Need People To Help Me Make My Mind Up!

[strong_like_bull]

Hi people, I drove past a local garage today and saw a 2001 celica parked outside, went in to have a look, pretty clean car for the the age, no bumps and interior still not bad, and the price was even better at £480, but when the car ran it seemed to have a rattle/knocking noise coming from the timing chain cover, and the exhaust was black and sooty. The guy said it's been sat a bit took it on a short drive and seemed to be ok, gearbox felt good, steering was ok and brakes where a little spongy.

Any idea what could be the cause of the knocking and black colour in the exhaust and there seemed to be a little white smoke out the exhaust at times and some residue on the underside of the oils cap,

Please help!!!!!!!

Thanks for looking :-)

[Raistlin]

Hi, Welcome to the club... Enjoy

[strong_like_bull]

Cheers, hoping to get some advice

[edwardio]

If it's a 140, keep clear as it needs a new engine.

all pre 2003 140's suffer from a design flaw which can result in oil burning. If not kept on top of results in damaging the bearings.

Either buy a 2003 onwards 140 or any 190. If you buy a pre 2003 190, have the cam lift pins changed (they used to suffer from snapping. the post 2003 models had uprated pins).