Just bought my first DSM and having a bunch of problems

NTobler · 05-19-2009

Hey guys, I just bought that 1991 Eagle Talon AWD Tsi that was for sale on here by twack, Well needless to say, he straight up lied to me about what was wrong with the car. My biggest concern is how HOT and I mean HOT my car is running, I have a bad temp senser he told me about (supposidly the only problem with the car) I belive because of how HOT my car is running thats why I'm having an antifreeze leak. It's coming through my overflow tube, and when I pop the resevour cap, it's bubbling. Now I also have an oil leak on my VC where the oil is sitting right under the spark plugs, Im guessing that will just be an oring to fix that. When I jumped under the car to look ariund to see what else is going on I noticed a substantial amount of oil dripping off the oil pan. I'm really new to this DSM world, but I'm eager and willing to learn. Any help will be greatly appreciated, and I'll pay someone to help me work and show me how to do things if they are in the area of lakeville apple valley burnsville. Heck even if your somewhat close I'll drive out to meet you. Thanks for all your guys' help!

95talonracer · 05-19-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTobler

I belive because of how HOT my car is running thats why I'm having an antifreeze leak. It's coming through my overflow tube, and when I pop the resevour cap, it's bubbling.

I am guessing bad head gasket and it is pressurizing the coolant system or at least thats what happened to me last summer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTobler

Now I also have an oil leak on my VC where the oil is sitting right under the spark plugs

Possibly a cracked valve cover where the bolts are on the right side in the plug area caused by overtight valve cover bolts.

EclipseGST · 05-19-2009

How did Twack lie about it... The car was not even his?

Sounds like you got a cheap car that needs some work. Start with testing the radiator cap, make sure it is good and/or replace it. Valve cover gaskets are easy to replace, those are quite common to leak. Find where the leak is coming from on the oil pan. If I remember right, the oil pan gasket is cheaper than $10 at Napa, or just use RTV like most people do.

You bought a car that needs work. Get use to it.

**Kracka** · 05-19-2009

LOL considering its a DSM consider yourself lucky to have only these issues. These all probably come down to the car needing some routine maintenance; do all maintenance items before modding the car at all.

Sounds like it could use some fresh coolant (50/50 mix of water and antifreeze), a new thermostat, a new radiator cap, a new valve cover gasket with spark plug donuts, and possibly some new sealant on the oil pan. Clean up the oil seepage on the pan though to make sure you can pin point exactly where its coming from to make sure it really is the pan. All of this stuff really won't cost you that much and won't take more than a few hours to do.

After you take care of those issues, you should do the general stuff like drivetrain fluids, spark plugs, belts, spark plug wires, etc. unless you have documented proof from the previous owner that they were done recently. Hopefully Twack gets in here and can lend some some additional insight to what the car needs and what has been recently done.

NTobler · 05-19-2009

I'm sorry I made my post sound like twack sold the car to me, he DID NOT sell it to me, but he DID sell it for his buddy. I'm not mad at a single soul in this forum. Thanks a lot for all the help already. Are there some good sites I can look at so I can somewhat learn what to do?

EclipseGST · 05-19-2009

www.vfaq.com

NTobler · 05-19-2009

Thanks a lot, do any of you know anyone who lives in the area?

EclipseGST · 05-19-2009

Almost everyone on this site...

turboimports · 05-19-2009

It's a decent inexpensive car. You'll have to do what other's have stated. Do the usual maintenance. Such as change all the fluids, misc. gaskets that may be leaking, change plugs, wires, etc. Check for broken vacuum lines, kinks, etc.
Make sure it is 100% or at least 99% good, before starting any mods. That way you won't be confused later on.

twack · 05-19-2009

sounds like some matinence issues which is normal for a dsm, I would expect that from a 1g. car has been daily driven with no issues, any issues that came up were fixed along the way. You ever around rochester id be more then happy to help you. The only thing the seller and im assuming the buyer hasnt done that should always been done, is a compression test. im more then willing to help out if you need anything

NTobler · 05-20-2009

Your correct I haven't done a compression test yet, I'm about to go read up right now on how to do it. Twack, I might take ya up on that offer lol.

**cmspaz** · 05-20-2009

It's really easy if you got a tester.

I'd do a leakdown, too, if you've got a compression test kit and a compressor.

**Kracka** · 05-20-2009

Not sure why a compression test came up, but worry about that after you get the issues fixed to keep things as simple as possible.

Constant_Project21 · 05-20-2009

Sounds like a classic dsm to me. Since you're new, here's a fitting phrase to sum up owning a dsm, "shit happens." Less "shit" will happen if you keep up preventitive maintenence, and fix problems when they happen, not when you feel like it. All the stuff you got going on is easy to fix, the boiling coolant happened to me to when my temp sensor went out, car just overheats. Simple fixes, which everyone has pretty much covered.

twack · 05-20-2009

The only reason i bring up the sompression tester is because something i always check before i buy is the compression. It will answer many questions in my mind. I dont thijnk i would want to get into a sale where i knew little about the engine, then certain major problems can be addressed. But any badmouthing of the original seller is not needed like Constant said Shit happens with DSMs all the time Mike didnt try and and sneak anything on you. How much did you end up getting the price down to? Now if you want help doing your matinence were more then willing to help you out

s1ngletracker · 05-22-2009

I wouldnt assume this is a minor problem. I would verify your headgasket isn't bad before you go doing all this other maintenance. Hit the big problems first, and knock out the secondary smaller problems later.

blageo23 · 05-22-2009

For the Overflow bubbling Im guessing its a radiator cap. Alot of people will tell you its a headgasket but in my experience its probably the radiator cap(plust that alot cheaper and quicker to replace)

For the Oil in the valve cover Id say its either a cracked valve cover, valve cover gasket or the gasket on the oil cap.

J'sGSX12 · 05-22-2009

Quote:

Thanks a lot, do any of you know anyone who lives in the area?

If you need help I would be game to come and help

**Halon** · 05-22-2009

Just my opinion, but a compression test is a great thing to do right off the bat. It's free to do (as long as your or someone you know has a tester). I'd like to know up front if there is a bigger issue. I personally wouldn't want to swap out all the antifreeze and oil with new stuff, then do a compression test and find out the head has to come off and I have to drain out all the new stuff I put in.

I'm not sure where Lakeville is, but if you're ever up around Blaine, stop by I have a couple compression testers.

twack · 05-22-2009

define big issue, to some of us a head gasket or a timing belt is nothing to deal with. But its definitly something i want to know going into a new car.