Removing a spark plug IS NOT “taking apart an engine”. Checking the compression is perfectly reasonable.
No, that can’t be determined on a test drive.
Note this is a 10 year old thread.
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In case you find this helpful, Car Talk has an overview of this process.
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Curious why you are looking for a 25yr old car? Always wanted one? Vs a 2015 civic? Is dealer close to you? 10miles? 150 miles? City? Rural?
Because 10 years ago when this thread was started, it was 14 year old car.
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Just goes to show you that people do not read the threads before replying to them or don’t pay attention to them… I noticed on the 2nd reply when I didn’t recognize the poster (last post 2017), I looked up and saw the 2014 date, even then right above Clueless’s post, it states this is a 10 years later thread… And come on, Muffins hasn’t posted since 2016…
Just found it interesting and humorous…
But I agree with the very 1st reply from 2014 as well as the very 1st reply to Clueless…
BTW, The PRO scanners can run a type of cranking compression test (cylinder balance test) without ever opening anything but the drivers door…
Yeah, I’d be a bit wary myself…
But quicky compression tests can be done just cranking the engine. Stand at the open engine bay and have someone crank the engine. If you hear a steady yaa, yaa, yaa, yaa, as it cranks it at least tells you there isn’t a dead cylinder. A yaa, yaa, umph, yaa sound would be telling you to walk away!
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Consumer Reports recommends getting a prepurchase inspection even for Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, no matter who the manufacturer is.
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Not in this case
As stated earlier, this is an OLD thread
And if I remember the car correctly, it was from the early 1990s and my PRO-level scanner definitely didn’t have any bi-directional cylinder balance test or anything of the sort for this particular
If the car’s old enough, even the most expensive scanner won’t be much help, imo
I was talking about Clueless looking at used cars, sorry for the confusion…
And you are correct about the OBD1 and older scanners not being very good for PPI’s…
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This argument is why me and my brother in law don’t talk to each other as much as before.
I always said Mitsubishi is a brand to avoid ( even their EVO doesn’t seem to hold up well over time ) and he took offense because his choice of vehicle was Mitsubishi.
Before his suv hits 90k miles, the radio stopped working, the windows stopped too, and he had to change the exhaust system.