1998 Montero SR for $500?

[rahee006]

Hi Everybody!
I am going to make this my 1998 Montero SR build thread. I picked the Montero up for $520 last week.
It has a big hole one the rocker rails on one side. The rest of the car is fairly straight. Its a 2nd Owner car with 156,000miles.

Interior is Clean, didnt get to take a picture yet. It has a misfire, Lots of check engine codes ( a few modes for oxygen sensor on both banks )

I recharged the Air conditioning System for $80 and it runs great, only blows more air when i press the gas, Don't know why thats happening.
It also has a valve cover leak ( decent valve cover leak ) so i will be tackling that first thing. already ordered valve cover gaskets, plenum gaskets, new plugs, new ngk wires.

Gave it an Oil change with Synthetic Mobil 1 5W30 and a Wix Oil Filter.

Here are some Pictures

 

[rahee006]

P0156 02 Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank 2 Sensor 2)
P0161 Oxygen O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank 2, Sensor 2)
P0125 Insufficient Coolant Temperature For Closed Loop Fuel Control
P0135 Oxygen O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1, Sensor 1)
P0141 O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1, Sensor 2)
P1715 TCM pulse generator circuit fault
P0705 Transmission Range Sensor Circuit Malfunction (PRNDL input)
P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Malfunction
P0120 Throttle Position Sensor/Switch (TPS) A Circuit Malfunction
P0305 Cylinder #5 Misfire Detected

these are the codes i got from the OBDII reader

 

[Salonika]

Wow that is a laundry list. I hope you own a good multi meter.

 

[rahee006]

i do, i have a craftman multimeter with all the bells and whistles, just gotta figure out how to use it. i have new plugs and wires, misfire cud be from an oil leak.

 

[Salonika]

I'd go after the p0125, p0335 and the p1715 first. This thing runs and drives alright?

 

[rahee006]

yes runs and drives pretty good, Tach doesnt work which is expected because of most likely bad sensors mentioned above.
Also Coolant temp at the gauge is Good, I could start by replacing the thermostat and the coolant temp sensors. ( 2 i believe one for the computer and one for the gauge? )

 

[RyanY]

The first thing you should be doing is downloading the FSM and following the diagnostic procedures for the stored codes. I would clear all the codes first, then drive it and see which codes return first - those would be the ones to start your diagnosis with.

Of course, if you have a lot of spare cash you can just start replacing parts without diagnosing or testing them - sometime that works, but most often you just end up replacing parts that aren't bad.

 

[rahee006]

I did get the factory service manual, Did not get the time to read through it. I am tackling the valve cover gaskets, plenum gaskets, sparkplugs and plug wires this weekend, the issue is obvious, huge oil leak, and alternator is going out. most likely because of all the oil that leaked from the valve covers. its covered in gunk.

 

[rahee006]

I havnt updated this thread, but I changed the Spark Plug wires, Spark Plugs, valve cover gasket, intake gasket and Upper Plenum gasket.
it seems like the car still has some hesitation, but i immediately felt the increase in power.

 

[rahee006]

can anyone help me Change the title of the thread to " $500 1998 Montero Build?

 

[rahee006]

I recently replaced my dieing alternator, it was covered in alot of oil that most likely came from the valve covers and the cam seal, but i checked the seal, it looked dry, so valve covers for a long period of time could be the culprit.
the alternator ( rebuilt ) cost me $70 when i gave my old one. Next i'l have to replace the battery terminals

 

[Bmp1]

And?

 

[Outdooraholic]

Awesome score on the Montero!

The alternator just went out on my montero sport last month on the way to California. It's good that you got yours fixed ahead of time.

 

[hammer-time]

Did you by chance ever getting around to fixing the P1715 code? My CEL came on and that's same code I"m getting.