420A Newbie, Basic Maintenance Questions

[StonerTuner412]

Okay everyone I just recently bought a 97 Eclipse GS for $900. Engine has 100,000 miles, fart can, the guy slapped a blitz body kit on it, TERRIBLE fitment. Needs a new paint job but I do body and paint work so that's the least of my worries. I mean he tried but I guess it's my turn haha. Now I'll get all of the bad out the way first because there are a few things that's scaring me. The horn and ebrake doesn't work, not really worried about those. I have a 2nd gear grind, in order for me to have a smooth shift into 2nd I have to double clutch. Should I be worried or as long as I can get into 2nd I should be find? I'm sure this is a wheel bearing or ball joint but once I accelerate past 70-75 mph the car starts to shake, either one of those or do you think it's something with the engine? It stays at normal temperature (well the gauge doesn't move at all)while it's shaking so that why I believe it's one of those. I've been told and done research and seen that the 420a blows up a lot, any tips on keeping that from happening? It's my first car I've had her for a week and I'll need her for about at least a year minimum, please any tips or input to keep her healthy and long lasting! Here's a few pics, please don't be disrespectful she's my first car and I bought her like this!

 

[dc320]

The shaking, does it feel like the whole car shakes or is it just in the steering wheel? Best tips to maintain engine life is to service it at or before it is required. Don't beat on it either, it is a 420a not a 4g63 so it wont take as much of a beating. I am sure you know a little here and there about cars, here is a good maintenance guide you can follow off of http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/dsm-maintenance-guide.476550/

 

[StonerTuner412]

It's feels more in the steering wheel thus causing the whole car to shake or at least it feels that way. And thank you for the link I'll be going over every step to make sure it's healthy. If not getting what it needs to be healthy. Yea it's my daily driver I need to last a while so I won't beat on it too bad.

 

[dc320]

Could be a bad wheel bearing or related as you said. Jack it up and see if the tire moves around (up-down, left-right, in-out) just general ways it shouldnt move, if it does then you can narrow it from there.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Wheel bearing, ball joint or tie rod end is my guess on the shaking and would worry me so check those out like dc320 stated. Good luck with the new car!

 

[josh_effin_tyre]

Most likely the tie rod end I had the same problem with mine, if you get them online they are cheap and the steering feels alot better afterwards

 

[StonerTuner412]

Okay thanks guys I really appreciate the feedback and help! It is an old car so I'll just replace everything, ball joints, wheel bearings and tie rods. That way everything is in good shape and I won't have to worry about replacing one of them down the road.

 

[StonerTuner412]

I also have a 2nd gear grind! I have to double clutch to get it into 2nd but once I double clutch it shifts smooth. Is this a major issue or as long as I can get it into 2nd I should be fine? Sorry for all the questions but I need to know

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Its hard on the transmission and 2nd and 3rd are notorious in our turbo cars for grinding. Its usually a syncro or bad main bearings but with a 420a, I can't tell you how long it will last....longer than in a turbo car though!

 

[josh_effin_tyre]

You may just need to tighten the cable on the clutch pedal however you may need a clutch. Is the pedal soft and spongy or is it hard to press?

 

[StonerTuner412]

Okay should I get the whole hub assembly or just the bearings?

 

[StonerTuner412]

And the pedal feels pretty good for the most part, there isn't a lot of wiggle to the pedal, I know if your clutch is going bad the pedal should kinda wiggle back and forth loosely

 

[josh_effin_tyre]

I would just get the bearing, unless the rotors are completely shot the hub assembly is just spending unnecessary money check rockauto.com they are extremely cheap and it's delivered in a couple days

 

[josh_effin_tyre]

Mine sometimes grinds is why I asked. I had my cable adjusted slightly to make it tighter and it fixed most of my problem. It still does it but only when I'm "hotrodding" it, if you even can call it that. Make sure you are fully engaging the clutch and try to shift it easy with a deliberate motion and see if that helps. I have had literally every problem you have mentioned plus more, I'm just trying to offer advice that's worked for me thus far.

 

[StonerTuner412]

No bro I appreciate every comment! I'll try tightening the cable to see if that works. Even with the clutch fully engaged and I try to just shift nice and slow it grinds worse, the double clutch takes a lot of it away, so hopefully the tightening of the cable should do the trick.

 

[StonerTuner412]

Looking on rock auto as we speak

 

[josh_effin_tyre]

Sounds bad doing it easy makes it worse? You probably need a synchronizer, good news is junk yards have alot of rs and gs eclipses

 

[josh_effin_tyre]

That sounded bad hope you know what I meant

 

[StonerTuner412]

Yea if I don't double clutch and try to go into 2nd it'll just grind, but if I'm pulling off and double clutch it'll shift fine, it grinds in the higher RPMs of 2nd, like if I down shift when I'm around 20mph into 2nd it won't grind, but if I'm at like 25- 30, it'll have a slight grind

 

[josh_effin_tyre]

I'm not trying to be rude so please don't be offended, I'm just trying to figure out everything since I can't actually drive it myself, but have you been driving a stick long? Is this your first manual transmission?