I’m looking at purchasing a 1989 Isuzu Pickup, and I’ll be checking it out later this afternoon. it seems clean and just had some extensive maintenance done to it. The only red flag is that the heater core is currently bypassed, he installed a new heater core and hoses haven’t been connected yet.
We live in a hot climate, so it’s not completely unreasonable for it to still not be connected. Even so, what would be the reasons for doing so? And is there anything I can check for besides tell-tale signs of a head gasket? Thanks!
I suspect there was a leak in the heater core and when they turned on their HVAC it reeked of coolant. Hence why they might have bypassed it.
If you do purchase it, I would hook it back up or replace it if necessary. A heater core is nice to have in the event that the engine is overheating. You can quickly cool it down by turning on the heat and letting cool coolant circulate through the system.
Apart from that, I would be listening for lifter tick or any unusual noises coming from the engine bay unless it’s a minor serpentine belt squeal. Also, check the exhaust smoke and see if it’s throwing out coal or if white smoke is pouring out. Those might be possible indications of expensive repairs and parts. If you test drive it, feel how the transmission shifts. If its jerking between shifts or slipping, it might mean that the previous owner neglected to change it or it was damaged. It wouldn’t be worth buying after that.