"
> > condition 94 Accord LX Wagon. I offered $3000 and she said no way.
> >
> > She says her mechanic thinks that it is not absolutely necessary to
> > change the timing belt on the car, so she won't consider the cost of
> > changing it into the price.
> >
> > On another note, I had the 98 Escort inspected. Turns out the car has
> > broken coil springs, needs to have the brakes worked on, and a new tie
> > rod. Cost to replace both Coil springs and struts is about $500 to
> > $550. Dealer said he would take care of the Front brakes and the tie
> > rod, but not the Coil Springs. He won't budge on the price of $4995.
> >
> > Dealer said that because of high gas prices, small fuel efficient cars
> > were selling above blue book.
> >
> > Is this right?
> >
> Small cars are definitely commanding a premium, but let's not get wacky.
> Maybe somebody will pay the asking price, but you have options.
>
> I have grave doubts a mechanic would have told the Accord owner that it is
> not absolutely necessary to change the timing belt. Any competent mechanic
> knows it is absolutely, positively, necessary. The intervals can be
> stretched so the mechanic can say it is not absolutely necessary to change
> the timing belt *right now* but that is disingenuous at best. No matter how
> you slice it, that seller is poison.
>
> I don't understand about the broken springs. Normally a car with broken
> springs is not drivable (tires rubbing on wheel wells... things like that).
> Broken springs would also be unusual in a '98 that wasn't driven a lot of
> rough-road miles. I've seen broken springs on vehicles driven on dirt and
> rock roads, but not cars driven on public streets.
>
> Mike

 

<webmaster@tfy.com> wrote in message
news:1150950187.221249.321060@p79g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...
> I saw 97 Accord EX Sedan at a dealer listed at $3900. It has 136k
> miles. Dealer is trying to find out when the timing belt was changed
> on the car. Hopefully will find out something soon.
>
I suspect the timing belt hasn't been changed, but you can hope. A lot of
people stretch the interval if they are expecting to sell the car; after
all, they don't want to put half a grand into the car just before they sell
it. My daughter's '93 LX had 163K on it and the owner had never heard of the
need to change the timing belt - he relied on Midas to tell him what the car
needed. :-(

It goes without saying that if there is no reliable record of the belt being
changed the new owner will have to do it right away (or have it done as a
condition of sale, even if it adds a bit to the price). In either case you
will know with certainty when it was done.

Mike

 

<webmaster@tfy.com> wrote in message
news:1150950187.221249.321060@p79g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...
> I saw 97 Accord EX Sedan at a dealer listed at $3900. It has 136k
> miles. Dealer is trying to find out when the timing belt was changed
> on the car. Hopefully will find out something soon.
>
I suspect the timing belt hasn't been changed, but you can hope. A lot of
people stretch the interval if they are expecting to sell the car; after
all, they don't want to put half a grand into the car just before they sell
it. My daughter's '93 LX had 163K on it and the owner had never heard of the
need to change the timing belt - he relied on Midas to tell him what the car
needed. :-(

It goes without saying that if there is no reliable record of the belt being
changed the new owner will have to do it right away (or have it done as a
condition of sale, even if it adds a bit to the price). In either case you
will know with certainty when it was done.

Mike

 

<webmaster@tfy.com> wrote in message
news:1150950187.221249.321060@p79g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...
> I saw 97 Accord EX Sedan at a dealer listed at $3900. It has 136k
> miles. Dealer is trying to find out when the timing belt was changed
> on the car. Hopefully will find out something soon.
>
I suspect the timing belt hasn't been changed, but you can hope. A lot of
people stretch the interval if they are expecting to sell the car; after
all, they don't want to put half a grand into the car just before they sell
it. My daughter's '93 LX had 163K on it and the owner had never heard of the
need to change the timing belt - he relied on Midas to tell him what the car
needed. :-(

It goes without saying that if there is no reliable record of the belt being
changed the new owner will have to do it right away (or have it done as a
condition of sale, even if it adds a bit to the price). In either case you
will know with certainty when it was done.

Mike

 

<webmaster@tfy.com> wrote in message
news:1150950697.203054.197330@r2g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
> Thanks for the post.
>
> Regarding the broken springs, the mechanic said they were broken toward
> the bottom of the spring. He showed me, but is was difficult to see as
> the lower part of the springs were slightly concealed by the wheel.
>
> He said the danger was the springs could break in another place higher
> up causing the car to be undrivable as you mentioned. The mechanic
> said Escorts in before and up to the 98 year were notorious for this
> problem. However, he also said in their current condition, these
> springs could be driven on another 2 years.
>
> Considering the price, I am not that excited in this 98 Escort. I
> will keep looking.
>
Well, whaddya know! Googling "Escort broken springs" brings up a wealth of
info on that. It seems the problem is the subject of a TSB in the Mercury
Mystake and the equivalent Ford. Apparently corrosion attacks the base of
the springs. The TSB involves installing a "spring catcher" to prevent the
broken spring from gouging the tire....

Mike

 

<webmaster@tfy.com> wrote in message
news:1150950697.203054.197330@r2g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
> Thanks for the post.
>
> Regarding the broken springs, the mechanic said they were broken toward
> the bottom of the spring. He showed me, but is was difficult to see as
> the lower part of the springs were slightly concealed by the wheel.
>
> He said the danger was the springs could break in another place higher
> up causing the car to be undrivable as you mentioned. The mechanic
> said Escorts in before and up to the 98 year were notorious for this
> problem. However, he also said in their current condition, these
> springs could be driven on another 2 years.
>
> Considering the price, I am not that excited in this 98 Escort. I
> will keep looking.
>
Well, whaddya know! Googling "Escort broken springs" brings up a wealth of
info on that. It seems the problem is the subject of a TSB in the Mercury
Mystake and the equivalent Ford. Apparently corrosion attacks the base of
the springs. The TSB involves installing a "spring catcher" to prevent the
broken spring from gouging the tire....

Mike

 

<webmaster@tfy.com> wrote in message
news:1150950697.203054.197330@r2g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
> Thanks for the post.
>
> Regarding the broken springs, the mechanic said they were broken toward
> the bottom of the spring. He showed me, but is was difficult to see as
> the lower part of the springs were slightly concealed by the wheel.
>
> He said the danger was the springs could break in another place higher
> up causing the car to be undrivable as you mentioned. The mechanic
> said Escorts in before and up to the 98 year were notorious for this
> problem. However, he also said in their current condition, these
> springs could be driven on another 2 years.
>
> Considering the price, I am not that excited in this 98 Escort. I
> will keep looking.
>
Well, whaddya know! Googling "Escort broken springs" brings up a wealth of
info on that. It seems the problem is the subject of a TSB in the Mercury
Mystake and the equivalent Ford. Apparently corrosion attacks the base of
the springs. The TSB involves installing a "spring catcher" to prevent the
broken spring from gouging the tire....

Mike

 

I understand what you mean. I would not mind spending the money on the
timing belt.

I will keep looking for an accord I can afford that will leave me with
room to spend on a timing belt.

Thanks for the posts Michael
Michael Pardee wrote:
> <webmaster@tfy.com> wrote in message
> news:1150950187.221249.321060@p79g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...
> > I saw 97 Accord EX Sedan at a dealer listed at $3900. It has 136k
> > miles. Dealer is trying to find out when the timing belt was changed
> > on the car. Hopefully will find out something soon.
> >
> I suspect the timing belt hasn't been changed, but you can hope. A lot of
> people stretch the interval if they are expecting to sell the car; after
> all, they don't want to put half a grand into the car just before they sell
> it. My daughter's '93 LX had 163K on it and the owner had never heard of the
> need to change the timing belt - he relied on Midas to tell him what the car
> needed. :-(
>
> It goes without saying that if there is no reliable record of the belt being
> changed the new owner will have to do it right away (or have it done as a
> condition of sale, even if it adds a bit to the price). In either case you
> will know with certainty when it was done.
>
> Mike

 

I understand what you mean. I would not mind spending the money on the
timing belt.

I will keep looking for an accord I can afford that will leave me with
room to spend on a timing belt.

Thanks for the posts Michael
Michael Pardee wrote:
> <webmaster@tfy.com> wrote in message
> news:1150950187.221249.321060@p79g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...
> > I saw 97 Accord EX Sedan at a dealer listed at $3900. It has 136k
> > miles. Dealer is trying to find out when the timing belt was changed
> > on the car. Hopefully will find out something soon.
> >
> I suspect the timing belt hasn't been changed, but you can hope. A lot of
> people stretch the interval if they are expecting to sell the car; after
> all, they don't want to put half a grand into the car just before they sell
> it. My daughter's '93 LX had 163K on it and the owner had never heard of the
> need to change the timing belt - he relied on Midas to tell him what the car
> needed. :-(
>
> It goes without saying that if there is no reliable record of the belt being
> changed the new owner will have to do it right away (or have it done as a
> condition of sale, even if it adds a bit to the price). In either case you
> will know with certainty when it was done.
>
> Mike

 

I understand what you mean. I would not mind spending the money on the
timing belt.

I will keep looking for an accord I can afford that will leave me with
room to spend on a timing belt.

Thanks for the posts Michael
Michael Pardee wrote:
> <webmaster@tfy.com> wrote in message
> news:1150950187.221249.321060@p79g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...
> > I saw 97 Accord EX Sedan at a dealer listed at $3900. It has 136k
> > miles. Dealer is trying to find out when the timing belt was changed
> > on the car. Hopefully will find out something soon.
> >
> I suspect the timing belt hasn't been changed, but you can hope. A lot of
> people stretch the interval if they are expecting to sell the car; after
> all, they don't want to put half a grand into the car just before they sell
> it. My daughter's '93 LX had 163K on it and the owner had never heard of the
> need to change the timing belt - he relied on Midas to tell him what the car
> needed. :-(
>
> It goes without saying that if there is no reliable record of the belt being
> changed the new owner will have to do it right away (or have it done as a
> condition of sale, even if it adds a bit to the price). In either case you
> will know with certainty when it was done.
>
> Mike