Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > EcoModding Central
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 02-23-2010, 06:14 PM   #1 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 389

2003 Ninja EX250 - '03 Kawasaki Ninja EX250
90 day: 78.57 mpg (US)

Saturn - '99 Saturn SL1 Base
90 day: 47.27 mpg (US)
Thanks: 25
Thanked 58 Times in 37 Posts
Getting a '91 Metro

Thursday i'm going to look at a (eco) Green 1991 Geo Metro 3cyl 5spd car and will most likely drive it home. It has 160,000 miles on it, the owner has recently had numerous services done to the car (oil, filters, emissions parts, spark plugs and wires, etc). No leaks. He has also replaced the battery, alternator, and starter. He says the car looks fine, body is straight with a replacement primered front left fender and hood (he hasnt been in an accident, he bought the car like that)... and only surface rust on the inside of the drivers side door (i can live with that). Only problem with the car is that he said his mechanic thinks there is a "short" somewhere and sometimes the battery dies. Since he replaced all the eletricals, it could possibly be something in the fuse box drawing power while the car is off?

Basically i'd like to hear from other Metro owners what to look out for being a first time metro owner. Etc etc.

Thanks.

__________________
Doing my part to reduce dependence on OIL
Doing my part to reduce congestion
And enjoying it!

If you have to use your brakes, you are driving too fast!

My 101.5 MPG 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250




Crude Oil Price Today
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 02-23-2010, 06:34 PM   #2 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Bicycle Bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: N. Saskatchewan, CA
Posts: 1,803

Appliance White - '93 Geo Metro 4-Dr. Auto
Last 3: 42.35 mpg (US)

Stealth RV - '91 Chevy Sprint Base
Thanks: 91
Thanked 459 Times in 327 Posts
Check the compression, advance the timing all the way, and enjoy. Electrical faults are more often a corroded connection. Have a look wherever wires can rub, or narrow down the trouble by pulling half the fuses at a time, then a quarter, and so on. The best cure for the interior noise, and the risk of stereo theft, is a headset. Welcome to the club!
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2010, 08:24 PM   #3 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Even if the body panels look OK, get under the front end and inspect the control arm mounts very closely for corrosion. It's these cars' achilles heels if they've lived in salty winter conditions.

Everything else is (relatively) easily fixable.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2010, 10:54 PM   #4 (permalink)
Hi-Tech Redneck
 
Johnny Mullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,436
Thanks: 6
Thanked 49 Times in 42 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Johnny Mullet Send a message via MSN to Johnny Mullet
Buyer's Guide.............
Buyer's Info
__________________

GeoMetroforum.com - got mpg?
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Johnny Mullet For This Useful Post:
theycallmeebryan (02-23-2010)
Old 02-23-2010, 11:35 PM   #5 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 389

2003 Ninja EX250 - '03 Kawasaki Ninja EX250
90 day: 78.57 mpg (US)

Saturn - '99 Saturn SL1 Base
90 day: 47.27 mpg (US)
Thanks: 25
Thanked 58 Times in 37 Posts
Johnny, thank you so much for that information. That write-up is exactly the kind of thing i was looking for. I will use that info when i go look at the car!
__________________
Doing my part to reduce dependence on OIL
Doing my part to reduce congestion
And enjoying it!

If you have to use your brakes, you are driving too fast!

My 101.5 MPG 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250




Crude Oil Price Today
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2010, 12:37 AM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 389

2003 Ninja EX250 - '03 Kawasaki Ninja EX250
90 day: 78.57 mpg (US)

Saturn - '99 Saturn SL1 Base
90 day: 47.27 mpg (US)
Thanks: 25
Thanked 58 Times in 37 Posts
The owner sent me pictures of the car:







What do you guys think?
__________________
Doing my part to reduce dependence on OIL
Doing my part to reduce congestion
And enjoying it!

If you have to use your brakes, you are driving too fast!

My 101.5 MPG 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250




Crude Oil Price Today
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2010, 03:13 AM   #7 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Bicycle Bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: N. Saskatchewan, CA
Posts: 1,803

Appliance White - '93 Geo Metro 4-Dr. Auto
Last 3: 42.35 mpg (US)

Stealth RV - '91 Chevy Sprint Base
Thanks: 91
Thanked 459 Times in 327 Posts
Very nice, so far. Do have a good look at those front control arm mounts, though. They are the only really tough repair.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2010, 10:24 AM   #8 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Agreed. And the amount of rust on the door suggests it may not be pretty underneath.

A visual inspection isn't enough (unless you see obvious holes). You may need to poke a little. Here's what the ForkenSwift's control arm mounts - which looked OK -- turned into with a little poking/grinding:



They were repaired. See:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...html#post28959
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2010, 01:55 PM   #9 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Bicycle Bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: N. Saskatchewan, CA
Posts: 1,803

Appliance White - '93 Geo Metro 4-Dr. Auto
Last 3: 42.35 mpg (US)

Stealth RV - '91 Chevy Sprint Base
Thanks: 91
Thanked 459 Times in 327 Posts
Jeepers! All-black bumpers! It could be an XFI. Do look up the serial number, or check for other indications.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2010, 02:31 PM   #10 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 389

2003 Ninja EX250 - '03 Kawasaki Ninja EX250
90 day: 78.57 mpg (US)

Saturn - '99 Saturn SL1 Base
90 day: 47.27 mpg (US)
Thanks: 25
Thanked 58 Times in 37 Posts
The VIN indicates its a base model 91' Metro manufactured in Canada.

2c1mr246xm6721096

__________________
Doing my part to reduce dependence on OIL
Doing my part to reduce congestion
And enjoying it!

If you have to use your brakes, you are driving too fast!

My 101.5 MPG 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250




Crude Oil Price Today
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
91 geo Metro xfi tranny swap 4modrebate Forum News & Feedback 0 02-20-2010 12:51 AM
91 Metro Dialed In bbjsw10 OpenGauge / MPGuino FE computer 4 12-06-2008 09:32 PM
For Sale: 91 Geo Metro convertible RUST FREE 85k miles very nice shanksyamaha For Sale 0 11-20-2008 06:02 AM
FS: 91 Metro XFI in Pheonix AndrewJ For Sale 2 06-05-2008 11:53 PM
FS: 92 Metro & 91 Festiva in Wisconsin cheap Daox For Sale 0 04-15-2008 09:31 AM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com