OK, now that we've defined what it is, what do I need to know?!

It has an AT, with a button that says AWD. Can the AWD be engaged/disengaged while moving?

I had a Tercel AWD Wagon with a mechanical linkage, and you could just slide the lever when you wanted (sometimes...it was a BIOTCH getting out on dry pavement...)

Also, what do I need to look for? Headgaskets? Timing belt? etc.

The car is in fair shape; the body is OK, all one color, but there are a few 'groans':

One of the front struts is in better shape than the other. How hard are these to do?

One tie rod end has a bad bushing. The tie rod end itself is OK, the bushing is shot.

One ball joint is in pretty bad shape. Any hints for replacing it? (Never done ball joints before).

Rear shocks are...um...there. How hard?

Overall, the car is OK. This is all I could discover in about a 15 minute test drive and a look on the lift. No apparent slop in the rear diff/driveshaft, goes OK down the road but has 13" wheels! (Subaru/Tire Rack say 14"!!!)

Not leaking oil from the oil pump...yet...how hard are the gaskets/oil pumps to replace?

I took it "off road" (up a two track less-than-dirt road) and everything seemed OK, except the 13" wheels rubbing on the calipers...

Reply to
Hachiroku
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The 13" wheels are the stock size. The 89 XT6 came with 5-lug 14" wheels. Everything else came with the 4-lug 13" wheels.

Changing the struts.schocks is simple. Ditto for the ball joints unless the pinch bolts are bigtime rusted.

Oil pump gasket and seals typically require replacement. Sure sign is valve train clatter.

The radiator if original is junk.

Smart to replace the timing belts but if one breaks, no big deal unless one of the idler pulleys is ripped off. This is a noninterference engine.

Does the car have 4WDBs? Only the RX in this body style got disc brekes on all 4 wheels.

Reply to
johninKY

Thanks John. I'll tell you what I know. I was supposed to go get it today but got tied up.

Wow. the clearance is REAL tight on the pass. front. Enough to bind in reverse on the caliper. We swapped the front with the rear.

Need a compressor for the spring? I can't find any info on this. I will buy a Haynes for the car. The pinch joints look OK.

Um, I thought they ALL had clatter after 160,000... ;)

Didn't really pay attention. Looked OK

This is a GOOD thing. Is this a big deal?

Disc fronts, drum rears. Brakes seemed OK, but rusty. Will check the specs when I get it home. Probably do the whole thing. I used to work for CarQuest and get a decent discount.

Reply to
Hachiroku

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