93 90s with emissions, idle problems

[Dan Gessner]

Been extensively searching the list archives, but I need a little  
more help...

Tomorrow, I'll be going to look at a 1993 90s, 5spd, 141k miles that  
someone's got for sale at $700.  I need some advice on what to look for.

The car's been just sitting since late 2003, when it failed the state  
emissions check.  Currently, the battery is dead.  The body and  
interior are v. good.  The seller says that, as of a couple months  
ago, the car would start up but had to be 'babied' to keep it going.   
I tried to get more details out of him, and I think that the car had  
a tendency to stall out at idle - you had to keep your foot on the  
accelerator to keep it going.

It got new cat. converters in 2002.  Could the idle problem and the  
emissions be related to two bad O2 sensors?  Can I check the voltage  
of those off the connector without lifting the car?  Could anything  
else cause these problems?  Vacuum leak?  Does this model have an ISV?

The car's using/leaking a little coolant (needed to be topped off  
every few months) and it was using 1/2 to 1 qt of oil per month.  I'm  
guessing these numbers are nothing to really worry about.  I also  
read hints to some problem with the cylinder head on this year.  The  
head was rebuilt in 1999 - should that 'head off' (sorry) any future  
problems in that area?

Timing belt has been replaced twice so far.  I'm assuming it'll need  
lots of brake work and a new battery.  Are there any other college- 
student-budget-busting surprises on this model to watch out for?

Sorry for the long first post.

Thanks for any help,
-Dan