1991 Talon TSI AWD Turbo Prespective Purchase

[d3m0]

Hey guys, I'm considering buying this 1991 AWD TSI AWD, and the guy says it needs a "valve timing job." I checked the timing belt, seemed almost brand new, it turned off, ran for about 5 seconds, then shut off.

The only thing I could think of is the fuel pump dying , becuase the pressure it had to start but no pressure to keep on running, but that is about it, and i don't know where "valve timing job" came from.

But if this is true, what would be needed to be done for a "valve timing job" and any other guesses you guys have?

Thanks

 

[steve]

If your trying to say that the car starts and runs for about 5 seconds before dieing I'd check the ECU and MPI relay out. On a 1G the fuel pump gets powered by two things. The starter circuit that powers the pump while cranking anh the ECU that powers the pump while the engine is running. If the ECU doesn't keep the pump turned on the car will run for a souple of seconds before the fuel pressure drops and it stalls.

Keep in mind that timing belts usually look new right up to the point that the teeth start stripping off. So unless you know exactly when it was last changed the first thing to do is replace it. There are tons of posts from guys who didn't and needed a new head shortly after buying a "new" car.

Very few people sell an old car right after paying the dealer a grand for a new timing belt. The cars usually get put up for sale when they find out how much it costs and the owner decides they not going to going to dump the blue book value back into the car.

Steve

 

[gridlyne]

Check for any broken ears on the block!!

 

[steve]

thanks for the advice much !!!!

hrm ... i didn't even turn on ... he said it needed a 'valve timing job'

what do you think he meant ? the timing belt wasn't snapped , and he said 'him and 5 friends picked it up and dropped it"

any idea? i'd appreciate it much ...

The simple answer is that it's due for a timing belt replacement.
They are required every 60k miles. It may be that the car has suffered a belt failure and rebuilding the head is needed along with the timing belt.
The belt doesn't have to snap to cause damage, it just needs to skip from either a loss of tension or from loosing teeth on the belt.

If you haven't turned the car on then I don't understand you saying "it turned off, ran for about 5 seconds, then shut off". Was that what they told you or did you see it run?

I have no idea what "him and 5 friends picked it up and dropped it" means.

Steve