'96 GPX - New to FTOs
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- pete_gpx
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'96 GPX - New to FTOs
I've been a fan of FTOs for ages and I finally had the chance to pick one up for cheap. It's a 96 GPX, 2.0ltr MIVEC, 4 speed tiptronic. It's a little worn, although not so much visually, having traveled 217 000ks. Honestly, though, for the price I paid for it, I can't complain.
The interior is almost perfect, which is amazing for a car of its age and mileage. The paint is also very good, definitely above average for the age, although there are one or two bubbles and a few patches of clear coat coming off.
Pictures:
The car was cheap, so obviously it comes with problems, which hopefully won't cost me a million dollars to fix up. At the moment it has an oil leak (I'm no mechanic, but I do know a little bit) and is puffing a little white smoke on start up. I don't believe the oil leak is going to be a major worry, but the smoke doesn't sound good. From reading on the forums here, as well as listening to some of my more knowledgeable friends, I've learned that it can mean the rings are worn, or that I have a blown head gasket. Any noob friendly advice regarding this problem would be accepted gratefully. At the moment, it drives well, but apparently wouldn't pass a roadworthy, although it is currently registered (which will be canceled next week).
Anyways, I've bought the car from down near Southport at the Gold Coast and am having it put on a trailer to be brought up to where I live, Toowoomba, next weekend.
I'm extremely excited about what I've bought, and I do have a little money to spend on repairs. Perhaps if the engine problems are too costly to fix, I'd be open to buying a cheap, good condition replacement to swap out to.
I'm on my P's, only being 18, so obviously no performance modifications can be made, but I'm looking forward to making the car at least turn a few heads.
Once I have it running, I'm keen to start participating in cruises etc. In the mean time, I'd like to start getting a little active on these forums and get to know people, while taking advantage of any advice that can be offered.
The interior is almost perfect, which is amazing for a car of its age and mileage. The paint is also very good, definitely above average for the age, although there are one or two bubbles and a few patches of clear coat coming off.
Pictures:
The car was cheap, so obviously it comes with problems, which hopefully won't cost me a million dollars to fix up. At the moment it has an oil leak (I'm no mechanic, but I do know a little bit) and is puffing a little white smoke on start up. I don't believe the oil leak is going to be a major worry, but the smoke doesn't sound good. From reading on the forums here, as well as listening to some of my more knowledgeable friends, I've learned that it can mean the rings are worn, or that I have a blown head gasket. Any noob friendly advice regarding this problem would be accepted gratefully. At the moment, it drives well, but apparently wouldn't pass a roadworthy, although it is currently registered (which will be canceled next week).
Anyways, I've bought the car from down near Southport at the Gold Coast and am having it put on a trailer to be brought up to where I live, Toowoomba, next weekend.
I'm extremely excited about what I've bought, and I do have a little money to spend on repairs. Perhaps if the engine problems are too costly to fix, I'd be open to buying a cheap, good condition replacement to swap out to.
I'm on my P's, only being 18, so obviously no performance modifications can be made, but I'm looking forward to making the car at least turn a few heads.
Once I have it running, I'm keen to start participating in cruises etc. In the mean time, I'd like to start getting a little active on these forums and get to know people, while taking advantage of any advice that can be offered.
- xSlurpee
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hey mate welcome to the club, white smoke is NOT usually indication of rings being bugger (thats a bluish/blackish smoke). White smoke usually can be valve steam seals or coolant somehow finding its way into the cylinder. This could be blown head gasket etc etc. But my bet wil definitly be water/coolant
Id also be finding out if the 200,000k service was done as it is probably the most important service and most expensive. Read some of the threads on this forum for more information. I also highly recommend replacing the tranny oil has most problems with the tip are caused by lack of servicing to them.
Good luck and enjoy
Id also be finding out if the 200,000k service was done as it is probably the most important service and most expensive. Read some of the threads on this forum for more information. I also highly recommend replacing the tranny oil has most problems with the tip are caused by lack of servicing to them.
Good luck and enjoy
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- pete_gpx
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I've been told that the car had a major service 14 months ago, with over 15 hundred being spent. The guy that I bought it from was selling it for his mother, so he didn't know too much about it, although he knew for certain that the timing belt was replaced.I8A4RE wrote:hey mate welcome to the club, white smoke is NOT usually indication of rings being bugger (thats a bluish/blackish smoke). White smoke usually can be valve steam seals or coolant somehow finding its way into the cylinder. This could be blown head gasket etc etc. But my bet wil definitly be water/coolant
Id also be finding out if the 200,000k service was done as it is probably the most important service and most expensive. Read some of the threads on this forum for more information. I also highly recommend replacing the tranny oil has most problems with the tip are caused by lack of servicing to them.
Good luck and enjoy
Also, if a water/coolant leak is a suspect for the smoke, how would I go about checking this?
- pete_gpx
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- vipfto
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+1 but WTTC club mate let us know how you get onI8A4RE wrote:hey mate welcome to the club, white smoke is NOT usually indication of rings being bugger (thats a bluish/blackish smoke). White smoke usually can be valve steam seals or coolant somehow finding its way into the cylinder. This could be blown head gasket etc etc. But my bet wil definitly be water/coolant
Id also be finding out if the 200,000k service was done as it is probably the most important service and most expensive. Read some of the threads on this forum for more information. I also highly recommend replacing the tranny oil has most problems with the tip are caused by lack of servicing to them.
Good luck and enjoy
FTO GR-TURBO
172KW ATW @ 11PSI
172KW ATW @ 11PSI
- pete_gpx
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2 and a half grand.
I went and picked it up yesterday, although I'm leaving it in Gatton for the next few weeks for my friend to work on. He's a qualified auto-electrician and after quickly going over the car, he's extremely impressed and thinks that I've got a very good deal.
Also, I now know that it had it's alternator replaced in the service it had last year.
I went and picked it up yesterday, although I'm leaving it in Gatton for the next few weeks for my friend to work on. He's a qualified auto-electrician and after quickly going over the car, he's extremely impressed and thinks that I've got a very good deal.
Also, I now know that it had it's alternator replaced in the service it had last year.
- dstocks
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For $2500, you definitely got a good deal. Especially when you consider that a half cut normally costs around 4K.
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- pete_gpx
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Right, so my friend has had a look and discovered that the engine is full of burnt oil after changing it... It's still blowing smoke and he believes the engine must have gotten very hot at some stage. The engine looks like it's pretty much had it..
Any suggestions? Any chance of him being wrong? Anyone know where I can get a secondhand, good condition engine?
Any suggestions? Any chance of him being wrong? Anyone know where I can get a secondhand, good condition engine?
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