I'm looking at a 1988 3.0L 5 speed Aerostar with clutch & P/S issues.

[jseely]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for an inexpensive Home Depot hauler, that will occasionally get me back and forth to work on days I don't want to ride my bike, and can sleep two adults in the back for some van camping.

I found a kid selling an '88 nearby me that appears to have only a few quarter sized rust spots under a mediocre black paint job. The kid claims it has 62k on it, but my gut tells me its 162k. Is there any way to tell for sure, other than guessing from the title and the condition?

Anyway, two concerns I have are the clutch, which doesn't engage at all until the very top of the pedal's travel, and an issue with the PS he was being super vague about.

I'm guessing the clutch is just about worn out -- is that a huge deal to replace? I would have a shop do it, but wasn't sure if thats a $300 repair or a $1,000 repair, since its a van and might be hard to get to.

For the PS, the kid says that he has to top off the fluid once in awhile, and I noticed he rigged up a plastic bag and a rubber band over the filler neck. When I drove it, the steering felt a little notchy, and almost like the power assist was coming and going a bit while I was turning. Overall the steering was a bit vague and loose, but I would guess part of that may be ball joints/tie rods?

Any thoughts on what might be going on there with the PS pump? I'm thinking if the PS is going, bypassing the PS altogether wouldn't be a huge deal for the amount I'd be driving.

Mechanically, are there any other things I should be on the lookout for? I'm actually fairly familiar with the 3.0 as my mom's Tempo, which became my first car, had the same engine. I don't think in the 100k or so miles we had that car the engine ever required service outside of oil changes.

Thanks so much for any input! The kid is asking $1,300 (down from $2,100 originally -- LOL). Given how long its been for sale, I am planning to try him at $1,000 and wouldn't be mad if I put another $300-500 into it, though preferably not all at once!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Have a mechanic check it out before you buy it. A clutch replacement requires removing the transmission. This could cost at least $300 to $600 for labor, then another couple hundred for parts.

As for the power steering, it might have a slow leak. Sometimes fluid leaks out of the hole in the cap if you turn the steering wheel from lock to lock at a low rpm speed during parking.

Don't be too concerned with the mileage since it's around 28 years old. The kid won't find another buyer so fast at the price he wants unless it's somebody which collects these vans. Most people won't buy such an old vehicle as a daily driver unless it's in top notch condition or it's a project vehicle to restore.

I don't want to discourage you from getting it, but you have to be ready to spend a lot if you plan on having a mechanic do all of the work. An average shop will charge around $100 - $150 an hour for labor plus mark up the cost of the parts which are hard to find.

 

[jseely]

Good info, thanks! I texted the kid back and asked about the clutch, and he claims its new. I'm assuming its a hydraulic clutch... so maybe air in the lines? A new clutch also just about confirms for me its 162k and not 62k.

Anyway, I'm thinking if I can get it for $1k, I'll come out okay. The clutch is really the only job I wouldn't want to do myself, and I've got a mechanic that I trade labor/product with if it really came to replacing it altogether.

 

[BrooklynBay]

On a side note, check all of the fluids, filters, belts, hoses, light bulbs, and battery terminals. This will indicate how well the kid took care of it. The rubber cover on the brake pedal is usually worn or missing on high mileage vehicles.

 

[zenish]

i was told that my van had 77000 miles but the carfax report showed its 177000.the trans is very easy to get to.its all wide open down there.

 

[jseely]

Well, went back and drove it again and gave it a little more thorough look over... and put $150 on it and bringing the other $1,000 tonite!

I talked with a friend that had a Ranger of a similar vintage, and he said his clutch was the same way (wouldn't grab till the top of the travel). I also do think it may be a 62k mi vehicle, as the interior is cleaner than I remembered, and there's no visible wear on what appears to be the original clutch/brake/gas pedals.

Anyway, felt super solid on the road despite some completely rotted out OE shocks, and with the 5spd it might even be "peppy" or "torquey"!

Looking forward to tinkering with it a bit!

 

[zenish]

i wish mine had the five speed.ive never seen a aerostar with one.

 

[Josh P]

If you find that there is a problem with the clutch, the ranger items work. I have converted three auto 4.0L vans to manual. 2 with a T5 and one with a M5OD. As far as the steering I'm sure the pump is part of the problem. I flushed mine and added trans x.

 

[jseely]

If you find that there is a problem with the clutch, the ranger items work. I have converted three auto 4.0L vans to manual. 2 with a T5 and one with a M5OD. As far as the steering I'm sure the pump is part of the problem. I flushed mine and added trans x.

Good info, thanks. I asked my buddy about the clutch and he says his Ranger clutch felt about the same. On the 3mi journey home I found that I had gotten pretty used to the clutch by the time I got in the driveway. Just a different feel than I'm used to, I think.