HELP - P38 Purchase

[Tikka7mm08]

Looking at buying this truck...tidy and straight. Any thoughts?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=750940809

[benji]

It looks okay to me. One thing I would question is the recent service history. Is he saying he doesn't know who serviced it whilst he owned it?



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[Tikka7mm08]

Perhaps a gap between recorded and when he purchased? Looks well looked after and he said electrolysis areas have been resprayed.

[Keithy P38]

It's a Gems P38, not a Bosch.

If you can work out some kind of service history in his/her ownership then you'll be laughing.

Otherwise, $7k is on par for a 1999 Gems P38.

Cheers
Keithy

[Tikka7mm08]

I've got it down to $6.3.

Keen on Bosch but would be another $4k+...

Wanted to avoid 95/96 RR so figure this must be close to switch over and hopefully less electrical issues.

[davidsonsm]

Looks like its missing its battery cover. No biggy - easy to replace.

Ensure you're confident of the condition of the EAS. It isn't too drastic to fix up, but could be a negotiation angle.

Otherwise a tidy looking model. Buy and enjoy.

[Tikka7mm08]

Well spotted! He has renewed the air bags which is a plus.

[daf11e]

Looks good...on start up look for the book symbol on the hevac...could be a negotiation factor if on......good luck.

[Tikka7mm08]

What is hevac? On the dash?

[davidsonsm]

If you see a book symbol on the heating and ventilation control panel (below stereo head unit), it is likely to mean blend motor issues. There are three blend motors tucked within the dash and they control the air blending and distribution (left to right and up/down).

They're not easy to access (PITA), but can be replaced with half a day and available instructions. New blend motors are around $300.

[Tikka7mm08]

Ah yes read this can be an issue. I also worked out that the EAS requires doors shut for it to work!

[Scouse]

Wanted to avoid 95/96 RR so figure this must be close to switch over and hopefully less electrical issues.HEVAC & EAS are the main P38 headaches & they're the same throughout the range.
GEMS cars really have no more electrical issues than the Thor engine cars.

[Tikka7mm08]

Yep fair enough...

[daf11e]

Sorry mate I should have elaborated, :(

[Tikka7mm08]

All good...not so familiar with the P38..
More comfortable with 90 Puma and S3 :)

[Tikka7mm08]

Arhh there is a book symbol showing - apparently controls work hot and cold....is this difficult and expensive!!??

Aircon regassed 2 years ago. New blender motor added but 'apparently garage didnt reset fault symbol' - would think if all as should be book symbol would disappear.

[daf11e]

To the best of my knowledge the book symbol disappears when the problem is fixed...not a reset.
I am sure more learned on here will reply.

[TheTree]

Hi

I would check RL7 in the fusebox, it is probably stuffed if it hasn't been replaced in a while.

Look around the area where that relay plugs in for cracks and heat stress in the fusebox as well

Steve

[Tikka7mm08]

Thanks Steve...I land 615pm and have to catch a ferry at 7pm if car purchased...not much time....whereabouts is that fusebox from sitting in drivers seat.8

[TheTree]

Thanks Steve...I land 615pm and have to catch a ferry at 7pm if car purchased...not much time....whereabouts is that fusebox from sitting in drivers seat.8

Mate

The main fusebox with all the relays is under the bonnet just in front of the coolant expansion tank

RL7 (from memory) is the one at the front on the drivers side

Steve

[daf11e]

Right steve....also when you remove the cover there is normally a diagram underneath

[PeterH]

That is correct, EAS won't work with any door open or your foot on the brake pedal.
I had to do a reset to clear my book symbol when I replaced a faulty blend motor on mine.
You can do that yourself with a faultmate, google blackbox solutions, faultmate.
Very handy tool to have if you own a P38.

[TheTree]

Hi

You should also calibrate the blend motors when you replace them (as i discovered accidentally) , the nanocom has a function for this as I am sure the faultmate has as well

Steve

[Tikka7mm08]

I have an OBDII mx bluetooth on my puma so just possibly I can plug this into the Rangie and check codes and clear them....

[TheTree]

I have an OBDII mx bluetooth on my puma so just possibly I can plug this into the Rangie and check codes and clear them....

Hi

The P38 is it's own beast, while a generic OBD II reader will read the standard engine ECU stuff, the rest of it is very proprietary!

Steve

[Tikka7mm08]

Thanks guys for the help. Well the photos were better than the truck in person. There were rust bubbles in the tailgate and under rear window sills...the heater blew lethargically was hot but not too cold.

What really put me off was headlining that had been secured with a corking gun... dry glue/paste on it with random approach (guess the sag was uneven!). I know everything is fixable but these jobs all add up and might be tip of the iceberg.

Still keen on a P38 but hopefully can do better. Lost $220 booking a ferry ticket to drive home but got off lightly I think.

[davidsonsm]

Sounds like a wise move. If that's what you see on the surface, what issues are their when you scratch below the surface.