Just bought a tsi awd, have a lot of questions

bushy · Jan 22, 2006

Hey guys, I just purchased a 91 Talon TSI AWD for $300 and I have a few questions.

First off is the radiator fans do not turn on, causing the temp to rise quickly. Also if you really lay on it when it gets to 5k rpm it sputters and bucks like all hell, is that an electrical problem?

This car started right up and has been sitting for a long time, this ladys brother had it and he died.

I would have it towed home, but I dont really have full confidence in the tranny staying in neutral throughout the whole trip. Should I be worried?

This guy was the second owner and he was 40 years old. The car was never modified, and it has 170k on it. Am I looking at a rebuild in the near future?

Thanks for your help

K_Hill · Jan 22, 2006

Check your fuses for the radiator fans. Buy some new plugs, plug wires ( if it don't already ). The fuel filter may be bad which is causing it to buck and sputter. Do a boost leak test. Here is a link to make a boost leak tester http://www.vfaq.com/mods/ICtester.html .

g63tawd · Jan 22, 2006

If the fuses are all good and your sure the fans actually work, more than likly it is a sensor that lives in the bottom of the radiator that is bad. I belive it is pass. side on the bottom. And a general tune up and oil changed couldn't hurt either. Th fuel filter is another great idea general matiance onant new vehicle is always a good idea, someone can tell you they did this and did that but you never know. And as far as plugs go get NGK's not you autozone cheapies. And you might want to rebuild it or just run a compression test to see what the numbers are never hurts. Good luck and keep us posted

dave99gst · Jan 22, 2006

checking temp sensors - relays - fuses - fans are all good advise.
Does the temp gauge work ?

bushy · Jan 22, 2006

Yes the temperature gauge does work.

FusionTalon · Jan 22, 2006

the bucking could also be caused by a bad connecton of the intake hose to the inake manifold. Or a hole in that intake rubber pipe, my old talon had that problem, it would jump at like crazy at higher rpm. Thought it was an engine mount, warped clutch disc and a thousand other things...but it turned out to be a rubber pipe. Baiscally with the hole extra air gets in to the intake but the maf sensor doesnt catch it and doesnt give enuf fuel to acomidate so it tries to stall, but the engine is already moving too fast to stall so thats where the bucking comes from.

bushy · Jan 23, 2006

I guess that could also account for the high idle on startup.

asexton6969 · Jan 23, 2006

Putting all those problems to the side. You have a 1g AWD for $300. NICE JOB MAN! Considering it runs too!

boostdog · Jan 23, 2006

wow!!! 300$ ...awsome buy! hope u get the bugs worked out! :thumb:

hdawg06 · Jan 23, 2006

If it runs fine, just get some of the bugs worked out, but if you need to do a rebuild, strip it and part it out. It will cost you more money to do a rebuild than to buy one in decent shape considering most of the suspension may need to be replaced shortly there after.

Korndogg · Jan 23, 2006

You're concerned that if you tow it that it won't stay in neutral? you NEED a flatbed towtruck to tow an AWD. Do NOT under any circumstance let it be towed with 2 wheels dragging

bushy · Jan 23, 2006

Yes I realize that now, and I have already worked out flatbed arrangements.

Sorry about my awd stupidity

bushy · Jan 24, 2006

Well I picked it up today, and already I sense a project coming on :thumb:

I'll get some pictures up tomorrow if you guys promise not to laugh.

wastefuldreamer · Jan 24, 2006

Dont worry I just bought a laser, I bet it looks worse than your car

The Top DSM Community on the Web

Just bought a tsi awd, have a lot of questions

bushy

K_Hill

g63tawd

dave99gst

bushy

FusionTalon

bushy

asexton6969

boostdog

hdawg06

Korndogg

bushy

bushy

wastefuldreamer

Similar threads

Latest posts

Build Thread Updates

Vendor Updates

Latest Classifieds