Info required...1994 WRX!

[Garryg]

Hi All....it's been a while since I've been on!

Anyway, My daughter has been looking for her 2nd car and she has spotted a "94 Impreza WRX (Auto) Sedan on trademe. We had a quick look at it yesterday and overall doesn't seem to bad. It ran well, but as soon as I accelerated there is hell of a whine from the engine...I thought the police were chasing me!!! Anyway I opened the bonnet and noticed there is no air filter attached...so a few questions....

1. Could the missing air filter be the cause of the whine (it does sound like it is channeling air)??

2. How much does a complete air box cost (they did say they would take this off the price)?

3. Also there is some oil evident on the top end of the engine?? Is there any mechanically minded members in the Manakau area that would be willing to have a quick look over it for me (would be much appreciated)?

Needless to say this is quite urgent as she is keen, so need to know before the auction closes (or someone uses buy now).

Thanks in advance.....

[MercuryFree]

You probably didn't / can't try this now, but it's possible that the whining is the turbo dying/leak in related piping, which can be diagnosed by 'pulsing' the throttle itself in the engine bay and listening for the noise's location.

No air filter isn't good though. You can get a complete airbox second hand for $20-50 easily enough.

[ADIKT]

I would stay away... who knows how long there has been no air filter.... and god knows whats been sucked up in through the turbo...

[Marky]

Don't touch it

If they're dense enough to run with no filter (if they had half a brain they'd spend $20 on one just to look good to sell it) who knows how it's been treated, you'd be buying a potential time bomb

[Johnnynz]

 ADIKT said:

I would stay away... who knows how long there has been no air filter.... and god knows whats been sucked up in through the turbo...

This x 10000000

[boon]

Yup, god knows what's been through the engine/turbo/is lodged in the intercooler waiting to ruin the bores....

[purpleandy]

that hell whine is usually a power steering reservoir that needs topping up....

[subieboy]

It is the "flux capacitor nuclear thermo switch thingy giving you the countdown to death of car" because muppet owner runs engine with no filter...

Better examples to be had by the sounds of things