Echo Is nearly done!

"Kevin W" (2o6)
08/19/2020 at 19:18 • Filed to: Art of the Flip, Toyota, Toyota Echo, flipping cars

Alright! Echo is nearly done. It had a light miss, that I traced down to be a combination of bad gas, and two weak (aftermarket) ignition coils. I put some HEET in the tank to help burn out the water, and threw two junkyard OEM coils at it, and we’re fine!

AC still smells like cat pee, but after spraying in some of that HVAC cleaner, it improved greatly. A new cabin air filter is in the mail en route, so after that I think I will be OK.

New, updated price list:

Price Analysis:

Purchase price, tax, title, registration - $753.75

Tires (Westlake RP18, 175/65/14) - $149.24

Used alternator - $45

Spark Plugs (because I had to buy them in person, the plugs the old man gave me were NOT new) $25

Wiper blades, Alternator Belt, Brake Pads/Rotors, Air filter - $90.48

Two ignition coils (used, DENSO brand) - $42.05

One matching hubcap $19.95

Associated fluids (HEET to get water out of gas, synthetic oil and filter) - $14.38

$1139.85 - My goal is to get about $1700 or so out of it.

I still need to detail it, the back seat has dog hair all over it, and the seats have some stains. I think I’m going to bite the bullet and buy a Bissel Spot Cleaner since I do flip cars fairly often. I used to budget $150 or so for a detail, but my detail guy retired.

DISCUSSION (2)

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Kevin W
08/19/2020 at 20:04

Let me know how/if you restore the black plastic trim, our 2013 CR-V (despite being merely 7 years old compared to your older Echo)‘s plastic looks more or less like that. I’d like to get it redone and you seem to have decent ways of doing things for a bargain so if you find something out that lasts and looks good I'd be interested in that method. Anyways, looks like it's coming along well.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Kevin W
08/19/2020 at 20:28

Sounds like things are progressing! :)

I’ve always liked these, so it’s nice to follow along you bringing it back to a decent life!