katoi Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 hi people i live in massachussets and recently browsing craigslist for a daily driver and came across a 1993 subaru ss. i contacted the seller and he said that the car has a grounding problem causing no spark and no fuel. he sent me some pics and the car does look decent. i browsed some subie forums and i see this a common issues with subarus. should i be really worried about getting the car with this problem? my main issue would be the price of the parts and availability than putting time into it. am heading down to see the car some time next week what other common trouble spots should i look into? the AWD would be awesome for new england weather thats why am seriously considering this car thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I have had like 30 subarus now, of them I have had 5 r 6 subaru legacy turbo 92-94 none have gad a grounding problem.. seller sounds like scum selling to a sucker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Could very well be a grounding problem if the car is close to the sea. If you look at it, get underneath if possible and look for rust. Also check out the inner fenderwells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodsWagon Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Auto transmission? If it is, it's probably smoked or will be soon. The "grounding issue" may be a ruse to cover this. Rust in the rocker panels starting at the rear wheel wells and above the rear bumper at the rear wheel wells. They are fun cars, but don't expect turbo-subaru power out of them without a lot of modification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katoi Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 ill check for the rust and other stuff when i go see it next week. how available are the parts for this model? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katoi Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 ill check for the rust and other stuff when i go see it next week. how available are the parts for this model? the car is a 5 speed and has an upgraded turbo but i have no specifics and will have a better idea once i see it thanks for the replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I recant some. There is a couple factory ground wires attached to the front by the battery, the strap goes to a bolt on the radiator support above te headlight on the driver side. sometimes the star washer there corrodes and needs cleaned to bare metal on the support. also, there is a couple of grounding wires to the shock tower supports that corrode the same. clean them up to bare metal and good to go, that is the isue. If the owner of a car cannot clean these up with a wire brush, then they do not deserve to own one, and a seller who cannot do this even, has probably failed at other basic maintenance too, like oil changes, tire pressure, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodsWagon Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 ill check for the rust and other stuff when i go see it next week. how available are the parts for this model? the car is a 5 speed and has an upgraded turbo but i have no specifics and will have a better idea once i see itthanks for the replies If it's a 5spd and the rockers aren't rotted out, it's probably worth getting. Main problems with those is rubber hoses cracking. The PCV hoses and all coolant hoses will break if you touch them. The composite plastic coolant tank on the intake manifold is probably ready to disintegrate if it hasn't been replaced yet. All these parts are available from the dealer. Best place to ask about turbo legacys is http://bbs.legacycentral.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 this is just my very limited opinion, but if the sellers knows what is wrong with the car, bad ground, why hasn't he corrected it. this sounds like a guess to me. a plausible explanation but support by no real facts. and how many times have we heard of a bad ground disabling a car. if you buy it, base your decision on the fact that it does not run and nothing the seller SAYS. he may be right, but i doubt it. assume the worst case, what could be wrong with the car and how much to fix it. this is the only way you can be sure you will not be burned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 . . . assume the worst case, what could be wrong with the car and how much to fix it. this is the only way you can be sure you will not be burned. Very wise advice for anyone buying a used car. Thanks johnc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I wouldn't assume that it's a grounding issue either. When buying a car with a rare (VERY RARE) engine that doesn't run - assume it's completely shot. You would be looking at a miniumum of $2k to replace that engine. They are desireable and extreemly rare - more rare on your coast. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katoi Posted December 31, 2011 Author Share Posted December 31, 2011 very good pointers and advice people and i thank you all for the input. will sure put all this into consideration. ill go see the car and let you know what i see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 I hope you report back, otherwise you r the many who join and never come back. good thing we have join date and post count shown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 this is just my very limited opinion, but if the sellers knows what is wrong with the car, bad ground, why hasn't he corrected it. this sounds like a guess to me. a plausible explanation but support by no real facts. and how many times have we heard of a bad ground disabling a car. if you buy it, base your decision on the fact that it does not run and nothing the seller SAYS. he may be right, but i doubt it. assume the worst case, what could be wrong with the car and how much to fix it. this is the only way you can be sure you will not be burned. I have the same opinion as John eggleston. I too, am very suspicious of a seller who won't spend the money or time to fix what he says is a bad ground. Since the car doesn't run, it really only has limited value, and should be sold as a "parts car," at near scrap pricing. However, I am guessing the seller is not doing this. What price has he put on a non running car?? Be very wary of this seller! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katoi Posted December 31, 2011 Author Share Posted December 31, 2011 ill sure report back. the selling price is $800. for the price and the car turns out not to be junk, that would be a steal. if all your pointers or ideas that you guyz have given me dont add up when i see the car, ill surely walk away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 the selling price is $800. correction, the ''asking'' price is $800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 correction, the ''asking'' price is $800. For what it is worth.........a friend of mine who owns a foreign wrecking yard, recently said that any car, running or not running, he will buy for a minimum of $400. With that in mind, a non running 93 is worth maybe $500 imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbennett2u Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 "upgraded turbo" and no spark/fuel makes me think hack job by a kid that didnt know what he was doing. I would not have high hopes for this car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qman Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Have any of you actually looked at this vehicle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbennett2u Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Doubt it but most of the assumptions put on here seem very reasonable to me. Everyone is cautioning the poster that someone just saying "grounding issue" may or may not just be a guess and go in being a skeptic rather than an optimist. Seems like good advice to me. Also nobody is telling the OP not to go check it out either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qman Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 You do know what it means to assume... right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbennett2u Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 (edited) Poster asked for opinions, that is what were given. I cant really defend any more on this. Edited January 2, 2012 by danbennett2u Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qman Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Giving opinions on what to look for on a car inspection is perfectly fine. But calling seller or buyer names in the process is not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qman Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 For what it is worth.........a friend of mine who owns a foreign wrecking yard, recently said that any car, running or not running, he will buy for a minimum of $400. With that in mind, a non running 93 is worth maybe $500 imo. A junker price and the price for a non-running 93 SS do not compare. Even if it doesn't run the parts list is worth far more than $500.00. The core engine alone is worth that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 The core engine alone is worth that! very true, for some, but not for me. and maybe not for someone looking for a cheap winter car. especially if they do not do their own repairs or are a first time subaru buyer. value , like beauty, is in the eye of the buyer (and the seller). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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