'96 1.3L metro - is this a deal?

[sbiddle]

This metro has a blown motor but otherwise is in great shape. It only has 13,000 miles on it. It's a 4 dr, automatic, no a/c. They want $50.00 for it but there is someone else also interested so a bidding war may result.

The car has been sitting since August. I looked at it today and after shovelling off the snow popped the hood to have a look. The timing component have all been removed, so I'd have to put in a used motor (about $450) One odd thing is the ignition key. It would go in but wouldn't turn.

Two questions: is there some kind of interlock on the ingition key or do you think it's just frozen?

question 2: Is this a good deal or what else should I be worried about?

[sbiddle]

To add to this, what engines besides the 4 cyl that's already in it can I swap with? Can I put in a 3 cyl? Does anyone know what would be involved with this such as if I'd also have to swap the ECM and all the sensors?

[bambambam]

Fifty bucks? Get it. I've got a 96 1.3L with automatic Sturdy little car. Pretty easy to work on too. Mine gets 36 MPG on the interstate running about 80 MPH.
As for the ignition, my key kind of sticks sometimes. Might just need to shoot some dry graphite into the switch. Make sure the steering wheel isn't in a jam, that'll freeze the key too.
Is the engine totally blown, or is the timing just screwed up? Replacing parts might be easier that doing the whole engine. I replaced my timing belt and front oil seal a few weeks ago...it ate up most of a day but wasnt' too bad.

[leonbentz]

Yea, $50.00 bucks is hard to beat. Even if you do go JDM on the motor. If it's in nice shape, you'll get about 200k of good service. Go get it!! LOL

[leonbentz]

Even if you bought a brand new engine with 0 miles on it, it's still better than paying 15 grand or more for a brand new car, which may or may not give you the 200k miles of service you want.

[sbiddle]

Originally Posted by bambambam

Fifty bucks? Get it. I've got a 96 1.3L with automatic Sturdy little car. Pretty easy to work on too. Mine gets 36 MPG on the interstate running about 80 MPH.
As for the ignition, my key kind of sticks sometimes. Might just need to shoot some dry graphite into the switch. Make sure the steering wheel isn't in a jam, that'll freeze the key too.
Is the engine totally blown, or is the timing just screwed up? Replacing parts might be easier that doing the whole engine. I replaced my timing belt and front oil seal a few weeks ago...it ate up most of a day but wasnt' too bad.

Apparently the car was looked at by two different mechanics and they couldn't figure out what was wrong except that it made a horrible knocking sound...When I looked at the motor, the timing components were all missing, so I'd have to replace all of that just to get back to where I could diagnose the problem.

As to the ignition key problem, I couldn't get it out of park without the key turning and I'll need to do that in order to move the car around. I read in my Haynes manual about some release knob for taking it out of park manually. Does anyone know about this? Where is this magic knob?

[bambambam]

Well, in addition to the key turning, you also have to step on the brake pedal to release out of Park. Safety interlock or something. The only knob I know of is the one on the side of the shifter.
Still, if you don't want it I've got a fifty my wife hasn't found yet

[HannabilRox]

As far as the shifter, you have to pull the center console and pop the cable that keeps it from shifting without the key. Sounds like you may not have the correct key for that particular car. Have you tried to see if it works in the door to be able lock/unlock it? I believe there would be some ECM and Sensor wiring issues if you tried to put the 3 cyl in one that came with a 4 cyl.

[sbiddle]

I found out by reading in my other metro owners manual that there is a release cam located under the plastic console of the shift lever that can be actuated to manually shift from "P" to "N".