Maintenance/Performance Parts Sources?

[98_DSM]

Hey everybody I just joined the site and introduced myself in the newbie forum. But I do have questions, and need ideas if you all would be so kind to do so. I have never owned a DSM but always admired them and wanted one. So today I traded my 87 MK1 in on a 98 Eclipse GS. First off here is some info on the Eclipse before I ask my questions.

1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS
134,000 Miles
Bone Stock Auto (car has no mods that I can see)
Bumper cover and left front fender are FUBAR. (car lot ordered OEM bumper cover and fender will be here Monday)
CEL came on about 4 hours after I got it home. (Will check it at Autozone or what not.)
Previouse owner tried to paint interior and the paint has bubbled and is peeling. (Will try to remove and or replace parts)
Needs driver side bumper side marker lense for new bumper when it comes in.
Moonroof does not open or close all the way. (It tires to open but gets so far then stops, and when I close it the window will drop real hard and the driver side back corner of the window stays open about half an inch.)

These are the few things that I know of that are wrong. Also when sitting at a stop light in drive the car seems to shutter every second or so. It is very slight you have to be paying attention to feel it. And maybe because I'm used to a 2 seater, 5spd, rwd, mid engine car that weight 2200lb. But the car seems kind of slugish when I floor it.

Here are my questions, what are some things that I should look into to be replaced? What is the possible issue with the moonroof malfuncioning? That is my biggest issue I don't want the elements getting into the car. I'm not looking to make a 12s car I want it reliable and fun. So I'm looking to do at the most intake, header, exhuat, suspension (not just springs and struts but bushings, tower strut bars, sway bars, tie rods, ball joints, the whole nine yards. I feel your susension should be top knotch because I'm all about safety and reliability over speed and power. My last build up car I had a lot of money into and it was taken away from me in a split second when somebody decided to use it to stop their car. I don't want to go through with that again.) So for upgrades I want to know everybodies opinion on parts and where to find them:

Intake
Header
Exhaust
Suspension Components:
Springs
Struts
Tower Strut Bars
Bushings
Motor Mounts

This is all I can think of for now to ask about. Thanks in advance for all of your answers, ideas, and help. I hope to not only learn a lot about DSMs but to meet a lot of cool people in this community. Take care.

 

[snowborder714]

First off, welcome to the site!

These are the few things that I know of that are wrong. Also when sitting at a stop light in drive the car seems to shutter every second or so. It is very slight you have to be paying attention to feel it. And maybe because I'm used to a 2 seater, 5spd, rwd, mid engine car that weight 2200lb. But the car seems kind of slugish when I floor it.

Do all your maintenance first including plugs and wires, fluids, etc. This may be causing some of the problem.

As far as what to upgrade, do some searches in the 420A subforum:
420A DSM Tech - DSM Forums

 

[98_DSM]

First off, welcome to the site!



Do all your maintenance first including plugs and wires, fluids, etc. This may be causing some of the problem.

As far as what to upgrade, do some searches in the 420A subforum:
420A DSM Tech - DSM Forums

Thanks I was going to try and do all of that this weekend since it was supposed to be nicer outside.

Anybody have any ideas about the moonroof? I was told it is a common issue on these cars.

 

[rsross314]

Had the same problem on my girlfriends 97 talon , we took the hole thing out and cleaned the tracks and noticed a small pin was missing, there were four if i remember right. We replaced it and made sure it was on track and its been working fine. Sorry i cant name what the pin is or what it does ( i think it had to do with the seating or stoping the glass) but its been about a year or so ago now. Also may want to look into new stripping around it hers leaks at the edges when it rains , not bad but enough to see. machv.com has them and im sure you could get them at a dealer. Nice to have you here.

 

[98_DSM]

Had the same problem on my girlfriends 97 talon , we took the hole thing out and cleaned the tracks and noticed a small pin was missing, there were four if i remember right. We replaced it and made sure it was on track and its been working fine. Sorry i cant name what the pin is or what it does ( i think it had to do with the seating or stoping the glass) but its been about a year or so ago now. Also may want to look into new stripping around it hers leaks at the edges when it rains , not bad but enough to see. machv.com has them and im sure you could get them at a dealer. Nice to have you here.

GREAT! Thanks for the info I'll be sure to do some more research based off of what you told me and hopefully get it fixed. Thanks for the warm welcome everybody.

 

[tommy260]

Ebay can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. Go there for intake and exhaust parts, but be careful because there ARE scammers on there. If you see something you like, do a search on this site for it, otherwise just ask. Theres bound to be someone that has tried whatever part you are looking at.

 

[ILLegit420aT]

Ebay can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. Go there for intake and exhaust parts, but be careful because there ARE scammers on there. If you see something you like, do a search on this site for it, otherwise just ask. Theres bound to be someone that has tried whatever part you are looking at.

agreed...ebay is a heaven for cheap parts, but fitment and function are very shakey...be sure that you find a fitment garauntee or you may find yourself up the creek...but good luck with the project

 

[98_DSM]

Ebay can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. Go there for intake and exhaust parts, but be careful because there ARE scammers on there. If you see something you like, do a search on this site for it, otherwise just ask. Theres bound to be someone that has tried whatever part you are looking at.

I agree with you because I have bought many car parts off of ebay. And I was looking through it not to long ago and saw some interesting things. But a lot of it looks very cheaply made. I would almost rather buy the name brand part for twice the cost just to make sure that I get a good fitting part. But then again there have been times where I get a name brand part for a high cost and it is absolute junk. So it all comes down to you get what you pay for, and you pay for what you get. Just be careful and do a lot fo research.

 

[dr1665]

Oh man. Wish I had known you sooner. I would have traded my built 97 Talon and for a nice MkI and some cash. Old school v-dubs are beyond sweet.

Good to hear you've decided to save a DSM from being scrapped after ownership by a clueless ricer idiot. The downside is that you've got the automatic. You're going to want to search for the final drive mod to combat some of that sluggish acceleration, however the best cure for said acceleration is a 5-spd swap and a turbocharger.

Welcome aboard.

 

[98_DSM]

Oh man. Wish I had known you sooner. I would have traded my built 97 Talon and for a nice MkI and some cash. Old school v-dubs are beyond sweet.

Good to hear you've decided to save a DSM from being scrapped after ownership by a clueless ricer idiot. The downside is that you've got the automatic. You're going to want to search for the final drive mod to combat some of that sluggish acceleration, however the best cure for said acceleration is a 5-spd swap and a turbocharger.

Welcome aboard.

Sorry friend my MK1 was a 1987 Toyota MR2. They are also called MK1 for first gen MR2, then MK2 for the second gen and so on. But still a RWD, 5spd, mid engine, 2 seater that weighs on a full tank and driver at 2203lb is VERY fun it is a street legal go-kart . I was just wanting something diffirent.

 

[98_DSM]

Well I got in my car today going to lunch and my CEL went off. So don't know what that was about. Also I think I'm going to replace my bumper lenses with some cheap OEM looking ones off of ebay I'm sure they will work. Also there are a lot of no name brand parts for the Eclipse on ebay like JVT and OBX are they any good?

 

[mitsutal96]

Well I got in my car today going to lunch and my CEL went off. So don't know what that was about. Also I think I'm going to replace my bumper lenses with some cheap OEM looking ones off of ebay I'm sure they will work. Also there are a lot of no name brand parts for the Eclipse on ebay like JVT and OBX are they any good?

I hear OBX can have some decent products, JVT though I've never heard of. I can tell you from a personal standpoint, I have an ebay no-name catback exhaust, and I love it. Pick up a good used header and Magnaflow high flow cat, and it really has a nice sound to it if you're looking for a decent, yet cheap exhaust setup.(It's what I run, and I love it) As all the other guys were saying though, maintenance is key, and I like the idea about doing the suspension, that kept my car off the road for periods at a time, so It is a good idea to do. I would start there, but get good fluids in your car, either a high mileage oil, or Royal Purple, but I'm not too sure if it'd be safe running fully synthetic in it due to having 134,000 miles, maybe someone can clarify this? Also, think about changing the transmission filter, but if It's stock, don't get it flushed out. Also, do the plugs, wires, pcv valve and the whole 9 yards. If the light does come back on, get it checked, mine does the same thing, and I have my rear 02 sensor disconnected(It ripped while I put on my exhaust), so it's obviously my sensor, and it sounds like you may have the same problem. Hope that gives you a good start!

 

[mitsutal96]

I hear OBX can have some decent products, JVT though I've never heard of. I can tell you from a personal standpoint, I have an ebay no-name catback exhaust, and I love it. Pick up a good used header and Magnaflow high flow cat, and it really has a nice sound to it if you're looking for a decent, yet cheap exhaust setup.(It's what I run, and I love it) As all the other guys were saying though, maintenance is key, and I like the idea about doing the suspension, that kept my car off the road for periods at a time, so It is a good idea to do. I would start there, but get good fluids in your car, either a high mileage oil, or Royal Purple, but I'm not too sure if it'd be safe running fully synthetic in it due to having 134,000 miles, maybe someone can clarify this? Also, think about changing the transmission filter, but if It's stock, don't get it flushed out. Also, do the plugs, wires, pcv valve and the whole 9 yards. If the light does come back on, get it checked, mine does the same thing, and I have my rear 02 sensor disconnected(It ripped while I put on my exhaust), so it's obviously my sensor, and it sounds like you may have the same problem. Hope that gives you a good start!

Oh yeah, and don't forget the air cleaner too, as well as fuel injector cleaner =)

 

[BigSorn]

sea foam FTW

 

[ILLegit420aT]

sea foam FTW

yea, if you just got your car and you wanna re-initialize the maintnance procedure do all the above procedures, and use some sea foam, replace your fuel filter. i also think grounding kits are a +

 

[98_DSM]

Thank you everybody for all the good information. I was looking at the no name cat back exhausts on ebay. I'll take a look around and see if I find anything I might like.

 

[98_DSM]

I was looking at this deal on ebay, the only thing that keeps me from doing it is the fact it is so cheap priced. $270 for header+downpipe+cat+cat-back exhaust w/ muffler, and all the gaskets and bolts.. It gives all the specs and pipe sizing in the information, and give the exact pictures so it says. It looks to me it has good welds but it is all no name stuff and I'm afraid that it might have fitment issues. But it states that it is for the 95-99 420A. So if nobody has bought this combo before I guess I could be a guinie pig and try it on for size.


eBay Motors: 95-99 Eclipse GS/RS Non-Turbo Header+Cat+Catback Combo (item 250209000879 end time Jan-27-08 21:53:45 PST)

 

[ILLegit420aT]

its a good deal, but it does make you question the product quality...but if your good a fabbing...i would do it, cant beat full exhaust for under 300 good luck man

\BTW that stuff looks nice...fitment would be my only concern