Adding a new DSM to the family, but have some questions pertaining the FMIC

[sbailey11]

I am looking to buy a 1995 eagle talon tsi awd (same as my car) for my girlfriend. We have to drive about 3 hours (200ish miles) to pick it up and we plan on driving it right back.
The car has the following mods

20G turbo, stock manifold
1G BOV
850cc injectors
190 walboro pump
rebuilt tranny with evo 1st gear
light weight flywheel
stage 2 clutch and pp
rebuilt engine with less than 1000 miles on it
redone head with 272 cams (lopes at idle)
MLS head gasket and ARP head studs
Full 3" exhaust with a high flow cat
Boost gauge
PLX AFR wideband
DSM Link with laptop usb port (* but the car has not been tuned *)


BUT it has no FMIC, and he says it tends to run lean after a while driving. My question is, (1) does the fact that there is no fmic make the car run lean? (2) is it the fact that it is not tuned? (3) If I turn the boost down for the ride home can we make it back alright? (4) What are the possible things that could go wrong with this problem on such a long drive?

 

[jayson427]

I would think the 190 fuel pump doesn't help that and not being tuned of course. Depending on what the Wideband reads out of boost will determine if it's alright to drive that far. Fmic just gives you cooler air I'm sure it has a side mount intercooler which some people still run till they can upgrade. You can turn the boost down and probably make it home but I would stay out of boost till you figure some things out.

 

[Roberti 2G]

Could be that the injectors aren't set to the right dead time and its not dialed in right. There are many possible things that could give you problems when driving a un tuned car that far. I would personally use my basic knowledge of DSMLINK and try to dial it in when I picked it up. Jeffro has a few vids on Youtube that can help you get the TPS,BISS, and injectors set up right before driving it much.

 

[crash89]

Guy has link but hasnt done any kind of compensation for the extra fuel hes throwing at the engine? If he couldnt take the time to learn how to even dial in an idle/cruise who knows what else is half assed. Does the car still have the stock side mount or no intercooler at all? Since you mention a 1g bov Id assume that it has at least the stock smic. So, to answer your question, the stock smic would not make the car go lean while cruising.

Which is also something you didnt specify. Does the car just randomly go lean while cruising same speeds or in boost at WOT? What is the boost at that you would need to turn it down? If the guy cranked up the boost without even dialing in his injectors in the first place I cant believe this car is still running.

My opinion, if I were you I wouldnt even consider this car.. Now me on the other hand, Id look at it, start it and log it, save it. Then spend about 10 min to make some changes, go for a ride and if I didnt like it Id reflash how it was when I started back to the ecu and leave. I wouldnt let him benefit from me because hes lazy and didnt want to spend the time to do shit right.

 

[sbailey11]

Supposedly this guy is a honda guy and has no experience with dsmlink at all. im guessing he bought it, threw some bigger injectors on it and didnt know he had to tune it. I am sure it has a SMIC and ill have to ask him specifically when it runs lean. Ill do my best to see if i can dial it in on site. But its a 3 hour drive there so im either gonna buy it or not, probably wont make a second trip.

The owner says it runs fine and he can drive it but it needs a tune, "and sometimes it runs a little lean"

 

[jayson427]

How much is he asking for this car with a 1000 miles on an engine? I would make sure he has proof of that and not feeding you a bunch of lies.

 

[sbailey11]

He is asking 3400, but I've offered less than 3k and I think we've got a deal. The car was just repainted and the leather interior was just re upholstered. He is only the 2ns owner from my understanding



***Update. The owner says that "when it goes from closed loop to open loop it runs lean, in boost or idle doesnt matter"

What could be changed in DSM or what would be the culprit of this? Im going to try to get it back to normal for the drive home

I am not experience with dsmlink and if anyone knows of a DIY guide or video tutorial that will help me figure this problem out specifically, that would be more than awesome.