My car runs like a beast, is that normal?

[Nosjunke]

Ever since I bought my car it has rained. We are talking for the past two weeks now. Well, yesterday (Monday) was just cold, no rain, and even thought I was off of work, my daughter was sick and I had to stay home. I'm not one to run out at night and beat up the roads either. So I bought my 94 TSI which was stock save for a K&N filter. I thought it drove okay on the test drives and overall it was in good shape. So I got it. This past weekend I gave her a tune up. It just consited on me tightened hose clamps, checking for broken hoses, etc... I also replaced the upper radiator hose, the plugs (NGK-heard from you guys), cleaned the air filter, and cut the rivets off the airbox for more airflow. I also backed out the screw on the MAS and took out the little honeycomb. I actually took them both out, but the car ran aweful, so I put it back in. So anyhow, I haven't changed the oil yet or anything else, I've just been able to drive it back and forth to work. HOWEVER, this things feels like a rocket ship, when the boost kicks in. I think something may be wrong or I got a built motor or something I don't know about. This thing is fast. It looks like it has had the valve covers off, but it's got 150K miles too. Is this normal? The plugs were trashed when I took them out, but still, the car feels so quick, and that's in the rain! If I want to slip slide around, I loose traction in first when boost sets in, then in second as well. When I shift to third, I get that gear and then some. Again, I know the roads are a little wet, but it still seems kind of fast to me. I gotta get this thing dynoed. Since I just got it, I wanted to get the car running right beofre I throw power modifications at it, and the next things on the list are A/F gauge, and a real boost gauge. Also, it seems that many of you have that SAFC thingy. Since my car has what appears to be a stock turbo on it, should I even bother with a boost controller or wait on that?

 

[greeneclipse]

seems pretty normal to me....lucky you....there are a lot of us here that wish our cars ran that well.

 

[psi on u]

a factory freak perhaps ??? well all i can say is that in a few days maybe a week it will not be nearly as exciting and youll have to go mod it to get that feeling again and youll do that for a long long long time but tis the nature of the beast

 

[TSiAWD666]

"...feels so quick..." relative to what? Take it to the track

 

[98RedGs]

Your 14b turbo can take alot of things you throw at it without it even breaking a sweat. Go ahead, get a boost controller and fuel pump with a couple other mods and turn up the boost.

Your one of the millions of people that bought a dsm... Then said O SHIT whent he boost kicked in for the first time, I know I sure am.
(even tho its a t-2-small)

If you think its fast now, wait till you finish stage one mods.
:laugh:

Goodluck bro.

 

[Nosjunke]

Feels so quick relative to my vast experience of automobile ownership. I've owned at least a hundred cars so far (been driving since 1987-crap I'm old), and go through one about every 4 months. I had 5 different ones last year. I may not have this particular Talon come summer, but will most likely have another car with a 4g63 motor in it. I haven't had a turbo car in about 4 years though, just my supercharged mustang back in 2000. It's funny, the most local race track is less than 10 minutes from my house and I used to go to test-n-tune every thursday, but haven't been for over a year. I think maybe a trip to the dyno will be the most beneficial. I just want to make it run better before I go to either the track or dyno. That's why I asked for suggestions on a fuel pump, boost controller, and SAFC. That way, when I do make it to the dyno, I'll be able to dial it in a little more, to see if she is running rich or lean, and fix it. Thanks for the input 98RedGs!

 

[gixrman]

First you should start reading because the things you talk about adding won't do squat if you don't know how to "tune" these cars. You can quickly turn it to scrap. Good luck though you seem to be one of the lucky ones that did get a DSM with a host of hidden problems.

 

[AL92]

Well if the boost is still stock and you think it fast great..but likely its only doing low 15 high 14s right now.
If you want it to move a bit better drill out bsc restriction thats the boost solenoid.That will give a pound or two more boost or get a manual boost controller and proper boost gauge and dail it up to 15psi.That should really help things out.Then you should rewire pump or get a 190 or bigger one ,if you go high pressure you need an adjustable fuel pressure reg though.And then you need a logger to monitor your tuning and some way to tune things.Like the safc or maf translator or more expensive ways if you go crazy on mods like me.

The car really starts to feel fast at around 19psi but to run that you would need that big pump and likely bigger injectors.

Currently with my hurting 14 b still on for a few more days before the new turbo is installed I have managed a best of 14.4 at 100.2 with a bad for awd 2.21 60ft.Still not bad.A bit faster than my stock z28 96 vert and a bit slower than my 1980 pretty stock pontiac 400 trans am with 3.42 gears and stall converter on street tires.

I think the 14b can easily get me into the 13s like many have done with a decent 60ft,my new clutch when its installed and a bit more boost.

And low to mid 13s is pretty decently fast for sure.My 450 hp 99 trans am has only got 13.35 at 109 with 2.24 60ft on street tires and the talon should get there on street tires with the 14b.

So enjoy your car and I have say boost is very fun and very addictive.Its like nitrous but the bottle never runs dry.

 

[sakrafice]

Originally posted by Nosjunke
Ever since I bought my car it has rained. We are talking for the past two weeks now. Well, yesterday (Monday) was just cold, no rain, and even thought I was off of work, my daughter was sick and I had to stay home. I'm not one to run out at night and beat up the roads either. So I bought my 94 TSI which was stock save for a K&N filter. I thought it drove okay on the test drives and overall it was in good shape. So I got it. This past weekend I gave her a tune up. It just consited on me tightened hose clamps, checking for broken hoses, etc... I also replaced the upper radiator hose, the plugs (NGK-heard from you guys), cleaned the air filter, and cut the rivets off the airbox for more airflow. I also backed out the screw on the MAS and took out the little honeycomb. I actually took them both out, but the car ran aweful, so I put it back in. So anyhow, I haven't changed the oil yet or anything else, I've just been able to drive it back and forth to work. HOWEVER, this things feels like a rocket ship, when the boost kicks in. I think something may be wrong or I got a built motor or something I don't know about. This thing is fast. It looks like it has had the valve covers off, but it's got 150K miles too. Is this normal? The plugs were trashed when I took them out, but still, the car feels so quick, and that's in the rain! If I want to slip slide around, I loose traction in first when boost sets in, then in second as well. When I shift to third, I get that gear and then some. Again, I know the roads are a little wet, but it still seems kind of fast to me. I gotta get this thing dynoed. Since I just got it, I wanted to get the car running right beofre I throw power modifications at it, and the next things on the list are A/F gauge, and a real boost gauge. Also, it seems that many of you have that SAFC thingy. Since my car has what appears to be a stock turbo on it, should I even bother with a boost controller or wait on that?

trust me... after awhile you will think its slow and you'll want to put more boost to it. But ya Boost Controller is one of the first things you should get. The stock boost gauge is so off; look to upgrade that.