89shithatch

gas prices are killing me with my zr2. looking at getting a chevy prizm its a 99 and wondering if there are any major problems with those engines? the one im looking at is dirt cheap and has a ---- ton of miles. ive looked online and all i could find is a recall on airbags. anyone else have any info on any COMMEN problems. (ignition, cooling, etc.)

88dx

As long as it has had regular oil changes u probably will be fine but its a cheap car it could blow up the day you buy it or last 300,000 u never know

BigD

Why not just pick up a old EF hatch? **** cheap and will ride forever

89shithatch

well this guy wants aroung 600 he hit a snow drift and now says it starts right up but doesn run right. so im thinking somehting ignition related. and i can rock thi car till i get a real truck. it has 290k and no rust. so idk.

BigBird

Stick to import vehicles for cheap reliability. Plus buying a car you know nothing about for cheap and thinking you can fix it seems backwards.

89shithatch

uhh no. profit is made from buying cars with problems and using my knowledge to fix and sell them.

BigBird

Apparently you don't have much knowledge on it as you posted for info regarding it on a mostly honda forum. If you like chasing problems on a car you know nothing specifically about then go for it.

Miniboost

99 chevy prizm is a rebadged toyota corolla. Comes with a 1zzfe. 1.8L aluminum engine it may be vvti equipped or not depending on when in 99 it was made. hitting a snow bank and not running right may be a variety of things. The 1zzfe is very temperamental it may burn oil like crazy, it may be perfect. I have had two of them that were raped daily. One didn't last pissing time but seemed to run very stellar with loads of power N/A. The second one seems to knock on cold starts, is raped daily and still runs strong. So it's really up to you. If it was me for the sake of 600 I'd but it. The only common problem would be the oil rings seem to be faulty and the engine burns oil. Replace the rings and your good to go.

89shithatch

its a 4 banger. i was simply asking if there are any commen problems. it has spark plugs, and ignition system, runs off of gasoline etc. :1 troubleshooting the problem should not be too hard. i was simply asking if anyone has had any past expierirnce with them considering there isnt too much info on the web on them. and for 600 dollars i could still throw a pick and pull engine in there and sell it for a few grand. (worse case) and id still make bank off it. i dont care what you think is "backwards" if you dont have any valuble information dont post.

thanks for some information

Miniboost

no problem. Forgot to mention that if it's a standard the 4th gear synchro's seem to crunch in many I have driven. The 1zzfe was also used in the celica, mr2, matrix, and corolla so it is not a hard engine to find. IT was produced from 98-06 I believe, The shitty running could be as simple as a sparkplug. Hopefully it's not bent rods or bent valves.

Also forgot to mention check to see if the timing chain was replaced yet. THe motor could be slightly off timing because of this. It is supposed to be replaced every 120,000 km's my last engine it was not, cause the engine to jump timing and tore up my pistons, valves, cylinder walls, and all the mayhem actually cracked my crankshaft.