reliability of the 2g n/t

[s2000b4idie]

ok i have am just woundering about the 420a and how reliable it is. if they will take some abuse w/o dieing any one fill me in i need a fairly low mantneince second car and love the look of 2g eclipses w/ a kit but i know thte 2g turbo cars have crankwalk i was woundering how much of a beast he motors are

 

[dr1665]

You don't need to worry about crankwalk as much you would think. If you do a little research before you buy as to which years were prone to it and which were not, you could very well find a nice 4g63 and not really have to worry about it. You would be in here telling no0bs to "sell it and buy a turbo" in no time.

On the other hand, a 420A with average maitenance done to it will be quite dependable. I've put over 153k on mine since I bought it back in 96 and even without being religious about oil changes and all that, I still managed to go over 140k before I rebuilt it. It didn't have to be rebuilt, but the headgasket finally went, and I thought, why not rebuild it if I'm tearing into it this far?

If you want a decent daily driver with the good looks of a 2G, I'd say go for the NT. If you're gonna want to be a hard ass and run 12 second ETs, you need to shop for the 4g63.

 

[dsmrunnah95]

From what I've read, a stock 2gnt is about as reliable as a stock Honda. Change the oil and you should be good to go.

 

[nevermore]

yeah I have a 420a and I abuse the poor thing, and it's last me a damn long time, even knowing that the 5spd tranny is strong as well.. I heard these engines can go to hell and back and still be kicking after that.

One of the main reasons I got this car.

Also since the Tranny is a chrysler it can take Torque I heard. So thats good for abusing

 

[miamieclipse]

what about its other tranny, the automatic?

 

[GSGoinFast]

My car hasnt been the most dependable. Only a couple times it was the actual 420a, but still the car hasnt been that reliable. actually i sorta plan out when it will break down, which seems to be every month or so, and its actually been a month in a half since it last broke down, so im just playing the waiting game. as soon as you think theres nothing to go wrong, Something will!

 

[EclpzLvr97]

You must just have bad luck or the same thing keeps goin wrong for you, GS. Of course, like any dsm, or car for that matter, isn't going to be perfect over time....but as far as you don't have to pray you're car will start all the time,yes, it is realiable. They just tend to burn oil....so at least don't be so lazy that you never check your fluid levels.

 

[GSGoinFast]

You must just have bad luck or the same thing keeps goin wrong for you, GS. Of course, like any dsm, or car for that matter, isn't going to be perfect over time....but as far as you don't have to pray you're car will start all the time,yes, it is realiable. They just tend to burn oil....so at least don't be so lazy that you never check your fluid levels.

ya i guess i have had bad luck with it. not everytime was i afraid to drive it or it wouldnt start, but a couple. i had a bad wire which made it jump around and misfire like crazy... the CEL came on... and i was like thanks for the heads up, but then it started flashing at me... thats never a good sign but then one time it just wouldnt start cause the battery was dead. another my power steering went out and it smelled like burning. those are the times when it wouldnt run right, and it may not sound bad, but ive only had it 6 months, and i didnt tell you all the other little things.

 

[kingoftheroses]

Dude, it's when the damn thing STOPS making noises that you gotta start to worry. But hey if you're going 420A, take care of her. And don't try and drag her without properly preparing her. The GS/RS is a grocery getter in a sexy outfit. Can't complain about gas mileage though (I averaged about 33 mpg in my 97 GS over 3200 mile roundtrip Miami - Boston). Take care.

 

[Defiant]

N/Ts are just short of bulletproof, and will teach you the discipline to save up for a turbo AWD. Then you can keep it for a parts runner for the turbo.

 

[Venum]

I've put many miles on my car so far. The only that that has gone wrong is the CEL came on and it had to do with my IAC, so not too big of a deal. My car is running strong, stronger than all of my other friends cars (non-DSMs) and I drive it no differently than they do. Keep up on the oil changes and listen to her, if she's trying to tell you something you'd better be listening. Oh and give her love, you know- kisses on the dash and stuff, that'll help, I know it will.

 

[dogpoop]

I "eclipsed" the 100K mile mark a couple of months ago. Bought the thing new 7 years ago.

Total problems:
1) Battery died @ 30K.
2) Vent hose from gas tank worked loose.
3) Door light switches keep breaking.
4) Moonroof squeaks.
5) Valve cover leaked (I replaced it).
6) Lifters tick (not considered a "defect").
Even better than the Toyota's I've owned!

Treat it right with oil changes, timing belt changes, etc. and with any luck it will treat you right.

As mentioned previously, keep your eye on the oil level. From what I understand (and from personal experience), 420a's have a tendency to use more than a little oil.

 

[jaktheripper]

My Eclipse has around 127k miles. The only problems I've ever had is with the power steering belt. It would pop off if i over reved the engine or got it to high rpms period. I just replaced the pump, one of the pulleys that was shaking, and got a new belt and its been fine ever since.

 

[GSGoinFast]

jeez, why have i had such bad luck? i mostly dont abuse it or drive hard... mostly

 

[dogpoop]

jeez, why have i had such bad luck? i mostly dont abuse it or drive hard... mostly

After buying my car, I remember reading and hearing about reliability issues with this vehicle. I figured it was just a matter of time before something catastrophic happened to it. Yet it would go years without even a hiccup.
Actually, sometimes I wish something of significance would go wrong with it so I would have something to work on. Nothing too serious or expensive, of course.

 

[DeLo360]

HOLY CRAP..... CHECK that oil!! Hahah.. i found out the hard way. I was doin soem courier work last summer and i put 7K on the car in one month... lets just say my car has been sitting in my driveway fro the past year, and now i'm in the market for a new motor.

 

[big green]

Mine has never left me stranded. Everything that has broke on my car has been my fault.

 

[Walo]

my 99 gs is near the 120k mark(don't ask why) and its a very reliable car, a miracle if you see the conditions of the roads here in Puerto Rico, they have holes everywhere. the only things that bother me are the annoying oil getting to the intake manifold, and that i cannot get out my cat. because the back O2 sensor start to turn on the check engine light.

just an angel of a car

 

[Mystic511]

Yea, i'm with everyone else, all of my down time has been the result of me messing with a perfectly good car, doin something wrong and breaking something.

2 years, no major repairs beside a flat tire or two.. even the clutch feels like it'll last for another 20-30 k and i'm at 80k right now.

 

[GSGoinFast]

jeez, i have every little thing go wrong. door handle broke off(been working out .. green face for HULK), stock pulley wouldnt come off, now the key cylinder locking clip popped out and the key cylinder is moving around, front speakers dont work, VC gasket replaced twice, spark plug tube seal replaced, bad o2 sensor, bad tie rod end, air filter fell off :laugh: , i could keep going if you want...

 

[totaleklipse97]

well personally i love the 420A and wouldn't have my 2g any other way. I have had mine for a year and im in love with it. Of course i have done every mod to the engine u could imagine short of the turbo. There is a close family associated with the 420A and plenty of aftermarket support to make it a decent contender on the streets. Have fun with the 2gnt.

 

[UnWoRtHy]

My 95 N/T Talon has been really good to me for the two years that I've owned it. I'm absolutely anal about doing my oil changes on time, and I make it a point to turn of my stereo and listen to her every so often. The only problems I've ever had are the following:

Leaky valve cover gasket (easy fix)
Head gasket went (EXPENSIVE fix, but the engine was totally rebuild in the process...all new gaskets and seals, complete tuneup, valve job...Everything but piston rings, basically)
Leaky flex pipe (cheaply replaced)
And right now, I think I have a leaky exhaust manifold gasket or my downpipe might be leaking. Getting it checked out soon.

The only thing you have to worry about if you're going from a 1G 1.8 to a 2G 2.0 is the timing belt. Gotta replace it religiously about every 60,000 miles I believe is the benchmark. I tend NOT to beat on mine except when I decide to put a ricer back in their place or I'm just in the mood to go fast. And my tranny is auto, and I've never had a problem with it. Just like with any car, take care of it, and it'll take care of you. Keep up with hoses, belts, and fluid changes, and keep an eye out for problems, and you shouldn't have any. "If it's not broke, don't fix it." might be something you can get away with in a Honda or something...but I'd much rather fix something before it becomes a problem. Overall...My car's been nothing but an absolute joy to drive and own...even if I do tend to be utterly paranoid about it.

 

[GSGoinFast]

well personally i love the 420A and wouldn't have my 2g any other way. I have had mine for a year and im in love with it. Of course i have done every mod to the engine u could imagine short of the turbo. There is a close family associated with the 420A and plenty of aftermarket support to make it a decent contender on the streets. Have fun with the 2gnt.

whoa injen cai and GS-T exaust, SLOW DOWN

i think you need to update your profile alot

what other mods do you have?

 

[dr1665]

If that's the same guy I think he is (since some people have the same SN here they do at 2GNT), he's got some serious stuff done to the head and a complete bottom end rebuild, so I'm pretty sure he's accurate in saying he's done most everything like that. I'll be there by the end of summer myself. I've given up on updating profiles on all these different websites. I just use the National DSM Registry these days. Then you just link to your registry page on the different boards. You update in one place, and it shows up everywhere imo.

As for reliability:
Original clutch was still holding up at 142k
HG went about 120k
pushing 8yrs since I bought the car,
(only rebuilt the bottom end since I was pulling the head anyways.

2GNT = easily maintained car. Someday I think I'll get a 1G AWD to use a parts runner for when I've got the 2GNT taken apart for some project.

 

[GSGoinFast]

If that's the same guy I think he is (since some people have the same SN here they do at 2GNT), he's got some serious stuff done to the head and a complete bottom end rebuild, so I'm pretty sure he's accurate in saying he's done most everything like that. I'll be there by the end of summer myself. I've given up on updating profiles on all these different websites. I just use the National DSM Registry these days. Then you just link to your registry page on the different boards. You update in one place, and it shows up everywhere imo.

As for reliability:
Original clutch was still holding up at 142k
HG went about 120k
pushing 8yrs since I bought the car,
(only rebuilt the bottom end since I was pulling the head anyways.

2GNT = easily maintained car. Someday I think I'll get a 1G AWD to use a parts runner for when I've got the 2GNT taken apart for some project.

haha i believe that hes got that stuff done, just a little joke :laugh:

that last line was great!!!! . haha bizzarro world!