Noob question: Buy or pass?

[soulthoughts]

Hi everyone...I've been looking for a car to build/rebuild. This will be my first. After some poking around on the net I found this place. I've always loved Hondas and I have a chance to buy one for pretty cheap.

Now I don't know a thing about cars. I tend to dabble in computers and software. So this will be something I'm learning on the fly. But after lurking here for a few weeks I think I can do it with the help of members plus all the nice stickies/tutorials. (Plus I noticed a bunch of guys in my area that I'm sure I'll be bugging at some point.)

The car I might buy is an 89 Accord SE-i, sedan, with a manual transmission. It's got a rough interior. The power windows, doors, sunroof all work though. As far as the motor goes, it wouldn't start up. One of the guys that was looking at the car said he got it started not to long ago by spraying some carb cleaner in the intake manifold(?).

So if I can get it started and back to my house, I'm really thinking about using to learn how wrench on cars.

I took a bunch of what I though would be relevant pics. The guy wants $450 but I'm pretty confident I can talk him down the $300 range. What do you think and thanks in advance!

Apparently I need more posts in order to post pics. I'll post pics as soon as I'm able to.

[2ndGenGuy]

It sounds like if the car will fire by spraying some starting fluid in, that you've just got a fuel delivery issue. The problem shouldn't be too hard to fix, either fuel pump, clogged filters, or the thing is just out of gas. Possibly there could be some reason the car isn't firing the injectors as well... but it should be a relatively cheap fix, and a good one to start with, since it sounds like you know the car will run once it gets fuel.

It's pretty typical for the interiors in the SEi to be trashed. But luckily there are tons of sedans around in wrecking yards, etc that have decent interiors you could swap in.

[soulthoughts]

Thanks for the reply. I just posted in the WA thread asking about pick a parts in the Oly area. Anyways...here are some pics. So, $300-450 good deal or no?

[soulthoughts]

[Harrison_Bergeron]

If it started after having cleaner sprayed in the mani it could just be that your mani is gunked up from a bad pcv or similar issue. Mine had the same issue, the cleaner cleans enough to get things going, but since the problem is not actually fixed it comes right back.

There is no way to know for sure without taking stuff apart, but the problem could be as "simple" as cleaning out the manifold and replacing the pcv system.

[1ajs]

you could grab it get it runing then get onto learning some body work and fix that rust on the drisver side rear wheel and gl on talking him down to 300

[ShyBoyCA6]

Buy it

[Civic Accord Honda]

buy it!! and kick his ass for swaping the nice sei rims with lxi rims

[w261w261]

All iit would have taken was some leather conditioner every year - what a shame. But for $300, the tuition is cheap. Plus, you've got us! I say go for it.

[89T]

relay....? very very common problem.

[charliekuney]

Yeah, try the main relay. I got a perfectly running car for $300 just by replacing that damned thing...

[ShyBoyCA6]

hmmm maybe filter is dirty or clogged who knows and man that se-i looks beat up but what can you expect for 450?? i got mine for 400$ and ran like shit but i did what i could to keep her up and running.

[mykwikcoupe]

Id always start with the main relay under the dash. They are about $80 at the dealership or its a minute or two to resolder it and try it again. This is a must swap part for these cars of this age.

[Accordian88]

Buy it before its gone!

[snoopyloopy]

it's like dawn stock right now...buy buy buy

[whitekight]

BEWARE OF RUST!

your young and have time on your hands - go for it