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How molested is my engine?

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1g_talonman

Proven Member
31
7
Sep 20, 2018
Saskatoon, SK_Canada
Just a quick heads up, I really don't know anything about the backstory of my 91 talon tsi and its engine. I'm a teen that just bought his first car and don't know too much about engines in general.

Engine was rebuilt and has 150000kms on it. I'll check over the receipts and find out what exactly was done/if any problems reported (was rebuilt 10 years ago) if anybody wants to know.

The car currently doesn't run. It ran well minus the odd stall for a week after I bought it. I took it into an import shop (guy has worked on dozens of dsm's) for a diagnosis and he found that oil leaked into the cam sensor and busted it, although he couldn't guarantee that was the only major problem keeping the engine from running.

I've noted that the turbo and rad were pulled from a junkyard (previous owner tried to make a fast car on the cheap?) and the battery is held in place with a bungee cord and not bolts (battery hits hood while driving and shorts out.) There are also vacuum lines plugged with bolts and covered in tape around the engine bay, for example on the throttle body and air intakes.

Basically, I'm curious to know what is and isn't stock, what looks like it might need some attention or replacing, and your opinions on what I've got. Thanks in advance.
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Fix that batteru situation TODAY, you wont have a car in a few days if you dont, your lucky the battery hasnt already welded itself to the hood and caused a fire that cant be put out, its happened and if you search you will find the stories.
 
Fix that batteru situation TODAY, you wont have a car in a few days if you dont, your lucky the battery hasnt already welded itself to the hood and caused a fire that cant be put out, its happened and if you search you will find the stories.
Oh yeah for sure man. It was a janky solution but the guy I bought it from had a piece of cardboard on it which also was a fire hazard but oh well it is what it is. I'm going to some junkyards on Monday and the battery resting plate thing is on my shopping list.
 
Besides the sketchy battery. I would Check out the maintenance check list here.

And some engine degreaser could help some.

https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...&ved=0ahUKEwi3zqDVu_PdAhWM1VkKHdLLCe8QgTYIyQU
I do plan on saving up to do maintenance like full timing replace. Also a little cleanup before winter, and probably a deep clean of the engine bay next spring.

Doesnt' look Bad. I Dont' See any hacked Up wires or Mods. It has Heat shields so that is a plus
The heat shields are covering the exhaust headers or manifolds or whatever beside the oil dipstick, correct?

Looks like you found a fairly stock dsm definitely going to need some maintenance and fixing to get her 100%
Well that's good to hear. I'm eager to tackle my own project car to help me learn hands on LOL
 
Spend some time reading. Searching "how to blah blah blah dsmtuners" on google. That will yeild major results.

This site search function is a little sketchy. But this site has EVERYTHING you need to know. I promise you.

I've been here about 15 years. That's your first car? Wow. Listen. Read. Listen. Research. Maintenance.

I daily drive my car. So, take that info how you want it.


Your car looks clean. Not hacked up, just some minor mods it looks like. Overall still factory. Clean up when you can, mod free what you can. Fix what you need to.

Fix those vacuum lines.
Boost leak test.
Replace spark plugs, NGK NPR7es gapped to .025
93 gas
fuel filter
fuel pump sock filter
spark plugs
oil
timing belt, balancers & pulleys

If you can not afford to, park it. It'll cost you 4x as much in the long run depending on your decisions.
 
Last edited:
I highly recommend replacing the radiator with a full aluminum one (the ebay $100 rads work great). Those plastic topped rads are 20 years old and become very brittle. I had a hose pop off when the rad neck just disintegrated as I was climbing a hill and it caused a whole myriad of problems.

The vac hoses are looped because the PO deleted the emissions crap.
You can get a universal battery hold down for $5.
 
It always interests me that so many people leave the sticker on the upper radiator hose. I agree with above, first thing I would do is get a new radiator; that thing is about to crack any day now. Looks like a pretty decent find. You either want to find a stock car or one with high quality modifications. You found the stock car. Good for you.
 
Spend some time reading. Searching "how to blah blah blah dsmtuners" on google. That will yeild major results.

This site search function is a little sketchy. But this site has EVERYTHING you need to know. I promise you.

I've been here about 15 years. That's your first car? Wow. Listen. Read. Listen. Research. Maintenance.

I daily drive my car. So, take that info how you want it.


Your car looks clean. Not hacked up, just some minor mods it looks like. Overall still factory. Clean up when you can, mod free what you can. Fix what you need to.

Fix those vacuum lines.
Boost leak test.
Replace spark plugs, NGK NPR7es gapped to .025
93 gas
fuel filter
fuel sock filter
spark plugs
oil
timing belt, balancers & pulleys

If you can not afford to, park it. It'll cost you 4x as much in the long run depending on your decisions.
I do plan on fixing her to the point where I can daily drive, and thanks for the heads on up the things I should fix!

I highly recommend replacing the radiator with a full aluminum one (the ebay $100 rads work great). Those plastic topped rads are 20 years old and become very brittle. I had a hose pop off when the rad neck just disintegrated as I was climbing a hill and it caused a whole myriad of problems.

The vac hoses are looped because the PO deleted the emissions crap.
You can get a universal battery hold down for $5.
Okay I'll be sure to save up for an aluminum rad. As for the vacuum lines, I'm not sure which one are looped but wouldn't I be able to remove the ones plugged with bolts and cover them up properly with vacuum caps?
 
It always interests me that so many people leave the sticker on the upper radiator hose.

Those bastidges are hard to get off in one piece. I never cared enough.
 
Being that it's your first car (awesome choice btw) and only car I'd say do all the maintenance and I mean all. And I'd say keep it as stock as you can these cars get a bad rap for being unreliable but I feel it's the owners fault. Pick two cheap, reliable, fast. You found the best place to learn though I wish you luck be smart and do things once and do them right!
 
DSM

Don't
Stop
Maintaining!

Seriously though, a thorough check of everything would be good. Ignition timing check once it's running any and all boost leaks fixed.
 
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