We just purchased a Lumina APV with 200k, please read our story we need advice!

[becscar]

We just got a Lumina APV minivan, here's our story:
Our '84 Ford had the tranny go out recently so we had to get another vehicle asap, unfortunatley with Michigans very bad economy, we only make 40 k for a 4 person family a year. We did not have any money saved, so we only had $400 to spend. We ended up getting this Lumina APV with 200 K miles for $380.00....it was originally owned by the govt. dept. of defense. So I don't know what that means in terms of how it has been taken care of. The guy we bought it from may have purchased it cheap at an auction & they drove it a while till it needed brake work in the front, then they tried to sell it for $600. We talked them down to $380.00
Anyway....What I am wondering is what are the major pitfalls with this vehicle? Tell me anything you can! I will check the reliablity ratings website I use...Any advice for this vehicle, ecspecially one with this high of miles? The engine and tranny seem solid. I am under the impresion that GM made a good strong drive train and transmission. So, I hope we get at least 6 months out of this vehicle. My husband intends to do all the work nessescary to get it driving well. Brakes, tune up, oil change, coolant flush, etc. But if there are any hints that you fellow APV (or transport) drivers have, I would surely appreciate it! I want to make sure we make this last as long as possible. We cannot afford to do otherwise!
Thanks!!

[LMP]

How about year and engine type?

[becscar]

It is a 1990 Lumina APV with the 3.1 liter V6

[LMP]

MOst serious case is about the 3.1 engine, be it in that car or any other: if it starts overheating, do not loose time in lenghtly investigations: blown head gasket. If it has already happened and was repaired with improved GM gaskets, then chances are good it will not repeat.
MOst other problems are "normal" problems, like ignition module/crank sensor, easy to change on the 3.1, but the front end requires frequent parts replacements, in my view, more frequent than usual: tie rod ends and ball joints: if change needed, buy the "life time" garanteed type and keep the sales slip in a safe place: if you keep the car more than a few years, it will pay for itself.
In any case,at $380., it is worth it..and the plastic body does not reveal its age....

[CivicCommuter]

Hi,

We have owned a 94 APV w/3.1 from 32k to 201k miles, and to be honest it doesn't owe us a dime. Here's a list of gotchas we had over the last 169k miles:

Water pump x2
Starter x1
Drivers side CV x2(weird hotspot in car for some reason)
Front Left Caliper x3(weird hotspot in car for some reason)
Steering Rack x1(@187k and yes, it sprung on driver's side)
Ball joints and tie roads x1
Tranny replaced at 33k under warrenty, still shifting fine
Door handles tend to snap off, rt. front door and tailgate
Power window motor x1
Slider window hinge wore out @170k approx and window fell off
Driver's seat catch wore out around 190
Currently has a problem starting, starts and dies. posting elsewhere to try to resolve that!

That's it, to me over 9 years not a lot of issues, especially for a gas motor. i left out tires and regular maint. items but the van has been rocksolid. We've driven it up and down the east coast with more than 100k on it and had no real issues. We used to joke about replacing it at 200k, I've upped the ante to 250, good luck with yours!

[wagonman76]

I had a 90 APV I bought for $500. Sold it for $500 later on after buying a 92 Trans Sport. It was a good van, had over 180k on it, and is still going well, I know the new owner. I dont think the head gasket is so much an issue, as the 3.1 TBI uses iron heads and block. The MPFI engines with aluminum heads and iron block have more issues due to the mismatch.

BTW I am in Michigan and I make 30k a year for my family of 5, and I am a degreed engineer. Thats considered pretty good around here. I know what its like.

[BlazinK30]

I have a 92 with the 3.1, 3 spd. auto trans., with 180,000 on it. I gave $100 off a snow plow bill to one of my customers for it. I did some brake line work, new brakes all four corners, battery, & all new fluids and filters. It was on the road for under $500. Have put almost 20,000 on it since then, still have less than $1,300 into it for a year and a hlaf of driving it. Have done a power stearing line, altinator, winshield wiper motor, muffler, and the ignition mod. since then. I use it mostly for work so its always loaded with carpentry / ceramic tile / handy man tools. Does double duty as a soccer dad rig some too. It went good in the winter weather etc, but I put a set of snow tires on it an the thing goes anywhere. Drove it right out into my yard with close to a foot of snow, it drove around just fine and back out onto the driveway. I love it, I am even becoming partial to its ugly as sin looks! Stopped and looked at 95 yestserday thinking about a second one.

[Balloon Man]

I bought a '95 3.1 Lumina just about 5 months ago. It was a good deal at $2500, (where do you guys find such bargains?), knowing that the owners were selling it bacause it was "of that age". The car has over 268,000 kms on it and is mechanically very sound. Since then it has exhibited most of the minor faults listed by others, i.e. (1) transmission lock-up module had to be changed, (2) I re-built the front headrests myself, (3) I broke the drivers door handle off on a frozen day, (4) I had the drivers seat rebuilt, (5) I have just given the intermittent windshield wipers problem the boot by using LMP's technique, i.e. soldering the wires from the Wiper Pulse Board (6) I had a tune-up done because it was 'bucking'....which seems to have got rid of most of the problem, but not entirely. I keep expecting minor problems but that goes with the territory in an aged vehicle.

That being said the mini-van is the vehicle for me and I am very happy with my Lumina. It looks good, drives well and is very comfortable with lots of cargo space. Enjoy yours, bekscar, because I think you've made a good choice so long as you keep informed on this site. I would have definitely bought a new wiper motor had I not read LMP's advice, and, as I think had been done on this vehicle before, maybe even transferred the faulty Pulse Board over as well.