I want to buy an early 90's Delica Turbo diesel

[Comox Guy]

I want to buy an early 90's Delica Turbo diesel,4x4 automatic,there are several for sale around my area(Vancouver Island) but I'm just wondering about reliability and parts availability? The models I'm looking at arte 91 Delica's with turbo diesel,some with skylites and some without.
Anything to watch out for here. Any Input would be appreciated.

Thank-You

[Kuan]

Welcome to the forums. These are awesome vans and are generally in great shape but there are a few "quirks!"

There are a few things to look out for and check before you get one.

Check posts in Technical for things that people are having problems with and check in inspection/importing etc. for posts about purchasing. Most issues with the vans are common and there are guidlines for fixing them posted here and on UK and Aussie forums.

There is lots of info on this forum for Canadian buyers and I highly recommend reading through as many posts as you can thoroughly to get a clue about these things and then post with specific questions.

There are quite a few dealers and some private sales. Needless to say, be sure to buy from someone reputable and one that has been thoroughly inspected. Some dealers/mechanics etc are on this forum so it might give you an indication of who is involved in this growing community.

Good luck!

[kog]

Hey new guy...we just bought our 91 delica from a private dealer in parksville and even though he had it inspected we took it to coombs country autos for another look...glen spent over 2 hours on it and gave us lots of insight and info about what REALLY needs to be done. He is currently bringing a bunch in and i would recommend buying from him since he knows the vans and is an inspector and a mechanic. Good luck.

[BCDelica]

PM sent.

:D

[Comox Guy]

Thank-you all for the input,Glen does have all the answers,I plan on going down to Coombs in a little while and check a few vans out. If you guys had to purchase again would you look for a Delica with any particular features? Any features to stay away from or seek out? Has winter on Vancouver Island been a problem for anyone starting their Delica?

[josh]

I personally wouldn't want as much glass... I would buy a high roof model without the crystal light windows... the power shades break, and you also do not have to worry about the chance of having to replace a top window someday. Also I wouldn't need a hot/cold box, but that wasn't a selling feature for me anyhow.

A good feature to look for seems to be the double battery set up with the heavy duty alternator. Good luck, they are a fun investment.

As for starting the Delica, I don't think you should have any problem, I only had two days it wouldn't start and it was around -25 or so... and that was because I don't have a proper block heater. It starts for me just fine in any weather warmer than that.

Josh

[Comox Guy]

Good tips,I'll keep everything in mind when I finally take the plunge.

[Pete and Jackie]

Hey Comox Guy, I like the look of the low top better, I was talking with Breadman over the weekend and he was telling me that his buddy just got a 91 from the later part of that year. It has shoulder restraint seatbelts that are molded right into the plastic pillar covers, and a center brakelight in the lower part of the back window that has its own molded housing. Ours is a 91 also, but it has neither of those 2 options. I suppose we can import 92's now too, and maybe they have those same improvements. The other thing is get one with a center bench seat. The dual captains chairs that move all over the place, and the stupid seatbelt setup is just not on. I'm buying aftermarket belts and bolting them through the floor. Kids don't remember the facing forward/belted in thing for very long, and soon enough they've got em set up as chiropractic benches to hide behind while still "strapped in", and all of this is happening at 60 miles an hour. Its bizarre.
As far as below zero starting, I do 2 or 3 shots on the glow plugs and it fires right up. Have fun, Pete.

[terrain]

The various forums are a must for becoming informed including the japanese inspection translation. I spent a long time looking at various vehicles and ended up going to a vancouver dealer for mine. For me it was a combination of low kilometers and incredible vehicle condition. Typically the vehicles come in to canada in a wide variety of condition and its hard to determine what problems they may have.

It is a 15 yr old vehicle with a lot of potential problems. It would take a knowledgable mechanic a day to really go through the vehicle and in the process they would have to dismantle a number of things - one good mechanic I talked to in Vancouver said he wasn't willing to do it anymore because to do a thorough job meant spending a lot of time and becoming liable for problems.

Bascially you have to really want the vehicle and be prepared to suffer through whatever problems arrive and trust and hope that they are fixable. For example I think my vehicle is perfect and couldn't possibly have any problems....

[argo]

A full MVI usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half. If a mechanic takes a whole day, either he's milking you, or he doesn't know what he's doing.