Potential purchase...but clicking sound and more

[msmsms]

Potential buyer here:

I read the previous posts on clicking noises from the Protege 5 though I suspect this one is different. While test driving an unmodified automatic 2002 if I pressed the gas down about 15 or 20 degrees a clicking sound could be heard. It was hard to figure out where it was coming from - my guess would be underneath in the middle part of the car but I couldn't rule out it was coming from the engine...I should have checked what rpms this occurred at. Any thoughts?

Also, the battery was dead on the car when we went to test drive (great impression!). We boosted it and took it on the road - the car couldn't accelerate well, had lights blinking, the radio wouldn't turn on, the hazard light made a weird sound when the car stalled at an intersection, and the car stalled when I turned on the air conditioning. When we replaced the battery everything seemed fine. Should I be worried?

Thanks in advance.

 

[maniac_2oo4]

Unless you're getting an amazingly good price on it, i'd be weary.

I might not know much about cars, but I know that clicking noises aren't good. If it would've been minor, he could've fixed it before trying to sell the car.

As for the other problems, once the engine is running, you shouldn't have any battery-related problems, especially not stalling and bad accel, blinking lights, etc.

Then again, you said everything was fine once you changed the battery, so I'm curious about what the experts are gonna say : )

Good luck with your potential buy, it's a fun car, just make sure you get a good one.

 

[Nomad]

bad alternator will give a poor charge to the battery and not give enough juice to the car. In the absence of power from the alt the battery will supply. The battery will get run down from trying to supply juice to the ignition etc. The car can stall from not having enough ignition power. Swap the battery and it'll run fine for a bit... till the good battery has given all its juice too. So could be that.

Not sure about clicking. I'd take it as an indication of the nonexistant maintenance done on the car and the owner trying to get out of it before "things get expensive".

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Find another one unless dealer willing to make all things good & give ya some kinda warranty on the thing. How much are they asking for it?

 

[Spooled]

Don't chance it.

 

[msmsms]

Thanks everyone for your help.

It's got 165km and one owner and the price is very reasonable. It is getting safety done today and if that comes out clear I may take it for an independent assessment still because I'm definitely worried.

Any other thoughts would be appreciated.