is this a major problem that could cause the car not to run.Do you think this car is worth $1300 or should i leave it alone.it has 131000 miles & it's a 1996 honda accord

 

With 131K miles, there are still a lot of miles left on the car. Find out if the owner changed the oil at the proper interval. When the timing belt was changed. That is very important.

When buying a used car, it is worth the money to have a shop do a buyers inspection. Most people on here recommend that. You may have other issues that you need to address like brakes, suspension, etc. Those repairs can add up quickly.

The FTP sensor should be very easy to change. I would suggest that you inspect the wiring and any vacuum hoses. That sensor is $120 new from an online source. I would probably buy one from a junkyard for much less. That sensor will probably reduce gas mileage somewhat. You likely won't pass emissions testing if the CEL is on.

A faulty vtec will cause the car to run poorly, as the car uses vtec to change the timing to get more HP after ~2000 rpm. It isn't terribly difficult to change if you decide to buy the car. That is another item I would consider getting from a junkyard to save some money, because a new one is ~$160 from OEM online parts dealers.

 

So do you think this a major problem that could cause the car not to run and maybe i should not buy this car. the guy is asking 1300 it's a 1996 honda accord.

 

I don't know if you should buy it or not. That decision is ultimately up to you. There are two items that definitely need your attention. Vtec being the more important of the two.

That is why I suggested a buyers inspection to identify other problems you may face. You should also test drive the car. Find out as much about the maintenance as possible, like oil changes, any service records, etc...

Do you plan on doing the work yourself? Is money a major issue?

 

The Vtec connector and wiring is near the distributor, fragile and easy to damage (guess how I know). I damaged mine on 94EX and get code 21 which corresponds to your P1253.

Neither of these problems is huge, but as pointed out other factors are more important; transmission and general engine condition.

Transmission, I would suggest running through some spirited (not wide open) accelerations w/ fully warmed engine and inspecting trans fluid. If black and burnt smelling, stay away from car. Shifts should be smooth, but firm. RPM flaring at shifts may occur in a car w/ this age and is not good either.

Engine, have compressions checked and spark plugs examined.

Above are things a good inspection service would accomplish. You should expect to pay about $200 for a good inspection. Seems a lot for a $1600 car, but if you miss some problems, they will dwarf that $200.

good luck

 

Thanks guys I decided not to buy it because it would be to much trouble for me. To many problem.