Finally Got My DSM!

[RGdsmNewb]

I picked up my 95 TSI AWD Talon from the trainyard today with 65k miles. She looks pretty damn mint, i'm going to post pictures soon, but for now i have some questions. I'm really new to the whole car modding / dsm thing, so be patient with me please.

We just got a huge dump of snow here, and im really hesitant to drive the car more or less because of rust, it seems to handle really well so far though...

Shifting seems a bit odd, but im used to driving my 01 honda prelude vtec... it seems as if its a little stiff in the dsm, no grinding, but a little hard to get into gear sometimes. im deathly afraid of crank walk

Another thing, my timing belt is making this weird screeching sound periodically.... im gonna have to replace the belts i think during the tuneup.

Lastly, im entirely new to turbos and basically modding in general, and the car came with a K&N filter, cold air intake , autometer boost gauge, some kind of boost controller ( which i have no idea to use and am kinda scared to as well haha). But yeah when i drive it seems that the boost is at 10 PSI when floored... should it be higher or lower than this?!

So i guess my only questions have to do with the winter driving / timing belt / shifting weirdness / boost gauging......... sorry i've tried to read through faqs / search , but im really newb and would appreciate some help. Thank you in advance!

 

[SixBolt_16G]

65k... Its time for the water pump, timing belt, and fuel filter. Change your vaccuum hoses tomorrow.

 

[RGdsmNewb]

Thank you for the reply,

I have no way of working on my own car at the current time due to the snow and a small garage with another car always in the way..... Should i take the car to a trusted mechanic to get this done or a mitsu dealer? how much does a full tuneup usually cost for a dsm?

 

[TRBOBLU]

Oh where to start. As far as driving in the snow DO IT!! There is nothing more fun. I usually take my car to the quarter wash every week and wash out the wheel wells and underside. The tranny sounds like your typical DSM tranny, you could try changing the fluid. Leave the boost where it is at untill you get a fuel pump. You could probable turn in up a few more pounds but I like to be safe. Go ahead and do the timing belt cause you are getting somewhat close to the service mileage and it sounds like you are doing maintenance anyway. Uhhh.. did that answer your questions?

 

[dr1ftx3]

I took my car to the mitsu dealer for the 60k tuneup. They replaced all my belts and hoses,(timing belt included). Pretty steep price though, ran me around $600.

 

[RGdsmNewb]

Oh where to start. As far as driving in the snow DO IT!! There is nothing more fun. I usually take my car to the quarter wash every week and wash out the wheel wells and underside. The tranny sounds like your typical DSM tranny, you could try changing the fluid. Leave the boost where it is at untill you get a fuel pump. You could probable turn in up a few more pounds but I like to be safe. Go ahead and do the timing belt cause you are getting somewhat close to the service mileage and it sounds like you are doing maintenance anyway. Uhhh.. did that answer your questions?

yah man thanks alot. It is really fun in the snow, i love the traction the awd gets me. See the thing is that i'm completely noob and dont even know how to turn the boost up if i wanted too.. im gonna take pictures of everything i have sometime this week, but the boost controller i have looks somewhat like this http://www.dsmtuners.com/parts/product_info.php?cPath=3_60&products_id=322

So do i just turn the nobs with my fingers if i wanted to turn it up??? sorry for the complete noobness

 

[RGdsmNewb]

I took my car to the mitsu dealer for the 60k tuneup. They replaced all my belts and hoses,(timing belt included). Pretty steep price though, ran me around $600.

Alright thanks. I work at a toyota dealership, but im just the lot lizard type guy hahaha. I've made pretty good friends with one of the mechanics who will do stuff pretty cheap for me, but i just dont know if i should trust him with doing a tuneup on a dsm

 

[TRBOBLU]

Alright thanks. I work at a toyota dealership, but im just the lot lizard type guy hahaha. I've made pretty good friends with one of the mechanics who will do stuff pretty cheap for me, but i just dont know if i should trust him with doing a tuneup on a dsm

I wouldnt let anybody do the timing belt unless they have done one before. It is sad that I have to make a comment like that but most mechanics screw it up(how I dont know, maybe they fix too many V8's). Nonetheless be weary who does it, its best to find someone on tuners or some DSM site who live close to you to come help.

 

[SixBolt_16G]

1. I dont know how it is in Canada... But a lot of us here in the states will do everything possible to avoid taking the car to the dealership. Theyve proven that you cant trust them.. Find out if there is a ClubDSM in your area.. or at least a group of knowledgable DSMers in your area. One of the locals here in chicago with a good rep did my timing belt and water pump for like $350 including parts.

2. AWD DSMs are built for the snow.. You would be missing out on a ton of fun if you didnt drive it in the snow. Although.. When sliding slide ways and flooring it.. Watch out for dry patches as you will be slung in the direction your facing resulting in an embarrassing but harmless snow drift accident.

3. Every DSM ive ever drivin have problems getting into gear... For me its always been 1st gear and reverse... For reverse i usually go into a forward gear, like 4th gear with the clutch down, then swing it in to reverse.. Sometimes going into first, it wont catch and will pop back into neutral.. But you can feel when it doesnt catch.. i just give it a little gas coming off the clutch slowly while pushing it into first gently and it will just fall into gear. Thats normal. You might want to have your mechanic friend put some Syncromesh or Syncroshift tranny oil in the transmission though.

4. Please fill out your vehicle profile with all our mods, so people wont get on your case about it in future post for problems you might have. The boost is right where it should be if youre stock. Dont go overboard with turning it up. I think you can do safely do 14psi on the stock t25. Make sure you opt for a Walbro 190 or 255..if youre thinking about building the car up anymore

5. Is the squeeling coming from the accessory belts or the timing belt itself.. Squeeling from the accessory belts is a common problem. They just need to be tightened a bit.

Congrats on the DSM.

 

[FRIZZLE]

I WOULD GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THE CLUTCH THEN GO OUT AND GET A TUNE UP AFTER THAT GET YOUR FUEL UPGRADED AND TURN THAT BOOST UP. I RAN 20psi ON MY STOCK T-25 TURBO RAN GREAT AFTER ALITTLE TUNNING.

 

[Nonrml4]

15psi is the most you should push on a t25 with a stock fuel system or aftermarket, after 15 psi the turbo isn't in its efficiency range anymore. FRIZZLE what we're you thinking running a t25 at 20 psi? John

 

[impuresoul2k3]

Plus if you want to be taken seriously and not remain at "noob" status, you'd better learn to type with all of the capitalization and punctuation rules you learned in 6th grade, remember, only the first letter of the first word of a sentence needs to be capitalized...

 

[FRIZZLE]

Thanks for the lesson guys .

 

[RGdsmNewb]

Thanks for the help guys

 

[VPrime]

http://ca.dsm.org/
Canadian DSM forum, there are probably some local people there...
im on that froum
(Murtaza there)

 

[RGdsmNewb]

http://ca.dsm.org/
Canadian DSM forum, there are probably some local people there...
im on that froum
(Murtaza there)

Great, thanks man.