Ask the seller what the symptom is that is causing so much focus on the high current circuits. I’m presuming the problem is that the engine sometimes doesn’t crank, or has a weak crank. That problem can be caused by maybe a half dozen different things, and can usually be fixed, but it might require a auto-electric specialist to figure out what’s going on.
I’d want a substantial discount if I purchased this car myself, and the problem hadn’t yet been totally resolved. It’s pretty inconvenient on a cold rainy night to turn the key to “start” and hear only a click.
Never consider a used car that has records indicating a possible chronic problem.
And never, ever, believe Carfax. They’re a farce. Their records are typically incomplete, inaccurate, wrong, and just plain misleading.
And never buy a car until you’ve test driven it and had it looked over by a trusted mechanic.
If you buy this car, you might be able to find and fix the problem, but you’ll probably regret it if things don’t work out that way.
Perhaps this is a parasitic draw that no one took time to track down. Does this car have any aftermarket electrical accessories installed, especially a security system or remote starter? Those would be likely suspects here.
Yep. Its craigslist.
I haven’t gone to see it yet and don’t about any of its accessories.
Thanks all.
My plans are to surely test drive and get a mechanic inspection when I find the right coupe.
Thanks.
The car could be fine and it could also be that the reason for the battery replacements, charging system checks, and so on were due to some misdiagnosis rather than a chronic problem.
What needs to be known is the complaint that led to the electrical system checks. In other words, was the battery known to be dead and faulty with no doubt at all, whether or not the starter motor would even click when the key was turned, or if the engine cranked over but did not start.
Things such as faulty ignition switches and neutral safety switches can cause no starts with the battery or even the starter motor erroneously getting the blame.
Are the batteries really cheapos or were they replaced by a chain unnecessarily. Batteries are a big money maker and a fear monger for a lot of people. @ok4455. You are being kind…“miss diagnosis” in the northeast with a car this old, expect to look for rust problems.
There is only 1,500 miles between the second and the fourth battery in one year. The owner does not use the car much and is letting the battery go dead.
I see owners like this often. The battery will discharge over the winter months and in the spring they want it “fixed”. We have to recharge the battery before we can test it and it will usually pass.
If the owner of this Civic is going to a place like Pep Boys, they will find something to “fix”.
There is a possibility that the owner of the car was conned–serially–by an unscrupulous mechanic, but with all of the possible negatives regarding this car, I don’t know why anyone would give it a second look.
Used cars are like commuter buses.
If you miss one, another one will be along shortly.