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Engine Advice On 2003 V6 Automatic

  • Thread starter Thread starter SoHappeh
  • Start date Start date Jan 17, 2014
S

SoHappeh

New Member
Jan 16, 2014
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Jan 17, 2014
#1
  • Jan 17, 2014
  • #1
I am going to look at a 2003 V6 automatic mustang (80,000 miles) asking price is $3,000.00 OBO (I'm hoping that I can get it for $1,000.00 - $1,500)

The car has been sitting for about 3 years. Now I know that I'm going to have to replace brake lines, fuel lines, flush the radiator, and the fuel lines, and replace the brakes, calipers, new oil and transmission fluid... pretty much around $2,000.00 in flushing and replacing and that's if the motor isn't seized. My questions are below..

1.) I have to start and drive this car when going to see it, because I don't want to rebuild a motor or transmission.. SO, can I just siphon the gas tank and put new fuel in (knowing it will run like doo-doo) of course after checking the fluid levels of everything. Will this be ok? or will I wreck it more? and any info/ tips in this area would be helpful


2.) Will I just be better off buying used from a dealership? or if all the work I'm thinking I'll have to do/ have done will add up to about $3,000.00 - $4,000.00 including purchase price would be worth it considering low miles and very clean body? that is if the motor and transmission are fine.

Thanks for looking, and I apologize if I put this in the wrong area I'm not sure what sn95 is.... by the way I am Amber, and hello
 

madspeed

Colonel Mustard
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
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a van down by the river
Jan 17, 2014
#2
  • Jan 17, 2014
  • #2
Hello Amber. If i were you, i would be looking at a running and driving car. Theres plenty around for not much more money than that project car. Now, if you were able to do the work yourself and could pick it up for real cheap, that's a bit of a different story, but I'd still be concerned about it since its been sitting that long
 

madspeed

Colonel Mustard
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
8,914
1,332
204
a van down by the river
Jan 17, 2014
#3
  • Jan 17, 2014
  • #3
Post up a link to the car and we'll take a look
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,271
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Massachusetts
Jan 17, 2014
#4
  • Jan 17, 2014
  • #4
Unless you like doing your own work....spend a little more money and buy a running/driving car.
 
S

SoHappeh

New Member
Jan 16, 2014
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Jan 18, 2014
#5
  • Jan 18, 2014
  • #5
They have the hood and headlights, the guy was going to put a body kit on and decided he really had no clue what he was doing (hence the pry marks on the right side wheel well/bumper). I actually am very interested in the "project" part of it I just didn't know if I could getting it running the same or better as an "already running" mustang of this year and model.... and link is below I hope it works...
http://instagram.com/so_happeh
 

madspeed

Colonel Mustard
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
8,914
1,332
204
a van down by the river
Jan 18, 2014
#6
  • Jan 18, 2014
  • #6
No way, i'd walk away from that headache
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,271
17,959
224
Massachusetts
Jan 18, 2014
#7
  • Jan 18, 2014
  • #7
$1000 car tops...for parts

I'd go get as running/driving car instead
 
S

SoHappeh

New Member
Jan 16, 2014
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2
Jan 18, 2014
#8
  • Jan 18, 2014
  • #8
Well, I feel like I should still go look at it and then depending on its condition decide... but I was looking at some mustangs from local dealerships and they mostly have convertibles. I don't really like the way those look, and the other half are manuals.. which I don't know how to drive lol! So pretty much I have a small field to choose from.. because then it comes down to mileage/price/color.
 
S

SoHappeh

New Member
Jan 16, 2014
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2
Jan 21, 2014
#9
  • Jan 21, 2014
  • #9
Hey guys, I don't know if you're still looking in on this for any updates.. But I went to see the car, my curiousity got the best of me lol. Anyway, we put a fully charged battery in, which worked because the the inside dome lights came on, went to start it and it just clicked, I'm not sure what clicked maybe the starter? I could hear the fuel pump kicking on, anyway when it clicked the lights inside the car shut off and the theft light flashed on the dash, also it was sparking on the positive and negative battery connections. Also I thought the alternator BUT we checked the battery charge and it barely drained anything.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,271
17,959
224
Massachusetts
Jan 22, 2014
#10
  • Jan 22, 2014
  • #10
Hard to diagnose from here. Could be anything froma bad starter, to a seized motor to an issue with the PATS security system. Would need to go through and check a lot of things to diagnose the issue.
 
S

SoHappeh

New Member
Jan 16, 2014
5
0
2
Jan 22, 2014
#11
  • Jan 22, 2014
  • #11
Thanks for all of the advice but they didn't accept my final offer of $1,500.00. They're in a delusional state that "$3,000 is a steal and everyone one they've talked to thinks so too!" Well if it was a steal wouldn't it be gone already? It's ok though I'll find something better. Lol i was looking at a 2006 black v6 automatic at a dealership w/90,000 miles. I kinda like that body style better anyway.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,271
17,959
224
Massachusetts
Jan 23, 2014
#12
  • Jan 23, 2014
  • #12
$3K is not a steal.

In my opinion, $1.5K was a generous offer for a non-running, 10-year old car with body damage.
 
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