help plz

[taz600]

hey everyone! im new to this scene and could use a couple answers to some ?'s i have. first off i need an opinion on a possible purchase, i might buy a 94 caprice 5.7 but i need to know if this is worth it. it has 157,000 miles and a month old transmission. it also has an issue with the speedo dissapearing and coming back and the headlights sometime wont work.. a friend of mine is willing to let me take it off her hands for $2200 is that reasonable? also to get those problems fixed wat im i looking at cost, part, and time wise? thanks in advance for all help

[1986Z28]

thats actually an alright deal, what the body and interior like

[taz600]

the body looks pretty good the passanger side door has a small dent and the interior is not bad at all. will the repairs it needs cost me a whole lot and wat could the problem be?

[capriceowns]

That problem could be free to fix, like a loose ground or a cut/severed wire.

i'd say talk them down to 2,000$ and itll be a hell of a deal.

[taz600]

i dont think i can talk her down to that she wanted 2500 originally, looks like i will just get it and see about fixing the problems

[HLandin]

The speedo disappearing has been discussed in detail in previous posts. This is usually a sign of corrosion or dirty contact between the instrument cluster pins and its connectors. Clean them and the problem should disappear.

As far as headlights not working, it could be any number of things, but some more information would be helpful. Do they not come on when you switch them on? Do they go out when you switch between your regular lights and your bright lights (dimmer switch)? It could be something as simple as a bad on/off switch, or somehting else. More information will help.

I would definitely suggest doing some research on CarFax.com or some other source, especially since you mentioned a dent in a door. Just like any other car, minor cosmedic imperfections could indicated hidden problems. If it has a dent, it might have been in an accident. If has been in an accident, then it might have damage to the door or even frame that you cannot see. A little research might save you a lot of money in the long run.

The price seems seems good if it has not been involved in any accidents and has a good body. Look any for rust! Since these cars have a lot of metal in the body, a little rust can cause a lot of rust later on if not spotted and treated early. If you don't, you might find your "little problem" has become a REALLY BIG PROBLEM. Once again, a little care now could save you a lot later.

[silicon212]

FWIW, when the dimmer switch on my car failed (twice, both times) the headlights would not come on at all. Something to look for.

[capriceowns]

a good spot to lookl for rust is under the door its self, you have to open it then look at the bottom, they usually rot out.