TSi AWD Drivetrain Problem

[Tanro]

So I got this TSi from my buddy because he owes me some money and the thing has been setting in my shop for about 4 months.

The problem we have been having began with him dropping from 5th to 3rd in a race. We are thinking that he shredded the rear differential. I don't know too much about AWD systems. All my cars before this have been either 1st gen Saturn Coupes or 1st/3rd Gen Toyota Celica Liftbacks.

The symptoms :

At first seem as though it was trying to through more power to the back wheels to compensate for the shredded spider gears.

Next the rear wheels simply didn't engage at all until over 30 MPH and the front seemed to be getting even less power than before.

After that we driving up hill into his driveway and the car just quite moving under its own power. The engine didn't die but it stopped putting power to the wheels and we started to roll backwards.

From that point on it would only go into reverse.

At some point it quit going into reverse at all.

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

He could have shredded the clutch. That would cause most of your symptoms.

The Viscous coupler unit could have went out. It is the part in the trans that controls the power output from the center diff to the front and rear wheels.

The center diff could have blown apart. This is the part that divides power to the front diff and rear diff.

I'm guessing your problem is in the trans. Here's a good write-up that will show you how the trans is put together. Dre

 

[toofast82]

He could have shredded the clutch. That would cause most of your symptoms.

The Viscous coupler unit could have went out. It is the part in the trans that controls the power output from the center diff to the front and rear wheels.

The center diff could have blown apart. This is the part that divides power to the front diff and rear diff.

I'm guessing your problem is in the trans. Here's a good write-up that will show you how the trans is put together. Dre

Check this stuff out as said, i'm figuring its inside the trans as well. Probably the VC or blown center diff as stated
The trans is surprisingly easy to take apart with the use of vfaq.com. Dre's rebuild as well as part of another one with good pictures is there

 

[Tanro]

Thanks Guys. I have been having many headaches with my turbo saturn as of late and have just gotten around to pulling the powertrain out of the DSM. I am really excited about the car however and I have been reading just about anything I can find on them online when not busy with the turbo turd. Wish me luck with the dsm.

 

[mschlanglv]

Try draining the trans fluid first. If sparkly bits come out you can start shopping for a new trans.

 

[Tanro]

Got the Engine and trans outta the TSi FWD last night. Engine, Transfer case, Trans, and exhaust system dropped outta the TSi AWD Today.

Both transmissions are going into all gears and spinning smoothly. Gonna open up the rear chunk tomorrow after dropping my buddies motor into his FWD TSi Lucky me I got an AWD TSi with upgraded suspension (KYB Adjustables) 3" turbo back exhaust, an aftermarket Tubular Style Turbo Header and dumb pipe, big 16 G turbo and some mild head work done for 200$ at this point. Add about 400$ for that rear end that is most likely shot to hell.

 

[Tanro]

Since last time I was on we have gotten the engine into the Front Wheel Drive Talon. Also dropped everything off of my car and opened up the rear end. Its shot to hell so now I gotta shop for a 4 bolt rear end.

 

[gearhead37683]

good luck with it, these cars are awesome but they can be a huge headache

 

[Tanro]

It has been so much easier pulling the engines than from My saturns. Usually takes me about 5 hours to pull a saturn DOHC engine out of an s-series. These take like 2.