2 major things:
1) Headgaskets, have a $100 test done at a dealer to check for hydrocarbons (exhaust byproducts) in the coolant, if the headbolts are pulled or the gasket leaking you're looking at a helluva repair job labor wise if you do it yourself and if you have a shop do it somewhere around 3k...
2) Transmission shift solenoids. This tranny is darn near bulletproof but the solenoids do fail and need to be replaced, if they have failed and haven't been replaced you're looking at another labor intensive and expensive repair/replacement.
Drive the car for 20 minutes on the highway, see if it overheats, make sure it shifts SMOOTHLY between all gears up and down, and then PULL ALL THE CODES. This is the best advice I can offer.
Other less critical components:
3) The suspension may be shot but you can install passive replacements for not too much.
4) Brakes may need a change, again not too bad.
5) Chances are the A/C compressor will need a replace if it hasn't been already and it's kinda pricey for the part but these are minor compared to 1 & 2 but if you expect a 100% caddy for $1300 w/170k you're prolly kidding yourself.
In conclusion if 1 & 2 are ok but the brakes need to be redone you're looking at $2-300 in parts, A/C compressor upwards of $6-900, and suspension $3-500 depending who you use, I would look it over carefully, goodluck!
1) Headgaskets, have a $100 test done at a dealer to check for hydrocarbons (exhaust byproducts) in the coolant, if the headbolts are pulled or the gasket leaking you're looking at a helluva repair job labor wise if you do it yourself and if you have a shop do it somewhere around 3k...
2) Transmission shift solenoids. This tranny is darn near bulletproof but the solenoids do fail and need to be replaced, if they have failed and haven't been replaced you're looking at another labor intensive and expensive repair/replacement.
Drive the car for 20 minutes on the highway, see if it overheats, make sure it shifts SMOOTHLY between all gears up and down, and then PULL ALL THE CODES. This is the best advice I can offer.
Other less critical components:
3) The suspension may be shot but you can install passive replacements for not too much.
4) Brakes may need a change, again not too bad.
5) Chances are the A/C compressor will need a replace if it hasn't been already and it's kinda pricey for the part but these are minor compared to 1 & 2 but if you expect a 100% caddy for $1300 w/170k you're prolly kidding yourself.
In conclusion if 1 & 2 are ok but the brakes need to be redone you're looking at $2-300 in parts, A/C compressor upwards of $6-900, and suspension $3-500 depending who you use, I would look it over carefully, goodluck!
