New Buyer Advice (Page 1/4)
Peter41 DEC 26, 06:57 PM
Hey everyone, new to the forum. Tomorrow afternoon I am going to go checkout an 86 v6. Looks to be in decent shape but is having problems starting. Started fine, then had to be jumped a few times. Apparently autozone said the battery is good, although I’m skeptical. Is it worth buying because it could be something g minor, or am I going to be chasing electrical ghosts. I can get it for $500.
Rick Morehouse DEC 26, 07:43 PM
If it won't stay running, try talking them down, may be $400.00--. Could be low on gas? Hard to say by your post. In any case, save that Fiero Man. good luck.
Peter41 DEC 26, 08:27 PM

quote
Originally posted by Rick Morehouse:

If it won't stay running, try talking them down, may be $400.00--. Could be low on gas? Hard to say by your post. In any case, save that Fiero Man. good luck.




Well the kid replaced the battery cable terminals connectors and that helped for a couple starts, then dies again and could only be started with a jump. I’m thinking maybe a bad battery, bad cables, or hopefully something as simple as a bad ground. He has it up for 1k and said I’m in the 400-500 range. Maybe I’ll offer 4 if I can get it started and drive it home. Worst case I can still manage the 500 to save it and have it to tinker with on the weekends!
fierofrenzy DEC 26, 09:22 PM
could it be a bad alternator? So instead of the alternator providing the current, your running off the battery. When the battery runs dry ( dies, that is) the engine quits. Could this be your problem ?
Peter41 DEC 26, 09:42 PM

quote
Originally posted by fierofrenzy:

could it be a bad alternator? So instead of the alternator providing the current, your running off the battery. When the battery runs dry ( dies, that is) the engine quits. Could this be your problem ?



Possibly? The owner wasn’t much help, mostly a lack of knowledge, but a couple friends of mine are coming with me and we’re going to try and diagnose it before I actually buy it. I would rather not start throwing in money to see what fixes it.
cvxjet DEC 27, 12:23 AM
If you have a meter, get it started and see what the voltage is at the battery....If it's a good alt then you should see at least 13+.......If it's below 12.5 then it is probably your Alternator. Easy way to check...
ltlfrari DEC 28, 09:16 AM
If it starts then dies, I'd look more towards a fuel problem than electrical. Clogged filter maybe. The one that's on there is probably as old as the car, or dying pump.
There's a schrader valve on the fuel rail, if you press it after it dies, do you get fuel spurting out, if so then not fuel pump/filter. If not then probably one of them.
This vid shows wherethe valve is. Don't really need gauge to test but great if you have one, just press valve.



If fuel looks ok and baring it being a bad battery, I'd probably start looking at ignition components, in particular the ignition module which lives in the distributor and the coil which sits right above the exhaust. Both have a hard life and are also probably as old as the car.

Oh, check car for rust, particularly the trunk corners/wheel wells, pull trunk carpet in corners to see, and also upper frame rails which are very hard to see properly.
Body work on these cars is always pretty reasonable, even if paint is crap because they are plastic!. It's the underlying structure you need to be concerned with.

[This message has been edited by ltlfrari (edited 12-28-2019).]

88TTopGT DEC 31, 10:55 AM
maybe have a battery load test, starter and charging system check..if that doesn’t come up with anything, try fuel pressure check, or weak fuel pump, if nothing still try pickup coil inside distributor, and still if nothing check wiring.
Just my two cents.
Good luck to you!
Peter41 DEC 31, 11:16 AM
Well guys,

Wasn’t able to go look at it. The seller had something come up so had to reschedule. Thank you for all of the replies! Still going to try and look at it, but in the mean time maybe a different one will pop up that will be less of a headache.
Peter41 JAN 08, 11:06 AM
Aright guys (and gals)!

I never went and looked at the fiero I originally posted about. However, another one did pop up that I'm going to go look at today. It is an 85 SE, 2.5 L 5 speed. 146k miles and a clean title. The body looks like its in great shape, although the silver paint is looking pretty sad. New battery, alternator, AC Compressor, shift cable, and tires. The headlight motors work and it even has current emissions. Does this sound like something I should pull the trigger on? my current DD is an 05 Mustang GT, and I would be picking this up to keep miles off of that. I know the 4cyl is going to be very very disappointing compared to what I am driving right now, but I am not buying it to break speed records haha. He has it up for $1700, but is flexible. What would you guys be comfortable with to spend money wise on this? I know value is all subjective, but I have seen prices all over the map for these cars.

Thanks!