Hopeful new Mark VIII owner...maybe?

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SS109

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Hello. Been reading the forum for a few days researching my possible purchase of a Mark VIII. Anyways, I had no clue there was such a following for these cars! It is very cool, and shocking, to see the devotion and the aftermarket support for them. I have always admired the Mark VIII but, with my kids all, I figured I would never own one. Fast forward some years and my boy is now in the Air Force and my daughter has her DL so she can drive the ZX2. So, I found one not too far from me and it reignited the desire to own one.

OK, it is a '96 with over 151K but literally looks like new. Everything works from what I'm told. I can get it for $1000 or equivalent trade value. The one catch, it has a transmission problem. The owner says..

The problem is the transmission has started to act up. I'm not a mechanic but I suspect there's something wrong with the shift controler. It shifts hard and locks up and doesn't slip, it just seems to have problems deciding what gear it want's to be in. I don't think it's broken or worn out, just something going on with a periferal, maybe.

Just to clarify, the car runs perfect, passed emissions with no problem about 6ish months ago. Just something goofy going on with the tranny. The other day the trouble light went out and it ran normal for the day. That's what leads me to believe its not "broken". Never heard of a worn out automatic healing itself.
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I searched the forums here and read some threads about transmission problems something similar to this and it turned out to be the MLPS (manual lever position sensor). Anyways, any insight in to this would be greatly appreciated. Even just providing a link to a thread that addresses this problem would be awesome! Also, your honest opinions on whether this is a decent deal or should I walk away? Thanks and I hope to be a regular here soon!

Oh, yeah, here are some pics of it!

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Shoot for a 1000 even if it needs trans you can score a junkyard one for 250. You can try throwing a MLPS at it for 35 dollars if that don't fix it, it will be nice to have a new one on the new trans anyway. Only thing is 96 has some hard to find one year only parts. That car looks clean!!! Goodluck.
 
sounds like a MLPS and actuator springs for the hard shift. id still shy away from the 96, lots of one year only parts, and nobody makes them anymore so your only option is a junk yard or fine something on here
:W to :V

oh and i have pics!!!!! ;)

mlps 1 (trans range sensor).jpg
 
Just make sure you drive it, i JUST bought my first less than a month ago, and they have their issues, but all in all a great car...
Take it out, drive it normal, feel the shifts, than pork it LOL see if it slips
Im trying to think of things i didnt look for when i bought it...

Any info on the air ride? Is it converted, still on the car etc... Bad bags can cost you some $$ if you dont want to do a coil conversion
 
Is it just me or does the drivers seat look like it is toast?
 
mrm143 said:
Looks like a cover, which normally means its toast
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Usually, but not always. My 93 came with similar seat covers, but the seats underneath are still in great shape. Sometimes people just don't like leather (especially in hot climates, mine was an AZ car.) Of course I asked for pics without the covers before I bought the car.
 
MediumD said:
Usually, but not always. My 93 came with similar seat covers, but the seats underneath are still in great shape. Sometimes people just don't like leather (especially in hot climates, mine was an AZ car.) Of course I asked for pics without the covers before I bought the car.
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Very true...

Any updates??
 
Imho the light graphite would look great in the bolsters of our seats and some how on the door. Maybe that crappy piece that runs by the tweeter
 
mrm143 said:
Any info on the air ride? Is it converted, still on the car etc... Bad bags can cost you some $$ if you dont want to do a coil conversion
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The previous owner spent $1800 on it about a year ago and has the receipts.

mrm143 said:
Any updates??
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Just waiting to hear back on setting up a time to check it out.

NoLimit95 said:
Looks like Ivory. I would have to wear sunglasses if I got inside that thing. Outside looks good and the inside but I would be doing an interior swap quickly but only if the car was worth it.
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He describes the interior as "cream". I admit I like darker interiors myself. However, the AZ sun makes living with them a pain!

Thanks for all the input, guys! Hopefully everything looks good when I see it and bring her home. As for staying away from the one year model, well, I also like old motorcycles so I'm used to tracking down hard to find parts!
 
Well, I didn't get it. It sold a few minutes ago to someone else. The owner basically sold it out from under me. We had negotiated price earlier in the week, the 15th, and was just waiting for him to have time to meet up. He said Friday was the earliest he was free and I said that was cool. I contacted him today and he said another guy said "I'll take it" so he was first in line even though I thought we had a deal. He said he couldn't meet up until Friday anyways so I really don't get how I wasn't first in line??? Oh well. :(

I guess, maybe, I'll find one someday that I can afford. Thanks to all of you for your input and time. Later.
 
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