New Here.
#1
03-17-2013, 06:42 PM
New Here.
Hi Everyone I am New here. I currently do not own a Monte Carlo but that could change in the next few days because I am looking at one at a local car lot 
:
2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in Toms River, NJ - Buy Used Chevrolet Monte Carlo > 26758701 | AutoShopper.com
I just wanted to get some thoughts on this car and ask if there is anything I should look out for before I commit myself to the purchase
Thanks
:2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in Toms River, NJ - Buy Used Chevrolet Monte Carlo > 26758701 | AutoShopper.com
I just wanted to get some thoughts on this car and ask if there is anything I should look out for before I commit myself to the purchase
Thanks
#2
03-17-2013, 07:29 PM
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wauconda, IL
Posts: 13,335
Welcome to the site.
Doesn't look bad - make sure the paint is not ruined under the front end mask. Some people leave them on all of the time and that is really bad if you don't remove it after it gets wet.
Doesn't look bad - make sure the paint is not ruined under the front end mask. Some people leave them on all of the time and that is really bad if you don't remove it after it gets wet.
#4
03-17-2013, 07:32 PM
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Posts: 4,779
Welcome to the Forum. Personally I'm not a fan of the cloth top but it's not my car, and X2 to what Amy said about the front mask.
#5
03-17-2013, 07:35 PM
Monte Of The Month -- November 2012
Monte Of The Month -- June 2014
Monte Of The Month -- July 2016
#6
03-17-2013, 07:56 PM
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Utah
Posts: 4,903
Welcome to the forum.... How many miles on the car? We typically have tranny issues and so it would not hurt to pull the tranny dipstick and look at and smell the fluid. It should be a light pink and have no burnt smell to it. During a test drive, from a dead stop do a light acceleration and listen and try to feel if there are hard shifts from the tranny. Then from a dead stop do a pretty hard acceleration and see how the tranny shifts.
While you have the hood up check to see how fresh the oil is, as a good dealer would have changed the oil before offering it for sale.
Did not see any under the hood pictures, pop the hood and see if it is fairly clean under there. Look for coolant and oil leaks around the manifold as we tend to need to replace the manifold gaskets.
Look under the front at the axle boots and see if there are in one piece or if there is grease flung all over from a bad boot. While on the test drive make some slow intentional hard turns to the left and right and listen for any clicking sounds that may signal a bad CVC joint.
Do some hard pulls on the freeway and see if you can get her to overheat and observe for smoke and what color it is from the tail pipe if there is any at all.
While you have the hood up check to see how fresh the oil is, as a good dealer would have changed the oil before offering it for sale.
Did not see any under the hood pictures, pop the hood and see if it is fairly clean under there. Look for coolant and oil leaks around the manifold as we tend to need to replace the manifold gaskets.
Look under the front at the axle boots and see if there are in one piece or if there is grease flung all over from a bad boot. While on the test drive make some slow intentional hard turns to the left and right and listen for any clicking sounds that may signal a bad CVC joint.
Do some hard pulls on the freeway and see if you can get her to overheat and observe for smoke and what color it is from the tail pipe if there is any at all.
#7
03-17-2013, 08:54 PM
Welcome to the site. Here is a list of some common problems on these cars.
LINK https://montecarloforum.com/forum/ge...lutions-30154/
LINK https://montecarloforum.com/forum/ge...lutions-30154/
#8
03-17-2013, 09:11 PM
Welcome to the forum!
I would also check underneath the floor mats and the undercarriage of the vehicle to make sure that there is no rust since it is a vehicle from up north. They didn't provide any close ups of the interior dash so definitely triple check it, looked like it didn't have a radio system in it judging from the passenger door side shot.(It is either that or it is a touchscreen) Also be sure to check the tire wear and for dry rot on the tires and see if you can peek into the rotors and brakes. Tire problems would lead to a solid 500+ for 4 new ones plus at least 130$ for rotors and brakes if they aren't in a good condition. As they said above the front cover and the engine. Look very closely in the engine though because they did not post any pics that would make me a bit skeptical.
Good luck!
Edit - Don't be afraid to ask them to have it checked out by a mechanic of your choosing if you are skeptical of anything going wrong. Most shops (at least down here) will do a vehicle inspection for free. If they say no then I would def worry. I had mine checked at a mechanic before I bought it and dealer had no problem with it.
I would also check underneath the floor mats and the undercarriage of the vehicle to make sure that there is no rust since it is a vehicle from up north. They didn't provide any close ups of the interior dash so definitely triple check it, looked like it didn't have a radio system in it judging from the passenger door side shot.(It is either that or it is a touchscreen) Also be sure to check the tire wear and for dry rot on the tires and see if you can peek into the rotors and brakes. Tire problems would lead to a solid 500+ for 4 new ones plus at least 130$ for rotors and brakes if they aren't in a good condition. As they said above the front cover and the engine. Look very closely in the engine though because they did not post any pics that would make me a bit skeptical.
Good luck!
Edit - Don't be afraid to ask them to have it checked out by a mechanic of your choosing if you are skeptical of anything going wrong. Most shops (at least down here) will do a vehicle inspection for free. If they say no then I would def worry. I had mine checked at a mechanic before I bought it and dealer had no problem with it.
