clunk/knock when starting

[umina]

Hi, i'm looking at buying a 2000 Alero GLS. I went and test drove it, seems great, shifts smooth, has lots of power etc...
The motor was replaced 2 months ago with one from a wrecked car because the intake gasket had leaked and ruined the original motor. The car has 82K miles, the "new" motor has 56K. Anyways, when I start it, there is a brief clunking sound coming from right in front of the driverside under the hood. Every 3rd or 4th start, i hear it. Looked under the car and from under the hood, could not see anything moving or hear anything. Can only hear it from inside the car. Could this be the ABS cycling at startup? Other than that, the car is in pretty good shape minus some chips in the hood paint and dirty leather.

Also, this is the second one i've test driven, and noticed that the brake pedal is extremely firm, like there is no boost. It stops fine, just very little to no pedal travel and the pedal is hard. Is this normal? Appreciate all the help, thanks!

[scoopy03]

Originally Posted by umina

Hi, i'm looking at buying a 2000 Alero GLS. I went and test drove it, seems great, shifts smooth, has lots of power etc...
The motor was replaced 2 months ago with one from a wrecked car because the intake gasket had leaked and ruined the original motor. The car has 82K miles, the "new" motor has 56K. Anyways, when I start it, there is a brief clunking sound coming from right in front of the driverside under the hood. Every 3rd or 4th start, i hear it. Looked under the car and from under the hood, could not see anything moving or hear anything. Can only hear it from inside the car. Could this be the ABS cycling at startup? Other than that, the car is in pretty good shape minus some chips in the hood paint and dirty leather.

Also, this is the second one i've test driven, and noticed that the brake pedal is extremely firm, like there is no boost. It stops fine, just very little to no pedal travel and the pedal is hard. Is this normal? Appreciate all the help, thanks!

the brake pedal is gonna be extremely firm. it just takes a little more leg power to push it down all the way. dont worry you dont have to push it down all the way to stop always wherever i heard the clunking sound it used to hear it from the bottom of the end. i never figured out what it was but it does it once in a blue moon now.

[jr6078]

Just my two cents worth...

I would stay away from a car that has had the engine replaced unless you know the history of the replacement engine (other than just the mileage) and unless you know the shop (or it's reputation) where the work was done.