What have you done to your car today?

[nobuffalo]

Getting ready to get some tasty tacos last night and guess what

"NyuuuNyuuuNyuuuuuuuCLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK"

Dead again, actually it's kind of a good thing as my tire was once again flat and I wouldn't have noticed it otherwise. All that work for nothing. Oh well, should be getting new tires next week and I will look a little more into this battery situation.

 

[homeforsummer]

As for mine, the AA man came along, boosted it a bit and I left it idling for a while, but he said that it was effectively a lost cause and that I should replace it (fair dos, the battery has lasted the 11 years of the car's life so far) so I took it to Kwik Fit and thanks to having to go to work it's in overnight. Tomorrow I shall be £60 lighter. And I shall step up the hunt for another car.

 

[Perfect Balance]

He had to jump it to get it to start in the first place; good alternator or not, a 5 minute drive is NOT going to throw enough juice back into a dead battery to restart a car.

Every car I've ever had to jump was able to start itself after a minute or 2 of simply idling. Working at a car dealership I get a lot of those...

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Yeah but there's a difference between a battery that simply can't crank over an engine and one that won't do anything.

 

[eiriksmil]

Mine just clicked last Sunday.. Luckily it fired up on jump leads, we had a hundred miles home on a Sunday evening

 

[CamryFan]

To everyone with a crappy battery: I would seriously look into getting one of those standalone jump starters. If they're on special they go for about $100 (AUD). I've got one and it's saved me more times then I would like to think so they are definitely well worth the money.

I just looked at my car today, far too hot too do anything with it. It's not registered so I just start it up twice a week.

 

[nk4e]

I planned to work on the engine but the chance of it raining again has made me go emo.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Yeah but there's a difference between a battery that simply can't crank over an engine and one that won't do anything.

I know.

 

[Slicks]

Yesterday, I washed the G and the Talon.

Then I had a sight that was familiar to all DSM'ers at some point or another. The truck had to jump my car as well - The battery was completely flat after sitting for two weeks.

Rolled off the truck and was jumpstarted again, and got the car moved into a garage.

Today, a friend and I (ok, mostly the friend) took out the transmission and transfer case, and reinstalled rebuilt versions of each. I replaced the clutch disc while I was at it.

He also had a spare air can and K&N filter sitting around, so those went on as well:

I also removed a bunch of rattly heat shields from the exhaust, since it was down anyway.

He had removed transmissions from his own Talon dozens of times before. Got mine done in about 5 hours.

Smoooooth as butter, now. And no leaks!

 

[nk4e]

Was planning to do the Lifter Repair,but I had to babysit for at least 4 hours...

I still have to take off the heat shield...probably next Day off hopefully but for now I got a test to study for.

 

[McLaren]

Slicks, I have to give you props man. I always hear about people's issues with Talon's & how they can never keep their cars running. But, as I always tell people, they have a lot of potential when tuned & properly taken care of, and you always prove my point. 👍



I did nothing to the TL today, despite getting the gaskets in last night. Tomorrow morning, will get to work on her. Have to be careful I don't damage the 3rd cat though. I need to put it on when inspections roll around.

 

[Slicks]

Slicks, I have to give you props man. I always hear about people's issues with Talon's & how they can never keep their cars running. But, as I always tell people, they have a lot of potential when tuned & properly taken care of, and you always prove my point. 👍

Aye, but she still needs more love.

The battery is past due (and having been flat half a dozen times this past year, is telling me lound and clear). I'm thinking Optima.

It is in need of a new exhaust, from the turbo back. The flex section on the downpipe is badly worn. I'd like to get a 2.5" or 3" turbo-back, and do some porting of the O2 housing while I'm at it.

I've had a new oil leak develop in the past couple months, though I haven't tried to pinpoint where it is. Buried, needless to say. The valve cover gasket weeps a bit, too.

It's also in very bad need of a weekend-detail. The paint looks absolutely horrid.


That said, when people maintain these cars properly they can be just as reliable as any other. I did ~25 events last season (autocrosses and a couple trackdays), with what I'm calling no major breakage (as, IMHO, the transmission was a matter of time. I just thought I had a couple more months left in it). I'm only running the stock motor, though. Nothing too stressful on the rest of the drivetrain.

 

[McLaren]

See, that there proves my point. Most people would just complain that the car would die halfway through that many autocrosses.

But, you haven't done any big mods to the car, yet?

 

[Slicks]

I've done no power-adders (Well... K&N filter with a hacked up housing, both used, as of today).

The transmission and transfer case have been rebuilt, with a double-synchro second gear.
An ACT 2100 clutch, and I replaced the disc today as well (Though the old one was only about 1/3 worn... I'll keep it as a spare).
A bigger rear sway bar, and polyurethane bushings/endlinks.
Bigger brakes off of a later Talon, and
Race rubber (Azenis) on a second set of wheels. I've also got a third set that I haven't picked up, yet.

I'm sure I'm missing some little things... but that's the significant stuff.

 

[McLaren]

Sounds like a good setup. Was going to ask if you had some racing tires b/c I've seen how fast a Talon can launch with the right tires. 👍

 

[Slicks]

Well, AWD does most of it - Especially when you're making stock power.

Cornering, however, is a different story. Probably the single best investment you can make.

 

[McLaren]

Well, AWD does most of it - Especially when you're making stock power.

Cornering, however, is a different story. Probably the single best investment you can make.

That'll be my next purchase after the kit & wheels, which means it won't be until late this year probably. Tein SS kit isn't cheap.

 

[Perfect Balance]

That'll be my next purchase after the kit & wheels, which means it won't be until late this year probably. Tein SS kit isn't cheap.

How much is the Tein SS kit for your car?

I can't help but remember that the SS is a really "entry level" suspension, so I'm surprised that it would be expensive.

 

[McLaren]

How much is the Tein SS kit for your car?

I can't help but remember that the SS is a really "entry level" suspension, so I'm surprised that it would be expensive.

$1,080 as quoted from this site.
http://store.excelerateperformance.com/tein/tein_dampers_super_street/dsa80kuss2/i-35356.aspx

That's more than the exhaust.

 

[Perfect Balance]

$1,080 as quoted from this site.
http://store.excelerateperformance.com/tein/tein_dampers_super_street/dsa80kuss2/i-35356.aspx

That's more than the exhaust.

My entry level Buddy Club coilovers for my cheap Civic retail for more than those do.


It's a lot of money of course, but they aren't exactly expensive.

Exhausts normally do cost less than a suspension, but I was expecting somewhere around $1,500.

EDIT: I guess in the end it really just comes down to what you plan on doing with the car, but you should always keep in mind that you still only get what you pay for.

 

[McLaren]

I'm used to the mods for my car being around $300-$400. I figured a suspension kit would be expensive as well. I'm just not used to paying $1K for add-on's to a car yet, I suppose.

 

[nk4e]

Do you guys search for reviews on the parts?

 

[McLaren]

Do you guys search for reviews on the parts?

Of course. Who doesn't?

 

[nk4e]

Of course. Who doesn't?

Well, I wanted to follow my brother's companies( though he only had Injen and Tein on his Eclipse for suspension. Perfect, has been helping me and giving me a few ideas as well as many other members.) though I have been searching for reviews on parts.

 

[McLaren]

Well, I wanted to follow my brother's companies( though he only had Injen and Tein on his Eclipse for suspension. Perfect, has been helping me and giving me a few ideas as well as many other members.) though I have been searching for reviews on parts.

As long as you're researching you should be fine.

I've researched every part I've bought for my cars all the way down to the tint. Cars are a big investment when you start modifying them as I've learned lately. I've also learned that you should never be able to ask the obvious. I asked quite a few questions before I settled on my pipes & the intake.

 

[Perfect Balance]

I'm just not used to paying $1K for add-on's to a car yet, I suppose.

How does $2,400 sound for a set of Ohlins coilovers for a 1990 Miata?


Yeah, I can't spend that kind of money either. My friend is a bit crazy like that.

 

[McLaren]

How does $2,400 sound for a set of Ohlins coilovers for a 1990 Miata?


Yeah, I can't spend that kind of money either. My friend is a bit crazy like that.

Damn. Well, I haven't really looked at anyone else, so Tein might actually be the cheapest compared to a few other kits for my car. I know some of the brake kits & sway bars get a tad pricey as well.

TBH, the only mod I was prepared to spend over a grand on were wheels.

 

[Keef]

When you get into dampers and coilover kits things start getting expensive. Some of the most basic kits for my car, without damper adjustments, are over $800. If I were to buy 600lb springs in Ground Control coilover sleeves, I'd have to upgrade the Koni shocks I'd need to handle the higher rates, and that would put the price for it all at about $1,200. And that's just a coilover sleeve kit--not a prebuilt all-in-one deal.

 

[nk4e]

Man, I have alot to learn..

 

[McLaren]

Man, I have alot to learn..

You're not alone man. I'm still learning a lot about the suspension & brakes on my car & what kits work best.