New to site... new to DSM's... old to cars

[96_Tsi_AWD]

Hey all,
I'm new to the DSM community and to this site so I thought I'd say hey quick and show some pics and hopefully get some good input regarding this car. Some of you may already know me, but to others, it will be nice to hear from you.

The car is a 1996 Talon TSi - AWD- ATX - 75k miles (pictures below).

I've got a few things to fix right away (drivers side electric widow/lock buttons, sunroof shade track, drivers side headlight fogged, drivers side mirror flaking and my oil pressure gauge doesn't work). Long term fixes include a new bumper (you'll see in the picture that it's cracked in half), maybe a full repaint, few BPU mods like intake, BOV etc... BUT overall, it's just a pretty decent car for what I'm going to do with it (daily driver)

This isn't my first turbo car (had a 3000gt VR4 for a few years), so I know how that part works, but this is my first ATX turbo car, and initally, it's been a bit weird to drive. I'm not sure when it's spooling, when the BOV blows, when it's got the power when it's not... but i'll get used to it i'm sure.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself and if anyone has any suggestions or comments about the auto trans or just the car in general, I'd be glad to hear them.

I don't know how picture friendly this site is... but here's a bunch. If there is a problem with pictures, we're not going to get along very well... since I'm also a photographer. ** EDIT ** Guess i'm stuck with only 4 pics...

[96_Tsi_AWD]

[A//// Guy]

Welcome! Very Nice clean car, too bad its an auto though. They can become fast too but youll have to build the transmission up.

[Turbocharged]

Looks nice. I remember when my car was that clean...

[96_Tsi_AWD]

thanks guys! yea, i know the auto isn't exactly ideal, but i think it'll be okay in the long run. shifting in traffic gets to be a pain... and if i really want to go fast, i have another car and a motorcycle for that

what is the best section in this forum to ask questions about 'common problems' with these cars? i'm finding that my car has little issues that it seems are pretty common. it would be nice to know all the things i should look for right away...

like, does everyone have a leaky valve cover gasket? a crappy drivers side headlight and outside mirror?? i'm sure there are more...

[Turbocharged]

Originally Posted by 96_Tsi_AWD

like, does everyone have a leaky valve cover gasket? a crappy drivers side headlight and outside mirror?? i'm sure there are more...

The valve cover gasket and 4 sprark plug well gaskets can be purchased at a dealership for less than $20 total, if I remember correctly. Make sure not to over torque. The spec is less than 10 lb-ft.

Whats wrong with the headlights? Its common for the lenses to turn "yellowish" over time. A little metal polish followed by plastic polish has been known to make the make the lenses more transparent.

[96_Tsi_AWD]

Originally Posted by Turbocharged

The valve cover gasket and 4 sprark plug well gaskets can be purchased at a dealership for less than $20 total, if I remember correctly. Make sure not to over torque. The spec is less than 10 lb-ft.

Thanks, I'll need to do that as the oil leakage seems to be comming from up top somewhere... and it's really making a mess of the lower half of the engine.

Originally Posted by Turbocharged

Whats wrong with the headlights? Its common for the lenses to turn "yellowish" over time. A little metal polish followed by plastic polish has been known to make the make the lenses more transparent.

My LS headlight is all fogged up on the inside ... and i've searched and read how to fix it... but it seems very common, so that's why i was wondering what ELSE there is that's common that i could check NOW instead of waiting for it to break.

thanks!

[Turbocharged]

Originally Posted by 96_Tsi_AWD

so that's why i was wondering what ELSE there is that's common that i could check NOW instead of waiting for it to break.

Two things come to mind.

Check the transfer case fluid level. The 2g cases are known to leak causing the transfer case to lock up. There was a recall for this but even after mitsubishi preformed the recall for me, the transfer case still leaked (all they did was top off the fluid and said there was no leak). The leak occurs on the rear yoke where the driveshaft connects.

http://www.vfaq.com/FAQlocator-drivetrain.html

Measure the crankshaft endplay. The 2g 7 bolt motors have been known to have premature thrust bearing failure (crankwalk). I have had 2 7 bolt motors walk on me. The problem is supposedly less common on cars with automatic transmissions.

[96_Tsi_AWD]

Originally Posted by Turbocharged

Two things come to mind.

Check the transfer case fluid level....

http://www.vfaq.com/FAQlocator-drivetrain.html

Measure the crankshaft endplay....

I had a 3kgt-VR4 for quite a whiile, so I'm familiar with the transfer case issue on those. So I'll be sure to check that on this one. Thanks.

That's a great link.. .thanks!

Crankwalk, from what I also heard is MUCH less frequent on an auto trans car. I'll keep an eye out for that too the next time I'm in the right spot to measure that crankshaft endplay (however you do that...).

[Turbocharged]

I meant to give you this link:

www.vfaq.com

You'll find just about everything there.

[A//// Guy]

Just curious but why the switch from a VR4 to a DSM? Usually its the other way around

[Tauni]

Oh this car brings me back.

[96_Tsi_AWD]

Originally Posted by M/// Guy

Just curious but why the switch from a VR4 to a DSM? Usually its the other way around

It wasn't a direct switch... that would just be silly!

I sold the VR4 a couple years ago and got an old chevy for my 'fun' car and continued to used my truck as a daily driver. Well, now that gas prices are so high and my daily commute got longer, I decided to sell the truck (keeping the hot rod) and get something more practical for the daily commute... hence the Talon.

I do miss the VR4 quite a bit... It was SO nice... Here she is...