Prospective DSM owner here

[XxcastxX]

Hey guys, I'm probably going to be buying this Talon TSI AWD on Sat - 2 owners 80k miles and was daily driven to a train station in my neighborhood for 12 years.

There are a few things wrong with it from what I understand, It has no heat or AC and the front headlights don't work.

This is a 1991 TSI, 1G, btw. The headlights work I mean, but they don't go up or down.

It has been sitting in their driveway for about a year, maybe a little extra.

They want to get rid of it, so I'm getting it for about 500 dollars. It ran when they parked it, they only parked it because it was winter and the car had no heat.

Question - What should I look out for in this car? Are there any major issues that these cars have that I'll probably have to fix at 80k miles? The body has a slight amount of rust, but nothing too terrible. Not really bad at all.

Any help on what to look for when I go there on sat would be appreciated. I'm going with a mechanic. It'd help me be able to locate any trouble spots.

Also, I don't plan to race it or anything, at least immediately. Will this car serve for DD duty as long as I don't abuse it, etc? That is to say - Can I DD this car stock at 20 years old without dropping 20 gajillion dollars on repairs?

Thanks for any help!

I've wanted a 1g dsm for the longest time and finding one like this for 500 is a pretty good deal, especially since the car is stock.

 

[DSM1G90]

Flush the fuel system out for starters and new fuel filter.
Oil change using 10w30 synthetic is a good start.
Change out tranny fluid with Redline MT-90
New NGK BPR6ES spark plugs.
New air filter..and keep the can intact-don't hack it apart.
Might need to tires if the present ones haven't flattened out too bad.

Why the lights won't go down is that a fuse is blown, relay is missing in the relay block by the passenger shock tower, or the simple push of the switch on the dash (the left side buttons) to make them go down.

No heat - could mean the cooling system needs a good flushing out and new t-stat.

Some areas to begin for starters.

Good luck with your find- DSM

 

[1sttimedsmr]

And please don't forget to check the condition of the belts. Before driving it. I would also check the compression if possible.

 

[XxcastxX]

Thanks for all of the help .

Also - My mechanic should be able to check the belts, correct? And if I did it, I should just look at the serpentine to make sure it doesn't look frayed and like it's going to snap right?

Where would I find the timing as opposed to the serpentine?

 

[2gmummy]

And yea it can be totally DD'ed, i would also check the hoses..make sure they aren't brittle smushy pregnate cracked etc. And plus like 10 on the belts

Also check the condition of all the things DSM1G90 said before you change them out because it can give you a good idea of how well the car was taken care of and the current condition

Other than that is seems like a good deal to me..you got any pics?

 

[XxcastxX]

I'll get some in the morning when I go over with my mechanic.

I noticed that the suspension looked brown and rusty. Is that just from sitting or is a large problem? I mean there were no holes or anything like that, just looked covered with it. The exhaust didn't seem too rusted over though, although I'm probably buying a new exhaust the second I have some money.
I know that disc brakes rust after sitting for a bit, I figured the underside of the car might be the same.

 

[FLASH1970]

Congrats on the find. For 500 I'd pick it up for sure.

 

[KKneipper]

DSM's don't have a serpentine belt. Instead they have 3 belts (A.C., power steering and alternator). To check the timing belt, you just have to remove the timing belt cover on the driver side of the engine. That should be changed around 80k (the owner's manual says 100k, but you can't be too safe with an interference engine).

Also check the turbo for shaft play. Take the intake pipe off at the turbo, grab the turbo axle pin (don't know the exact name of it) and wiggle it around. It may have a little bit of up and down give, which is normal, but if you can push it in and out, then the turbo will need to be replaced. The stock 14b turbos are cheap and I would recommend replacing it when you do the timing belt, unless it doesn't have any shaft play.

Also check for fluid leaks and see if the brake pads are worn down. If the brake pads are down to nothing, it could be a sign of neglect. Ask if they have any service receipts or if they have an owner's manual filled out with the date of all the services done.

Sounds like a steal though. These cars are still going for 2000 bucks in colorado (where I'm from), so even if it needs some work it'd be worth it in the long run.

Good luck.

 

[XxcastxX]

My mechanic couldnt come with, but I went and checked it out- The thing needed a jump but started right up.

It has only 81k miles, and the engine was actually replaced at 30- Engine has 50k miles. Car needs shocks, brakes prob. a new front right rim, exhaust and probably a tune up. Belts all looked clean and strong and hoses were stiff.

He dropped the price of the to 250.

A running, 1990 DSM. The Stereo and cd player still work!

250.

The gods are with me on this one. Pics and a video of it running inc.

 

[jwilt2008]

My mechanic couldnt come with, but I went and checked it out- The thing needed a jump but started right up.

It has only 81k miles, and the engine was actually replaced at 30- Engine has 50k miles. Car needs shocks, brakes prob. a new front right rim, exhaust and probably a tune up. Belts all looked clean and strong and hoses were stiff.

He dropped the price of the to 250.

A running, 1990 DSM. The Stereo and cd player still work!

250.

The gods are with me on this one. Pics and a video of it running inc.

Seems like an amazing deal u cant really get any kind of running car for 250 bucks....Nice find and good luck

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

$250!!! Buy it now! I bought mine for $250 fwd, non-turbo, with a broken timing belt/bent valves. That is a steal!

The first thing I would do is change that timing belt, It's not an easy job but you don't want to gamble with that. If it goes so do your valves at minimum. Don't wait 'til 100,000 miles and don't think that just because the engine was changed 50,000 miles ago that they didn't reuse the original timing belt.

Hope this helps!

 

[XxcastxX]

Pixorz


Picasa Web Albums - Aaron

Picasa Web Albums - Aaron

Picasa Web Albums - Aaron

Just realized I didn't take that many outside pictures. :/

Here's a youtube of the car up and running.

YouTube - XzosiriszX's Channel

 

[tunethis]

Nice ride. The two-tone Talon's are hard to find these days. They were the upper models of the Talon's. That is a super deal, almost free. I see non-running shells that sell for more than that.

 

[XxcastxX]

The guy is ordering the title. I now own a 1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD.

 

[lepo_qq]

Nice ride. The two-tone Talon's are hard to find these days. They were the upper models of the Talon's. That is a super deal, almost free. I see non-running shells that sell for more than that.

mine comes to mind, 600 bucks dropped valve... but also a two tone black and white! good find!! /jealous

 

[DSM1G90]

Ya, that thing has leather seats and adjustable headrests, making it a "CT64" upper class Talon. Brand new when they came out in late 1989 hit the price tag well over $22k new.


And with only 82k on the chassis, thing is still a baby. Definitely a lucky find!

Good luck - DSM

 

[XxcastxX]

What does Ct64 mean?

 

[little-razcal]

Wow. $250.I feel even more of a di#k. I paid about $3,000 for mine and found out the motor was toast the next day. Oh yea..and I bought it with a headlight problem like yours.. It is one of the cleanest 1ga's you'll ever see though and it came with about $3000 in brand new parts. So really its all good. Even if it last's a few days, it will give you the excuse to pull that sucker and build you one the way you like it. Id say Im half way through my build and it is getting pretty nasty. Power is addicting. Good luck my freind. And I second the thought about the turbo's. The stocker's are cheap and a dime a dozen. Screw the 14B. The 16G's are dirt cheap and you can beat the hell out of em. Strait reliability. GL

 

[XxcastxX]

Anyone know the proper procedure for aqcuiring a title. Money was exchanged, but niether of us are entirely sure how to go about the transaction. Anyone know how this should go?

 

[thomcasey]

Get a notarized bill of sale from him and apply for a lost title. If he was the one that lost it, he can go down and request one. That would be much easier than having you go through the lost title process

 

[XxcastxX]

Can I take control of the car before the title is mailed to him? I am asking because I need to take control of the car as quickly as possible so I can fix it up so I can use it for work. I am using a rental car right now.

 

[JStrateger]

Wow, awesome deal man. You stole it, . All original too and looks very clean. Any interior pictures?

 

[XxcastxX]

I'll nab a few when I go to talk with the guy on wednesday.

Also, I noticed when I was looking at the car that it had a tuneup in 07 at 78k miles. My coworker told me that they usually replace the belts when they do that. When I looked at the belts they looked like they were in very good condition. Is it true that they change out the belts?

 

[biker_joe89]

They might have changed out the belts. But very doubtful that the timing belt was changed and that is the one to be worried about. Great buy though, I am very jealous.

 

[thomcasey]

You can take control with a bill of sale, you just can't title it until a title search or new title is obtained. The owner will know if the timing belt was changed because that would have cost several hundred fo a shop to do