Hi guys i found this ford ranger for 300 bucks and im debating this weekend to go see if it worth to buy and fixed. So the owner says that it could be the relayed or ignition coil only but registration been due since 2020 ( so i think there a huge back fee ). My thought is if it that easy wouldnt they fixed it already???? What are some of your guys thought on this??? Im thinking it could be a seized engine???? And i need more information about seized engine. I been looking at youtube videos about seized engine they say u can unseized it but im confused can you unseized the engine and use the engine agian regularly?? Or would you have to rebuild?? Because i dont see no video after they unseized an engine. Any tips is a good tips. Just a rookie trying to understand how cars work. Ty for your time reading this.
Bring a non-rookie mechanic with you when you look at it
Good insight: yes, if it were a simple problem, they wouldn't be selling it for $300.
If you were a mechanic like Scotty or Derek from Vice Grip Garage (who specializes in fixing up old non-running junkers) and you are able to do the work yourself, then it would make sense. But the motor may not be salvageable, and it is safe to assume that if you have to hire the work done, the cost will be more than the truck is worth.
If you have time and tools, and you get the shop manual, and if you won't be depending on it for transportation until you can get it running, then maybe it would be worth picking it up as a project truck. Otherwise, no.
If you are willing to get your hands dirty out of curiosity to see if what he is saying is fact or fiction, you could buy it for $300, do your testing/diagnosis.
If your testing/diagnosis yields cheap repairable results, all the better.
If not, you could probably scrap it to get some of your money back, without too much of a loss.
Or maybe make a YouTube video about the whole process.
It could also turn in to a money pit, so you gotta know when to call it quits. just don’t spend to much money on it.
The only reason I say this is because you are a budding mechanic, and may know a thing or too, or may want to learn a thing or too. If you were an ordinary guy looking for a car, I would say no way.
