waking 90TSI AWD from a long sleep...suggestions?

[TurboTalon90]

hey tuners....just got my Talon a couple of weeks ago and I've got a project ahead of me. It's been sitting "behind the barn" for about 3 yearsand I'm wondering what all to do to her. I put a new battery in it and changed the plugs and it started right up. I'm sure its got bad gas in it after sitting for so long. it runs pretty rough and leaks oil from the seals(f & r). Just looking for tips on the revival...Thanks for the help ya'll. It's only got 89k on it and I really want to to make this Eagle fly....Thanx!

 

[mrmadmax]

I'd change ALL of the fluids (brake fluid, trans, x-fer, engine oil, coolant, rear diff), then do a timing belt and all the front seals (while your there), drain and refill fuel tank and replace the fuel filter. Be prepared for other leaks as well.

I'm kind of leary on those timing belts. If you don't know when it was changed, change it. I bought my Talon, drove it for a month, then decided to rebuild it with forged internals. When I pulled the timing tensioners, I found that one of them could not be turned by hand! (I am soooo lucky). I think the belt would have been wasted with another DAY of driving!

 

[TurboTalon90]

I just had my buddy pick it up. He's taking it to his garage and we're gonna pull the motor and replace the oil seals, timing belts, and anything rubber in the engin bay. anybody done the vacumm hose cut out? any problems? gonna do the free mods while I'm in there. just got my ECU caps from digi-key, havin trouble findin som1 to do the cap replacement. they all say "liability"...thanx for the pointers...anybody else?

 

[AWDriver]

I though one year is long on my AWD. She'll be back on the street on Saturday, can't wait.

 

[Newlogics]

Looks like we can start our own club !
I'm working on a 92 TSi that has been sitting for a year as well !

 

[greathuskie]

just out of curiosity, but why did you let these cars sit for so long?

 

[TurboTalon90]

I guess we could start our own club...mine sat for 3 yrs. cause it wasnt mine until 3 wks ago. hope you guys get yours goinwithout major B.S. I'm sure hopin my Talon starts flyin soon, its killin me...peace

 

[TurboTalon90]

I can't find any1 to do my ECU cap replacement..got em in the mail the other day . WHO will do them? anybody help?

 

[4ged4G63]

good lord! 3 years!? Mine has been down for about two months and its killin me . I figure another three or four I'll be up and runnin again almost 100% new parts(everything that moves).

 

[TurboTalon90]

Talon undergoing itra-engine bay surgery. The waiting room is dark and cold. Smoke fills the air like the tension at a #@%#@%#@%#@%#@% fight. throat sore from constant prayers to lord DSM. Please Lord let her LIVE!!! PLEASE!! PLEASE!! PLEASE!! BTW anyone know where to get the brain surgery done around Dallas to replace my ECU caps? Please, I have health insurance for her!!!

 

[TurboTalon90]

anybody got some tips on where to get these ECU caps replaced in the metroplex?...any other tips for bringing this Talon back to life?.....Tanx!

 

[TurboTalon90]

any DFW DSM'ers out there? looking for some1 to do my ecu caps and havin no luck. thinkin of doin it myself, but I'm scared I'll rape it. anybody in Tx. know a good salvage yard around Dallas with some DSMs?looking for some odds and ends and maybe a 2g ex. manifold. anyhelp?thanks ya'll.....layta!

 

[BoostinAWD]

are they even bad?

never replaced mine and my ecu works fine

 

[Bohrn]

do your plug wires as well,can't hurt. Also clean out your intercooler,and all associated pipes, and the pcv valve and piping. Clean the throttle body.

Once it is all good, drive it for a week or so and then get all the fluids changed again. Your engine, tranny, transfercase and rear diff will stir up all sorts of sludge and crud with the new oils in them. These need to be changed again.

Pressure test the rad and cooling system.

tire pressures(don't laugh, people miss it)

give the engine and bay a good cleaning, its alot easier to work on a clean engine than a dirty one. Also they run cooler and its easier to spot trouble.

maybe change the thermostat and the O2 sensor.

While its out, put on a 2g exaust manifold and port the O2 sensor housing.

Check the heat sheilds.

Do the shifter mods in the Vfaq

adjust and lube the windows (power or not)

lube all moveable parts.

clean it really well, inside and out, taking it apart as far as you want to. When a car has sat for a long time, it will get a build up of dust and pollen on it. Then the rains come and wash all that mixture into the cracks of the body and other such small places. This muddy stuff is in perfect conditions to grow mold and whatever moss you normally have around your area. Soap and a pressure washer is the best bet. IF you dont get rid of all of it, your car will rust.

Check the brakes, especially the rubber lines, and other soft parts. Bleed out all the old fluid in both the brakes and the clutch system. Brake fluid is attractive to water, and the water in the system will rust out your internal parts. You will probalby have to have the rotors turned, and when you do, replace the pads. Don't reuse the old pads, unless you sand them on a flat surface with some 80 grit paper first, and there is alot of pad left.

Check all the muffler hangers and axle joints etc, no surprises on the hiway at way too fast!

Just go over the car section by section, being thourough and not missing anything. It will be a labour of love,and will determine if you really like the thing or not. If after the months of doing this, you still like the car, they you are going to always like it. But if after a week or so, you just give up and put it back behind the barn, sell it to someone who will love it.

Best of luck, and have fun. Oh and remember that everything costs more and takes longer than you thought it would hehe

PS, anywhere you see rust, like under the battery tray , sand it down, and paint it with rust paint so that it doesn't go farther.



Holy hell, what a long message,sorry, Ihope it helps

 

[TurboTalon90]

Holy $hit ! thanx a lot man. thats what I was tryin to get at. good tips on the brake lines and window tracks. and brake fluid. I appreciate the long post, thats what I needed. It will be a labor of love. Hey, the car was free, so what ever I spend on bringing it back is what I spend on the car. ....again, THANX!!!

 

[Bohrn]

you got it

anything I can do to help. I am sorta new to Talons, but old cheap cars are like old freinds to me, I've never been able to buy a newer car.

anything else, just ask

 

[Talek]

I've got a 1990 TSi that's been sitting for awhile too, about 6 months now. It's time for me to wake her up. I plan on changing the fluids before driving it much, but what concerns me the most is the last time I took it for a spin, the front right brake sounded like the pad was grinding. I just got those pads replaced, could they just be rusty? What's the best way to make sure I can stop? hehe.

 

[Bohrn]

if the pads were recently replaced, and the rotors were turned, you should be fine. Just stop a few times, and it will go away.

If you didnt turn the rotors when the pads were replaced, you need to get them turned. Also, don't go back to that place, as they are not good at what they do. No pro should do this.