Couple questions before purchasing talon

[Chrisj485]

Hey everyone...I am possible going to be purchasing a '91 Talon Tsi this weekend, but had a couple questions first.

The guy selling it says it needs a new knock sensor, and in his exact words needs a new "hydraulic pump for clutch." Now...I'm pretty sure that's not the actual name of the part that needs replacing. I was thinking slave cylinder? Or something like that. He says the car wont shift. I have to find out more details like whether the shifter wont shift, or it wont shift because of a clutch related problem, but for reference, is a "hydraulic pump" for the clutch the actual name for the part or not. Thanks everyone for any help.

 

[ChvyKc]

He is probably talking about either the slave cylinder or the master cylinder. For your sake, hope that he is talking about the slave cylinder. It's extremely easy to replace and the cheaper of the two.

Knock sensor is not to bad to replace, it's just in an awkward spot.

Doesn't look like you are looking at a lot of money to fix the car as long as it is the slave cylinder or master cylinder causing it not to shift and not the tranny.

 

[Dasamary]

As with any old car, be careful not to take the seller at his word. Just because he says it needs a couple cheap parts doesn't necessarily mean that is all it needs. Wouldn't it make more sense for him to spend a couple of bucks and fix it and sell it as a car that actually can be driven? He'd get alot more money out of it that way.

Just becareful, the car is 17 years old.

 

[Chrisj485]

As with any old car, be careful not to take the seller at his word. Just because he says it needs a couple cheap parts doesn't necessarily mean that is all it needs. Wouldn't it make more sense for him to spend a couple of bucks and fix it and sell it as a car that actually can be driven? He'd get alot more money out of it that way.

Just becareful, the car is 17 years old.

I see your point exactly...The "kid" is 16 and bought it before he found out insurance would be 4000 a year so he bought a jetta and now needs to sell this.

 

[TheClaw]

I've said it a million times, and I'll say it again.

If you buy a DSM that is underivable for ANY reason - ASSUME the entire drivetrain will need to be replaced.. Engine, trans, transfer case, EVERYTHING.

The dude is most likely lieing to sell it.

Unless you're getting it for like $500 - I'd keep looking.

 

[ChvyKc]

I see your point exactly...The "kid" is 16 and bought it before he found out insurance would be 4000 a year so he bought a jetta and now needs to sell this.

There's no way that I would take the word of a 16 year old kid. I would be very careful about buying that car. If anyway possible trying to find something else if he is asking a good amount for it. Good luck with the searching.

 

[Chrisj485]

There's no way that I would take the word of a 16 year old kid. I would be very careful about buying that car. If anyway possible trying to find something else if he is asking a good amount for it. Good luck with the searching.

Ill be getting more pics of it tonight and be able to talk with him some more. I understand what you all are saying see how hes only 16. Ill see if anyone can verify that the car actual drove when he bought it. He says it starts right up etc...Ill have to think of some other questions to ask him...

 

[2gAWDTalon]

Just to try an answer your question... the salve cyl. is the one on the tranny and the master is the one that connects to the clutch. With these cars the only connection from the clutch pedel to the clutch mechenism is hydrualic fluid. Since he said 'Pump' I would think it was the Master, but that is looking at it logicly and no avarge person uses common sence these days.

 

[robs90tsi]

Ill be getting more pics of it tonight and be able to talk with him some more. I understand what you all are saying see how hes only 16. Ill see if anyone can verify that the car actual drove when he bought it. He says it starts right up etc...Ill have to think of some other questions to ask him...

I would start the car if possible, and pump the clutch pedal, check for pressure in pedal, check above the gas pedal (where the clutch master cylinder comes through the firewall) for a leaking master cylinder, check to see if the slave cylinder is applying force to the clutch fork when the pedal is pressed, check to make sure the clutch fork isnt snapped, and if the clutch hydraulic system appears to be working fine, assume the clutch is bad, always assume the worst case scenario when buying a used car, ESPECIALLY a 91 talon from a 16 year old.

 

[Chrisj485]

I would start the car if possible, and pump the clutch pedal, check for pressure in pedal, check above the gas pedal (where the clutch master cylinder comes through the firewall) for a leaking master cylinder, check to see if the slave cylinder is applying force to the clutch fork when the pedal is pressed, check to make sure the clutch fork isnt snapped, and if the clutch hydraulic system appears to be working fine, assume the clutch is bad, always assume the worst case scenario when buying a used car, ESPECIALLY a 91 talon from a 16 year old.

He said he just replaced the clutch with an ACT less than 500 miles ago....

 

[robs90tsi]

Dont believe him, you cant see the product, so you truly dont know what it is, he could have messed up the install if he even did one, remeber, he doesnt know you, hes a 16 year old trying to sell his car, he just wants to get his money and be done with the car, when i was 16, i would have said i had a $5000 engine if the guy i was selling it to didnt know anything, or that i had a super duper rare turbo or something, i hope you get where im going.

 

[Chrisj485]

Dont believe him, you cant see the product, so you truly dont know what it is, he could have messed up the install if he even did one, remeber, he doesnt know you, hes a 16 year old trying to sell his car, when i was 16, i would have said i had a $5000 engine if the guy i was selling it to didnt know anything, or that i had a super duper rare turbo or something, i hope you get where im going.

Oh trust me, I do....I wish there was a way of knowing EVERY honest answer to my questions, but..there isn't...and where this will have to be my DD for a while, that makes me even more hesitant. And my eagerness to get a DSM since they are hard to find around here kicks in to which isn't good.

 

[robs90tsi]

Right, i jumped too fast on my car as well, and so far since Jan of this year I have either rebuilt or replaced: trans, clutch master cylinder, clutch slave cylinder, clutch, starter, turbo, exhaust mani (cracked), clutch fork, pivot ball, transfer case, rear main seal, all seals on the transfer case and trans, and thats off the top of my head, I still need: suspension all around, tires, oil pan, rear main seal cover, thats of the top of my head too.

 

[Chrisj485]

Right, i jumped too fast on my car as well, and so far since Jan of this year I have either rebuilt or replaced: trans, clutch master cylinder, clutch slave cylinder, clutch, starter, turbo, exhaust mani (cracked), clutch fork, pivot ball, transfer case, rear main seal, all seals on the transfer case and trans, and thats off the top of my head, I still need: suspension all around, tires, oil pan, rear main seal cover, thats of the top of my head too.

Yeah...the more input I get the less im considering it....I actually found a 91 Ecipse turbo for sale here in Maine and have talked to the guy already. (Older guy who bought the car for his son but then drove it and didnt want his son driving it ) Just got it all inspected..new timing belt, brakes, tires, etc. And comes with a '90 eclipse parts car....think ill check this one out.....oh yeah...I can test drive this one.

One thing the kid tried telling me is that the DSM tranny's are known for grinding second gear..is this BS or not...

 

[robs90tsi]

One thing the kid tried telling me is that the DSM tranny's are known for grinding second gear..is this BS or not...

ya ones that are beaten on, wow dont but that kids car...

They grind if:
1. They've been beaten on
2. They've been beaten on
3. They've been beaten on

It'd be a different story if lets say 1, 3, and 5 were grinding, or 2, 4, and R were, then it COULD be a shifter cable issue, but 1 gear usually means synchro is bad.


That other guy sounds honest, check it out but STILL BE CAREFUL.

 

[Chrisj485]

ya ones that are beaten on, wow dont but that kids car...

They grind if:
1. They've been beaten on
2. They've been beaten on
3. They've been beaten on

It'd be a different story if lets say 1, 3, and 5 were grinding, or 2, 4, and R were, then it COULD be a shifter cable issue, but 1 gear usually means synchro is bad.


That other guy sounds honest, check it out but STILL BE CAREFUL.

HAHA......THAT'S what I was thinking....well I just told this kid im passing it up...on to the next one..to bad its 3 hours away..hopefully its worth it

 

[Chrisj485]

I just found a '90 Talon Tsi awd. I emailed them and they said they wanted $2600 for it. Has 157,000 miles and no mods done to it. I offered them $1700 which is what it books for in excellent condition with every option available...is $2600 a bit steep?

 

[robs90tsi]

Seems little steep, depending of the condition of the interior, exterior, and matinence done to the car, if the car has had at least 2 timing belts done, all the fluids are full and look good, tires are good, suspension, etc then 2600 is ok, but try offering less anyway.

 

[lenny 15]

About the kid being 16, chances are he doesnt know that much about the car, so he may think its one thing, but moslikly isnt. im 17, i sold a 1982 buick Le Sabre, and while i was trying to sell it, the ac stoped working. i told the lady that bought it that it should be a 30 dollar recharge, which is what I THOUGHT it was. later on i found out it was the AC compressor. i bought my car when i was 16, and i got lucky. the guy told me that the new T25 he put on was a small upgrade from the 14B, and when i asked about the oil spots under the car he said it was the oil lines that needed tightening on the turbo. it turned out to be the headgasket.

if that car is just a TSi, then dont buy it, and get a TSi AWD. just my two cents.

 

[theycallmedalgo]

About the kid being 16, chances are he doesnt know that much about the car, so he may think its one thing, but moslikly isnt. im 17, i sold a 1982 buick Le Sabre, and while i was trying to sell it, the ac stoped working. i told the lady that bought it that it should be a 30 dollar recharge, which is what I THOUGHT it was. later on i found out it was the AC compressor. i bought my car when i was 16, and i got lucky. the guy told me that the new T25 he put on was a small upgrade from the 14B, and when i asked about the oil spots under the car he said it was the oil lines that needed tightening on the turbo. it turned out to be the headgasket.

if that car is just a TSi, then dont buy it, and get a TSi AWD. just my two cents.

haha , he said the t25 was an upgrade from a 14b, and it had a bad head gasket, how were you lucky? unless im just not catching on to the sarcasm here, can someone clarify?


anyway, you should bring a mechanic with you to check out the car since he will most likely know more than a 16 year old.