Just bought 92 TSI AWD PROBLEMS! ( long )

[Lifted04FORD]

Hey guys ,

Im new to DSMS and found a great deal on a 92 TSI AWD from original owner. 144k miles for $1100 body is perfect other than fading paint.

anyway when i test drove it it drove fine no problems. the guy said he never really got on it when driving. ( old guy )

drove smooth no problems. So i bought the car. took it home. On the way home merging on the highway i ran through 3rd and 4th .. it was a blast.. everything felt fine other than something that feels like a shutter coming from the rear end during acceleration.

when i got home the car was idleing very odd. sort of sounds like i have big cams .. but its stock.

so i changed the plugs and wires.. helped barely.. still idles like that..

So i took it for a spin. when giving it a little gas to take off it sounds like a wrx with a exhaust.( hope you know what i mean )

and while im driving i got into 5th and got that horrible shaking from the rear end again... i cant figure it out.

then on the way home the oil pressure dropped.. i pulled in my garage. smoke everywhere.. i look and there is oil EVERYWHERE and a huge trail folowing me from the road.. So i jack it up and the oil filter is loose.. HOW THE HELL????


I just bought this car and I am so frustrated already... someone please help

I did a search and found that the oil cooler sometimes comes loose ... and also i found that the shutter could be from the carrier bearing???

Please put some insight on my situation... i really want to get my car on the road so i can drive it..


The poor idle im thinking i blew off a vac line maybe..

Sorry for being so long

 

[turbo2086]

If you blew a vac line, should be kinda easy to pin point. When I blow mine usually hear a hissing sound from the vacuum line. If not, boost leak test will further help in finding a vac/boost leak.

Jack up the rear end, and support properly. Then play around with the drive shaft, see if you get excessive movement side to side, or up and down.

 

[Lifted04FORD]

i dont hear any hissing from anything when idle from the motor... when i rev the motor and when it decels from the rev, i hear a vibrating noise.. ill check out that driveshaft

 

[steve]

I know it so tempting to go out and have fun with a "new" car but if you read the post for a while you'll find that usually leads to heartbreak and extra expense.

First thing to do is all the neglected maintenance. If you don't have a reciept for someting from the PO then assume it wasn't done regardless of what they tell you. It's cheaper to replace the timing belt, water pump, transfer case lube, etc than it is to rebuild the engine or drivetrain.

So first order of business is to change all the fluids in the engine, trans, transfercase, diff, coolant, brakes, and clutch. While you have the engine drained and dry pull the oil cooler and clean the housing and threads of the filter bolt, replace the seal on the cooler and reinstall with locktite on the bolt. Do not overtighten or you runs the risk of crushing the cooler. http://www.vfaq.com/mods/oilcool.html While you flushing the brake fluid check out how much pad you have left and make sure the calipers slide on their pins freely.

After the fluids are changed run a boost leak test. It's very likely you have many, anything from salt corrosion of the intercooler piping to dried out vacuum lines and bad PCV valves.

While your under the car draining and refilling the the trans, transfercase and rear diff you can check the u-joints and carrier bearings on the drive shaft. It should turn freely with no rough spots. I had to replace all the u-joint spiders at 120k becasue they were stiff and crunchy. Take the car over and have the wheels aligned and tires balanced. Get a lifetime alignment deal up front since it's likely you'll be replacing more parts over time or dropping the car and need it redone several times.

That should keep you busy for a while. Oh, go get a real Factory Service Manual. Not a Chiltons or Haynes but the one from Mitsubishi or Chrysler. Between it and the VFAQ site it will pay for itself.

Steve

 

[spinninfwdlaser]

From the idle sound, you may be idle surging. Does the rpms fluctuate? Oil filters backing off on turbo dsms are kind of common, but can be prevented if the owner cares enough. I would defintly take it easy for a while.

 

[Lifted04FORD]

From the idle sound, you may be idle surging. Does the rpms fluctuate? Oil filters backing off on turbo dsms are kind of common, but can be prevented if the owner cares enough. I would defintly take it easy for a while.

yes it fluctuates from 5-600 to 1100 goes between those..

and thank you steve for all of that info.. i will get started on that