* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ###########M/ /M########### .+################@: #############/ :############# %###################= #############@ @############# ,####################$ ###M//////X### ###M////////// =###H//////@##@///@##X ####% /### ####% =####; X##X X##X #####/ /### #####/ -====== =#####- X##X X##X ######; /### ######;X###### =#####M- X##X X##X ######X /### #######;###### =######/ X##X X##X ######X /### ======= ;##### =######/ X##X X##X ######X /### ;#### =######/ X##X X##X ######@///X### //////////H### =######/ X##X X##X #############@ #############@ =######/ X##X X##X #############; #############: =######/ X##X X##X ###########@; ###########@: =######/ X##X X##X ECLIPSE/LASER/TALON FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * written/compiled by: paranoidxe/tsi dated: january 2005 version: 1.2 email: paranoidtsi@hotmail.com msn msgr: paranoidtsi@hotmail.com --------------- VERSION HISTORY --------------- v1.2 - even more questions added.. v1.0 - added more terminology, fixed layout issues, updated questions, and added questions v.7 - initial release, uncompleted =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ SECTION 1 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I N T R O D U C T I O N =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SECTION 1 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= - [1. WHY WRITE A FAQ ON DSMs?] - At current writing it is the favorite car I own and I just love these cars, even though I've had a lemon I would not give it up. I have written this guide because I have yet to find a really good text only guide that can both cover newbie to intermediate questions and still be easy to print for offline use. I've also found it a real pain in the ass to find answers through the various message boards on the internet. The informative sites aren't printer friendly in most cases, and message boards can sometimes be a pain to surf through and search through. - [2. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS FAQ?] - This FAQ has 4 main objectives: - Easy to print - One stop source for Common DSM problems - Easy to transfer around, by having one file it is much easier to get all the information the site offers instead of a website that links to various outside sources that are dead or outdated.] - Last but definitely not least, to help people to better understand DSMs and answer some of the more frequent questions recieved. -[3. WHY IS THE 3000GT NOT COVERED IN THIS FAQ?]- The 3000GT is manufactured by Diamond Star Motors on select years, however the motor is completely different from the eclipse, talon, laser motor. The 3000GT shares no visual similiarities, no motor similiarities, and no interior similiarities. The 3000GT VR4 is powered by the 6G72 motor with intercooled twin turbos...which has no relation to the 4banger single turbo featured in the eclipse/talon/laser vehicles. Yes, 3000GTs were once manufactured at DSM, but for this FAQ it doesn't have any similiarities like the E/T/L do. -[4. WHY IS THE DODGE AVENGER/SEBRING NOT COVERED IN THIS FAQ?]- While they do have the same n/t engines as the 2G Eclipse, their bodies are much different than that of a E/L/T. These vehicles also came with a V6 SOHC motor...where the E/L/T did not. The 420A motor and similiar interior are the only link to E/L/T names, this is why they are not covered. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Here are some general words you should know before you continue onto the next chapters. FWD - front wheel drive: The vehicle sends power to the front wheels. AWD - all wheel drive: vehicle sends power to all 4 wheels. RWD - rear wheel drive: vehicle gets power off of hind wheels. LSD - limited slip differential: helps prevent wheel spin off the line, LSD was a optional component for AWD vehicles ONLY. DOHC - dual overhead cam: motor is driven by two cams instead of one. SOHC - single overhead cam: motor is driven by only one cam. BISS - Base Idle Set Screw: This sets your base idle, i.e. where your RPM meter sits when you simply turn on the car with no foot on the throttle. BOV - Blow off Valve/Pressure Release Valve: The BOVs function is to relieve excess pressure created between the turbo and throttle body. AWS - All Wheel Steering: A system in which all wheels turn when using the steering wheel. AWS is normally included with the Galant VR4, and 3000GT. ECU - Engine Control Unit: The brain of your motor, the ECU is responsible for regulating the engine and components to make sure everything is working ok. MAF/MAS - Mass AirFlow Sensor: MAS is the device attached to the intake that allows the ECU to see and control how much air is being taken in, and based on that amount the ECU will know how much fuel to release. RPM - Revolutions Per Minute: The measurement of how fast an object is moving, aka the crankshaft. WOT - Wide Open Throttle: Mashing your foot on the gas, pedal to the metal, you know the drill. JDM - Japanese Domestic Market: Refers to items that are normally only available in japan. JDM motors in most cases are better in terms of performance. PSI - Pounds Per Square Inch: measurement of pressure used in the automotive world. ABS - Anti-lock breaking system: A system in which the ECU can detect when one or more wheels are locked but the vehicle is still moving, when this system is engaged, the computer will press and release the brakes to provide the driver with better control. Interface Motor: This is a motor in which the pistons and valves occupy the same space. This is what the 4G63 motor is. These motors are likely to have a big problem if a T-Belt breaks. Non-Interface Motor: This motor does not have the pistons and valves using the same space. They are seperate. Due to the design they are less likely to experience problems if a T-Belt were to snap. Intercooler: A device on turbocharged cars that function similiar to that of a radiator. An intercoolers job is to keep the air charge cold which improves performance. They are offered on turbo cars because they significantly increase the intake temps as air passes through the turbine. Boost Creep: This is a turbocharger term for when the boost goes beyond its set rate. i.e. boost is set to 10, and it creeps to 11 or 12. OBD-I: Onboard Diagnostic I, this is a standard for communicating with the computer unit inside your car. OBD-II: An update to the orignal code, same function it is used to understand the ECU on your car. datalogger: a device used to monitor your vehicle and record it. These are generally used to tune your vehicle. fuel cut: a preprogrammed ECU response to stop spark and fuel delivery. This is usually caused by excessive boost, fuel cut is a safety feature designed to prevent damage to your turbo/motor. speed sensor: designed to tell the computer unit how fast the vehicle is traveling. balance shaft belt: an additional belt next to the timing belt, designed to reduce vibration the motor puts out making it a smoother ride. This belt is not required for engine operation. porting: this is a method to improve performance by removing additional material away from a specific component. This improves air/exhaust flow depending on the component. Commonly ported items are, O2 Housing, Wastegate, Intake/Exhuast Manifolds, and turbos. clipping: this is removing some of the material off of the fins inside the turbocharger, this will improve top-end performance on SOME turbochargers. VIN: vehicle identification number: the VIN number is what identifies your vehicle personally. Each vehicle coming off of the assembly line must be equipped with a VIN Number. VIN numbers can identify your vehicle color, make, and location. 4G63: motor identification tag, when people talk about this motor they generally are referring to the 2.0L Turbocharged motor that comes on 1st Gen and 2nd Gen Turbo'd DSMs. 420A: motor identification tag, this refers to the chrysler motor that is featured in 2G Non-turbo DSMs. blow off valve: a pressure relief device designed to prevent back-pressure to the turbine on the turbo. This is the noise you get in between shifts. (also known as: pressure release valve, diverter valve) EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculator): a emission control system that directs some gases back into the intake manifold to help prevent some pollution. Test Pipe: a straight pipe that replaces the catalytic converter, usually illegal in street applications and can result in a heafty fine if caught. 4G67: the motor used in 1st gen base models, 1.8L SOHC. 4G64: this motor is used in the GS Spyder, also used in 4cyc 3g eclipse vehicles. 6G72: 3000GT/Stealth motor. ECI/EFI: electronic controlled injection or electronic fuel injection, means fuel injection is controlled electronically in case it isn't obvious. chunking: the process in which the bond between the tire thread and the main body fail and split..this is commonly seen on freeways by 18 wheeler vehicles. This risk increases with use of retreaded tires. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ SECTION 2 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Q U E S T I O N S & A N S W E R S =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SECTION 2 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= - [1. WHAT IS A DSM?] - When someone says DSM, it is most likely referred to as a talon/eclipse/ laser created between 1990 to 1999. DSM stands for Diamond Star Motors which is the factory in which some of the best vehicles were produced. For the sake of this guide, we are ONLY focusing on Eclipse/Talon/Laser vehicles, this does not cover the distant cousins such as the 3000GT, Sealth, Sebring, Avenger, etc. - [2. WHAT IS A 1G (1ST GENERATION) DSM?] - This term refers to a DSM that was built between the production years of 1990 to 1994. This would include the Eagle Talon, Mitsubishi Eclipse, and Plymouth Laser in this time period. - [3. WHAT IS A 2G (2ND GENERATION) DSM?] - This term refers to a DSM that was built between the production years of 1995 to 1999. There is no Plymouth Laser in this year, and there are some changes between the 1st Generation and 2nd Generation DSMs, but they share very similiar upgrade paths and engines..therefore they are still considered part of the DSM line. - [4. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLYMOUTH LASER?] - The Plymouth Laser was dropped in 1994 because it sold the least of the 3. There is no 2nd generation Plymouth Laser. - [5. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EAGLE TALON?] - The brand Eagle ceased to exist after 1998, due to Chryslers restructuring. In fact, in 1998 the Talon was the ONLY available product available from Eagle, and any national advertising of the 97-98 models were little to none making it hard to find a 97-98 year Talon. - [6. WHAT ARE THE CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR ON DSMS?] - 1992 - Removal of Pop-up Headlights AWD Lasers Introduced Few ECU have EPROMS ABS enabled 7-bolt motor used midway through the year 1993 - Big Brake front calipers on turbo models 7-bolt motor becomes the standard No ECU has EPROMs DSM factory becomes Mitsubishi Motors 1994 - Final 1st Generation DSM year 1.8L Motors' final year Plymouth Laser's final year 1995 - Complete body overhaul New Improved Transmission ECUs of this year have EPROMS N/T models use Chrysler's 420A motor OBD-II becomes standard 1996 - Eclipse Spyder Introduced 4G64 Motor is used on N/T Spyders ECUs drop EPROM support 1997 - Additional body changes Minor upgrades to ECU 1998 - Updated ECU coding Recall on defective Transfer Case The last of the Eagle Talons 1999 - Last year for the Eclipse to carry the 4G63 Motor The end of the DSM Era - [7. WAIT IF DSM CEASED TO EXIST IN 94 THEN HOW ARE 2G DSMS?] - They are not DSMs per say, but the characteristics are so similiar with the 1st generation cars, it is considered to be a 2nd generation DSM. Also, the design was done back when they were still partners this is why some 1995 vehicles still carry the DSM sticker. - [8. ARE DSM DOMESTICS OR IMPORTS?] - The factory is in the United States and the final assembly is done in the DSM factory. In a 1995 Consumer Information Price Sheet for an Eagle Talon it shows 70% of parts are american, while 30% of parts are import. Both the transmission and engine however are imports. You can think whichever you'd like. - [9. ARE DSMS RELIABLE?] - They do have some serious issues, such as transmission from 1st gens. do have some problems, and the imfamous crankwalk on 2nd gens. but DSMs can be made to be as reliable as any other car. Please note, the more updating you do to your DSM the more strain you put on the engine, so it should be expected components will fail quicker than normal. On a stock basis, you can make a DSM just as reliable as any other car with proper maintance. If you take care of your DSM, your DSM will take care of you. - [10. WHAT CHASSIS DOES A DSM HAVE?] - They all use unibody style chassis, AWD have a perfect 50/50 balance. - [11. WHICH IS BETTER AWD OR FWD?] - This is a very touchy subject, some prefer FWD and call AWD users a bunch of pansies because it is incredibly easy to grab and go in AWD. AWD will launch your car better and quicker, but FWD will be lighter from races from a roll and MIGHT be a little stronger on top-end performance. AWD is slightly more expensive, but seems to be preferred the most if you can get your hands on one. - [12. ARE 2000+ ECLIPSES DSMS?] - No, they share little if any components of 1st and 2nd generation DSMs. There is no turbo line-up, its not the same transmission, the engine bay is considerably different, so they are essentially a entirely different car. - [13. WHAT MAKES A 2G DSM FASTER STOCK THAN A 1G DSM STOCK?] - The 1st generation DSM has a bigger turbo, intercooler, and a better blow-off valve than a 2nd generation DSM, yet the 2G DSM has better stock HP. The reasoning behind this is the 2G has better airflow because of bigger IC hosing, and a higher compression ratio than a 1G. - [14. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 1G A/T 2G M/T?] - Yes, Automatics are about 10 HP slower than its manual counterpart, smaller turbocharger, smaller injectors, and a ECU designed for smaller injectors. So if you want to go all out, Manual is the way to go. - [15. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TALON/ECLIPSE 2G?] - Engine-wise they are identical model to model. In terms of appearance they slightly differ: - front bumpers are different - logo/badgings are different - talons have a black "surf-board" like rear - talons have a 50/50 amber & red tail lights - talons tend to have a more round body - Talon has ground effects on side-skirts of AWD models Again, for those of you that think one is superior to the other, it is all cosmetic differences there IS NO PERFORMANCE differences between the two cars. - [16. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TALON/ECLIPSE/LASER 1G?] - Again, identical internally. The only main differences between the models is the badging and the taillights. Once again, there is NO PERFORMANCE differences betweeen the names. - [17. CAN I TURBO A N/T DSM?] - Yes you can per-say but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you sell your current N/T and get a turbo model. The amount of money to get this done would probably be in the 7K+ range. - [18. WHAT ARE THE ENGINE RATINGS FOR 1G DSMS?] - Eclipse GST - 2.0L Turbo, 4G63 Motor, 195HP (M/T), 180 (A/T), FWD, 16V Eclipse GSX - 2.0L Turbo, 4G63 Motor, 195HP (M/T), 180 (A/T), AWD, 16V Talon TSi - 2.0L Turbo, 4G63 Motor, 195HP (M/T), 180 (A/T), FWD, 16V Talon TSiAWD- 2.0L Turbo, 4G63 Motor, 195HP (M/T), 180 (A/T), AWD, 16V Eclipse GS - 2.0L, 4G63 Motor, 135HP, FWD, 16V Eclipse GS - 1.8L, ????, 92HP, FWD, 8V Talon DL - 1.8L, ????, 92HP, FWD, 8V Laser RS - 2.0L Turbo, 4G63 Motor, 195HP (M/T), 180 (A/T), FWD, 16V Laser - 1.8L, ????, 92HP, FWD, 8V Eclipse/Laser/Talon Turbo Torque: ~198 ft-lbs - [19. WHAT ARE THE ENGINE SPECS FOR 2G DSMS?] - non-turbo models (eclipse GS/talon ESi): 140HP@6K 130TQ@4.8K lb-ft 9.6:1 compression Dual Overhead Cam 16V talon tsi/tsi awd: 210HP@6K (205HP A/T) 214TQ@3K (220TQ A/T) 8.5:1 compression Dual Overhead Cam 16V eclipse gst/gsx: 210HP@6K (205HP A/T) 214TQ@3K (220TQ A/T) 8.5:1 compression Dual Overhead Cam 16V - [20. WHAT IS THE OIL CAPACITY FOR A DSM?] - 1st Generation, 1.8L Motor : 3.5L 1st Generation, 2.0L Motor : 4.0L 1st Generation, 2.0L Motor Turbo : 4.1L 2nd Generation, 2.0L Motor : 3.8L 2nd Generation, 2.0L Motor Turbo : 4.1L - [21. WHY DO PEOPLE RECOMMEND 10W-30 OIL TO 5W-30 OIL WHICH IS IN THE SHOP MANUAL?] - Others opinions may vary, I tend to use 10W-30 because 5W-30 tends to burn off too quickly, for example 4 thousand miles into my synthetic oil change I lost nearly two quarts of oil during this time period. You can stick with 5W-30 but make sure you check the oil every so often. - [22. WHAT TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOULD I USE (MANUAL TRANSMISSION)?] - The recommended (according to the Chilton Manual) is 75W90 or 75W85 Gear Lube. If you have SHIFTING problems then you could try GM syncromesh, Redline MTL, and BG Synchroshift. - [23. WHAT MOTORS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE ECLIPSE SPYDER?] - The awesome 4G63 Turbo Engine with Front Wheel Drive, and the 4G64 motor which has 2.4L motor. Unfortunately, there is NO All Wheel Drive flavor for the Mitsubishi Spyder. - [24. IS THERE A CONVERTIBLE TALON?] - No, the 2nd generation mitsubishi eclipse spyder is the ONLY DSM that is a convertable, the convertable didn't come out until 1996. - [25. CAN A NON-TURBO DSM BE TURBO CHARGED?] - Yes, but it would require a lot of money, and many components to be replaced. In otherwords, unless you plan on spending a lot of money into your car you are better off selling your N/T and getting a turbocharged model. - [26. HOW FAST IS A STOCK DSM IN THE QUARTER MILE?] - Both the 1st gen and 2nd gen cars run the quarter mile in the 14/15 second range. Said specifics are: 2G AWD Turbo - 14.9@90 2G FWD Turbo - 15.5@90 1G FWD Turbo - 15.9 1G AWD Turbo - 15.2 2G FWD N/T - 16.6@85 (?) 1G FWD N/T - 15.8 (?) - [27. WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE POWER/ECONOMY SWITCH ON A/T 1G TRANS.?] - The purpose of this button is to save you gas..pretty much the only thing it does is change shift points on your transmission. Its actually recommended by Mitsubishi to NOT SET to ECONOMY except when you are going 50+ MPH. - [28. WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED GAS MILEAGE ON A DSM?] - This varies by location to location and the condition of the car. Generally a healthy DSM will pick up between 20MPG to 30MPG. - [29. WILL OCTANE BOOSTERS HELP PERFORMANCE?] - Sort of. This depends on how much the booster actually boosts performance, you aren't going to find any good performing octane boosters from your local wal-mart..in fact you probably won't find them in a typical auto store either. The booster should at least boost your octane level 5 points to feel a difference in power, otherwise they are pretty much all a waste of money. - [30. WHAT ARE THE RETAIL PRICES OF DSMS?] - The only retail information I have is for the 1995 Eclipse. RS, Manual - $14,359 RS, Auto - $15,059 GS, Manual - $16,329 GS, Auto - $17,019 GST, Manual - $19,999 GST, Auto - $20,829 GSX, Manual - $22,929 GSX, Auto - $23,739 - [31. I GOT MY DSM WHAT DO I UPGRADE FIRST?] - Generally as first mods go you will want to unlock stock power first, this includes a new exhaust system, cone filter intake, all free mods possible for your particular car. These upgrades are a must if you expect to do major upgrades in the future. - [32. WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED OIL FILTER FOR MY DSM?] - Many people like the OEM filters provided by Mitsubishi. The reason being as they have a 2nd valve in the event the oil filter gets clogged, it can flow the OIL unfiltered instead. This prevents major engine damage. There really is no best oil filter available, its like picking motor oil brands. - [33. WHAT THE SPARK PLUGS ARE RECOMMENDED AND WHAT ARE THE GAPS FOR 2G?] - 2.0 N/T Engine (420A): Champion RN9YC/RNYC5, NGK BKR6E, MGK BKR5E 2.0 Turbo Engine: NGK BPR6EKN or equiv. 2.0 N/T Engine (420A) gapping: .033 to .038 for RN9YC .048 to .053 for RNYC5 .050 to .053 for BKR6E 2.0 Turbo Engine gapping: .028 to .031 for NGK Spark Plugs - [34. CAN I USE A AWD TRANSMISSION ON A 420A MOTOR?] - No, there are too many differences between them. Engine mounts are different, Bolt Patterns are different, Transmission location is different, and there are different electrical components (sensors, ECU, etc.) - [35. CAN A N/T 2G USE NITROUS OXIDE?] - Yes you can, running higher than 75 shot may result in engine problems. Some of the components inside the motor can melt if there is too much Nitrous running through. - [36. WHAT TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOULD BE USED ON A 2G N/T?] - On 2nd generation DSMs, the factory fluid should be used. Which is Mopar Transmission fluid (prt. 4874465) which you should be able to get from a chrysler/mitsubishi dealer. - [37. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET THE TIMING BELT REPLACED?] - Timing Belt is one of the leading causes of early failure of a motor if it is not replaced every 60K miles. The problem is when the timing belt wears it has a tendency to tear and rip, once the belt breaks it will throw your pistons straight into your valves..making way for some serious motor work. You should also replace Timing Belt B (Drive Shaft Belt) because if the drive shaft belt breaks, it can fling right into your timing belt and also do damage. - [38. WHAT MOTOR IS IN THE 1G BASE MODELS (1.8L/4G37)? ] - 4G37 motor is the name of it, made by mitsubishi. This motor produces 94HP, 104TQ and feature a SOHC. -[39. WHAT IS THE 4G64 MOTOR? ] - This motor is used in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder as the base model, the motor pushes 141 horses and is a Single Overhead Cam Motor. - [40. WHAT IS THE ECLIPSE CT? ] - This is the 1st generation DSM that is a convertable. This is a european model and this is the concept name. You can actually order these from overseas by finding sellers online. - [41. ARE EUROPEAN DSMs DIFFERENT? ] - Yes, a little bit. Instead of getting rid of pop-up headlights like it was done in 1992 to American models. As forementioned, Europeans got a convertable in 1G style that america never got. - [42. WHATS WITH THE 2G ECLIPSE WITH AMBER TAILS? ] - This is the japan model with talon style tail lights where half the tail is a amber color and the other half is red. - [43. WHAT DOES BADGING STAND FOR? ] - TSi - Turbo Sport Injection/Intercooled ESi - Economy/Edition Sport Injection DL - Deluxe RS - Rally Sport GS - Grand Sport GST - Grand Sport Turbo GSX - Grand Sport All Wheel Drive - [44. HOW DO I TOE A AWD VEHICLE?] - AWD vehicles *MUST* either have all 4 wheels on the ground, or all 4 wheels lifted. If the AWD only has half the wheels on the ground this can cause damage to the Limited Slip Differental. - [45. WHAT DOES THE GREEN/YELLOW LIGHT MEAN ON THE A/C?] - Yellow: Cools the interior to a point, in otherwords once the interior is considerably cool, it will adjust the temp. accordingly. Green: Gives a constant supply of cool air with no adjustments in temperature. - [46. IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUPPOSED TO BE ON WHEN THE CAR IS ON BUT NOT RUNNING?] - Yes the check engine light will be on, as will other lights that are normally not on. - [47. IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUPPOSED TO BE ON ALL THE TIME?] - No, this is a indication that the computer unit for your engine has detected a problem, major or minor and is reporting it to you. It is recommended that you take it down to a repair shop and either a) have them read the ECU code or b) hook your machine to a diagnostics machine. - [48. WHAT IS A TURBO TIMER? DO I NEED ONE?] - A turbo timer is a device that keeps your car running at a set interval after you pull the keys from the ignition. This is to allow your turbo to cool. These devices will prolong your turbo. The reason you should have one is because if the turbo cools down too quickly oil can get caked to the bearings and cause them to seize, while unlikely it can and has happened. You don't NEED one, but you might want to look into purchasing one. - [49. WHY DO PEOPLE PREFER A 6 BOLT MOTOR TO A 7 BOLT MOTOR?] - 6 bolt motors are less prone to "crankwalk" which affects 7-bolt motors much more than 6 bolt. That is the main reason behind the change. Secondly, the motor is tougher since it uses bigger rods than the 7 bolt. - [50. CAN I USE DIFFERENT SIZE TIRES ON FRONT/REAR OF AWD VEHICLE?] - No, this can lead to damage of the viscous coupling and center differential. - [51. HOW MUCH BOOST CAN I PUSH THROUGH A STOCK T25 TURBO? (2G DSM)] - The general idea is between 15 and 17PSI, the T25 cannot sustain boost much higher. You may be able to get it past 17PSI, but you either have fuel cut, or the turbo will not hold the boost and drop lower. - [52. MY FWD DSM HAS CRAPPY TRACTION IS THERE A FIX?] - Yes there are a couple of things you can do: - improve launch technique, this would be the most important - polyurethane motor mounts will help prevent wheel hop - Limited Slip Differential - Try to avoid low profile tires - [53. WHAT ARE SOME LAUNCH TECHNIQUES FOR A FWD DSM?] - These are some general tips on how to launch a front wheel drive DSM, please note your mileage will vary from mod to mod. The BIGGEST BY FAR problem with FWD DSM is traction problems, these tips will hopefully help you improve your race times: + Slip the clutch (this means slow release) dont DUMP it and launch in the 3K to 4K range. + Hold the clutch in, Rev to 3.5K, DUMP the clutch + Don't WOT until around 6K in 1st gear - [54. WHAT ARE SOME LAUNCH TECHNIQUES FOR AWD DSMS?] - + take it up to 4 - 5K grand and dump the clutch + take it up to 4 - 5K grand and slip the clutch - [55. WHAT IS THE TOP SPEED OF A DSM?] - These are complete estimates, there is such a wide range of what people have said to have topped their DSM out at. These are the top speed estimates of a FULLY STOCK DSM. Upgrades will affect top speed. 1.8 (1G Base, Talon DL, Eclipse GS) - approx. 122MPH 4G64 (2G Spyder) - approx. 130MPH 4G63 n/t (1G Eclipse GS, Talon ES(i) - approx. 135MPH 4G63 turbo (1G Eclipse GST/GSX, Talon TSi/TSi AWD) - approx. 140MPH 420A n/t (2G Eclipse GS/RS, Talon ESi) - approx. 130MPH* 4G63 turbo (2G Eclipse GST/GSX, Talon TSi/TSi AWD) - approx. 140MPH - [56. IS THERE A TRANSMISSION THAT CAN SWITCH FROM FWD TO AWD FOR DSMS?] - There is, however it is for the Galant VR4. It may or may not work in a DSM. It is also EXTREMELY hard to find, you most likely won't find it online. This is a Japan Only Transmission. - [57. WHAT IS A 4G63 CYCLONE MOTOR?] - The "cyclone" motor is basically a US 4G63 with a cyclone intake. The cyclone intake is a dual runner intake that gives a little bit more bottom end power. The cyclone motor is not worth it, the simple fact is you don't REALLY know how many miles the motor actually has had, plus the performance difference is maybe 10HP. do you really want to spend a couple of grand for 10HP? I don't. - [58. HOW CAN I TELL IF I HAVE A LSD?] - No FWD vehicles have LSD stock. LSD came as a OPTIONAL component for 1G and 2G AWD vehicles. Open the vehicle door if you have a orange sticker with a LSD warning on it, then you have a rear LSD. - [59. IS A LSD BENEFICIAL TO A FWD DSM?] - Definitely. A LSD will help prevent wheel spin and allow the FWD vehicle to grab faster, this can shave up to .5 off the quarter mile time. - [60. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 4x4 AND AWD?] - Generally speaking, AWD is a full time all wheel drive system, while 4x4 is a part time AWD system. - [61. DID THE ECLIPSE SPYDER EVER HAVE AWD?] - No, it did not. Why it didn't we will never know...perhaps Mitsubishi didn't want another Spyder Model available, or perhaps didn't think it would be a good selling point. Spyders only come in FWD. - [62. WHAT OCTANE DOES A DSM REQUIRE?] - The minimum required is 91 octane for a turbocharged model, and should be 87 for a non-turbo DSM. In otherwords, a Eclipse RS/GS, and a Talon ES/ESi/DL should use mid-grade gas (87+). While the turbocharged vehicles, Eclipse GST/GSX/GS Turbo and Talon TSi/TSi AWD should use 91 octane. - [63. WHAT HAPPENS IF I USE THE WRONG OCTANE?] - The ECU will warp timing quite a bit to prevent knock and detonation..which causes premature engine wear and damage. You will likely not hurt anything unless you keep doing it over and over again. The timing adjustment caused by the ECU will hurt your performance, but once you switch back to premium the ECU should adjust timing accordingly. - [64. DOES BURNING OUT AND DRIFTING AFFECT RELIABILITY IN A DSM?] - Like any car, doing this puts a lot more pressure than need be on drivetrain components. This should be avoided as it will cause premature wear on components, specifically AWD vehicles. - [65. I HEARD OF NON-TURBO 2Gs COMING WITH 4G63 MOTORS IS THIS TRUE?] - This is true, however it is NOT in the United States. The US versions of the 2g eclipse RS/GS come with chysler's 420a motor, while all other RS/GS versions come with the naturally aspired 4g63 motor. - [66. DO I HAVE TO USE SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL?] - Of course not, however it is highly recommended. Sythetic generally lasts longer, leaves less build up, and performs better. Weither you want to spend the extra $20 for synthetic is totally up to you. - [67. WHAT IS THE BEST MOTOR OIL BRAND?] - This is like asking what soda pop is the best, it is all a matter of opinion. The most common praised motor oils are: Redline Synthetic Royal Purple Motor Oil Mobil 1 Penzoil and Quakerstate seem to get the most complaints in terms of the "worst" motor oil. From personal experience I honestly cannot tell the difference in feel and performance between Supertech, Quakerstate and Mobil 1..however I use Mobil 1 the most since it seems to have the biggest rep. - [68. WHAT IS DOUBLE-CLUTCHING?] - somtimes called rev-matching, double clutching helps save sychro life by matching rotation of a lower gear. If for example you are in 4th gear and wish to drop to 2nd, you put the shifter in neutral, rev the motor to match what you think the RPMS will jump to in 2nd gear (i.e. 4500RPMs) then push the clutch in, slide it into the gear, and release the clutch while maintaining pressure on the accelerator. This helps the smoothness of the ride it also helps prevent wear and tear. - [69. IS REVING A DSM IN NEUTRAL HARD ON YOUR CAR?] - While some do believe that in turbocharged models, doing this is hard on your car, I do not believe it is. The vehicle I got has had this done many times to it and there seems to be no issues with it at all. If you are paranoid about it then don't do it. - [70. IS A 1G DSM TURBO A BOLT-ON REPLACEMENT FOR A 2G DSM?] - Yes, with the exception...you will need a J pipe to connect to the intercooler piping. It is also recommended that you replace oil feedlines when you do this. - [71. I DROVE WITHOUT MY MAS CONNECTED DID I BREAK SOMETHING?] - No, the ECU picks this up and may generate a check engine light. The ECU will restrict air much more with the sensor off and your vehicle will generally bog because of this. - [72. MY CLUTCH PEDAL IS STUCK TO THE FLOOR HELP! WHATS WRONG?] - The chances are highly likely that it is either your slave or master cylinder that is failing on you. It is recommended to replace both at the same time because normally replacing just one causes the other to fail. - [73. HOW DO I VENT MY BLOW-OFF VALVE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE?] - Simple, you take the dump tube that runs from your BOV into your intake, seal the intake hole and your vehicle is now venting. - [74. IS VENTING MY BOV BAD FOR MY CAR?] - Its not bad for your car, however it does have a performance hit. Reason being your ECU expects air return from the BOV, instead the BOV is shooting the air into the atmosphere instead of back to the intake. The ECU expects this and adds extra fuel to mix with the air the BOV "returned" now you are running rich. From personal experience, this caused premature failure in my exhaust due to backfire caused from venting. - [75. MY 2G WINDOWS RATTLE IS THERE A FIX?] - This is a common 2nd gen. problem...this is caused by the retainer which expands and does not hold the window tightly. To fix this you will need to remove the inside of the door, get behind the speaker and tighten it, this should fix your problem. - [76. WHAT INTERVALS SHOULD I CHANGE MY TRANNY FLUID AT?] - Depends on the driving conditions, I recommend somewhere between every 15K to 30K. - [77. WHAT YEARS FEATURED THE 6-BOLT MOTOR? 7-BOLT?] - The 6-bolt motor is featured on 90 to early 92 models, while the 7-bolt is featured in late 92 - 94 models. The 2G is a 7-bolt motor, but is a little bit different in design...this is featured in 95 to 99 DSMs. - [78. IS THERE A DIFFERENT METHOD TO OIL CHANGING IN TURBO CARS?] - No, however it is recommended to change it more than a non-turbo car, motor oil plays a important factor in the life of the turbocharger in your vehicle. It is also recommended to use syntethic oil to standard mineral oils. - [79. MY DSM SEEMS TO BE BURNING LOTS OF OIL WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM?] - A few causes include valve stems, as well as turbo seals. You will also want to check for any hidden engine leaks, it may not be the burning of oil after all. - [80. WHAT IS LIFTER TICK?] - Lifter tick is a issue in which the lifters make a ticking noise under the hood of your car. It sounds like rainbirds moving and is quite consistant.. it can be noisy enough to where you can hear it even with the hood down. - [81. WHAT CAUSES LIFTER TICK?] - Poor design, or lack of proper maintance...as in lack of oil changes. - [82. HOW CAN I FIX LIFTER TICK?] - There are a few methods for fixing lifter tick, here are some: - use oil detergent to clean the lifters - use motor flush - use rislone RESTORE - switch to synthetic if not already - try switching to heavier weight oil - switch brands - try different oil filter, such as the OEM filter - [83. CAN LIFTER TICK CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE?] - No, however it can cause your computer unit to pick up a knock and retard your timing. This in effect will cause performance degrading. Lifter tick is a more of a annoyance than anything. - [84. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 2ND GEN RS & GS ECLIPSE?] - The basic difference is this: GS, power everything RS, power nothing RS generally had cloth seating, no sunroof, no power windows, no power seating, etc. - [85. WHICH MODELS HAVE AWD AND WHICH HAVE FWD?] - Eclipse GST - Front Wheel Drive Eclipse GSX - All Wheel Drive Laser RS TURBO - Front Wheel Drive or All Wheel Drive Talon TSi AWD - All Wheel Drive Talon TSi - Front Wheel Drive Galant VR4 - All Wheel Drive - [86. MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IN 5TH GEAR WHEN RELEASING THE THROTTLE WHAT IS HAPPENING?] - This is commonly caused by the retaining nut on the input shaft of the transmission. Tightening the retaining nut will fix this problem. - [87. WHAT HAPPENS IF I USE THE WRONG OCTANE RATED GAS?] - As mentioned before, 91 is te min. octane rating for the turbocharged models. If you use lower than that detonation can occur which can literally destory the engine...this does NOT mean one time will kill your motor, but you will feel the effects. The ECU will retard your timing until it feels that you have high enough octane gas to advance it again which can take up to a week AFTER you went back to premium. Its best not to use anything lower than 91. - [88. WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED WEIGHT OF A DSM?] - These are approx. please don't take them to heart. Eclipse GST 2nd gen. - ~2934lbs Eclipse GSX 2nd gen. - ~3200lbs Eclipse GS 2nd gen. - ~2800lbs Eclipse RS 2nd gen. - ~2700lbs A 1st gen should be about 100 - 150 lbs lighter than a 2nd gen equiv. for example if a 2g GSX weighs ~3200, then a 1G GSX would weigh about 3050. - [89. HOW DO I IDENTIFY IF I HAVE A 6 OR 7 BOLT MOTOR ON A 1G DSM?] - Look underneath the car, if the oil pan has a small indent then its a 7 bolt motor, if its smooth with no indent then its a 6-bolt motor. This doesn't guarentee its a 6-bolt/7-bolt motor as the motor could have been swapped, but this is a good indication on where the car stands. - [90. WHATS WITH THE ECLIPSE TAILS WITH AMBER CORNERS?] - These are the design from the european market. You can order them but they generally are not cheap. Sometimes these tails are to be confused as JDM tails, either event the cost isn't worth what would come out of it. - [91. MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE FOGGED IS THERE A FIX?] - This is caused by a crack or seal failure in the housing of the lights. There are three fixes that I suggest: 1. Use a hair dryer around the housing to dry the inside out 2. Wait for it to dry 3. Put it in the oven for about 5 minutes at 300 degrees - [92. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UERATHANE AND FIBERGLASS BODY KITS?] - The materials used. poly-urethane stands up to damage at least 150% better than fiberglass will, however urethane is considerably more expensive. Taking care of a fiberglass bumper is harder because every little nic or bump the bumper takes while driving usually chips or cracks it. Its your call when picking between the two. I personally chose fiberglass because it is relatively easy to fix with the DIY kits at walmart. If you don't care about price, uerathane is the best way to go. - [93. IS 50W OIL TOO HEAVY?] - In my opinion yes, 50W will not have good flow characteristics for the turbo. 50W is much more likely to cake to the bearings on the turbo causing lock-up. 50W is not designed for our vehicles, its recommended to use 10W-30 or at top 10W-40. - [94. CAN I FIT A 2GB (97-99) FRONT BUMPER ON A 2GA (95-96) VEHICLE?] - Yes, however you must get projection headlights if you are an eclipse owner. You will need the projection headlights on a talon if you want to do a eclipse front bumper conversion as well. They are direct-bolt on otherwise. - [95. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A 95-96 ECLIPSE & 97-99 ECLIPSE?] - The main visual differences are: 97+ Have a more aggressive front bumper 95/96 Have a smiley face bumper 97+ Has the reverse tails more centered 95-96 Has the reverse tails located by the license plate frame 97+ Come with a turbo wing, 95-96s did not - [96. WILL A FWD DSM DOWNPIPE FIT A AWD DSM?] - No, design is significantly different..you must find one designed for the AWD setup. - [97. DO 95/96 FRONT SIDEMARKERS FIT 97+ DSMs?] - Yes, they are identical. - [98. HELP MY HORN DOESN'T WORK WHATS WRONG?] - Check the fuses and relays first. If the horn needs replacing it is located close to the bottom of the radiator. (2G) - [99. ARE JDM MOTORS KNOWN FOR CRANKWALK?] - No, but this does not mean they are immune. Any motor can get crankwalk, JDM motors just aren't known for it like 2G DSM 7-bolt motors are. - [100. CAN I USE A COLD AIR INTAKE ON A TURBOCHARGED DSM?] - Theorically with modifications you can, however there is no kit as of writing that will let you do it. Due to design, a cold air intake will not fit because the intercooler is in the way. - [101. HELP! MY CAR WON'T PASS EMISSIONS WHAT SHOULD I DO?] - First, check to make sure O2 sensors are hooked up correctly. Make sure you are not venting, sometimes this can affect emissions. As a last resort you can try purchasing G2P Emissions Passer from Checker Auto, which I've had personal success with. - [102. WHAT ARE SOME CHEAP FIRST MODS FOR MY DSM?] - These are some general mods you should do if you are short on cash. - manual boost controller - cone filter intake - boost gauge - 1G blow-off valve (for 2G DSMs) - [103. MY STOCK 2G BOV DOESNT HOLD BOOST WELL WHAT SHOULD I DO?] - 2G DSMs went cheap on blow-off valves...the stock one is..PLASTIC! The main problem with the 2G bov is that it is unable to hold over 15psi without leaking...it is highly recommended to switch to a aftermarket one. If cash is short get a 1G BOV, they function much better than the 2G BOVs do. - [104. IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A N/T DSM FAST?] - Yes with a lot of work, it is possible to make a N/T faster than the turbo models...in fact you can make a N/T have as much potential as a 4g63 driven DSM. However, cost to performance ratio is considerably more than that of a turbo model. - [105. WHAT IS THE FASTEST N/T DSM?] - Not very sure in this one, with a built up engine I've heard people go into the 14s, this is without NOS and without a turbo kit. - [106. WHY IS THE 95 EEPROM ECU SO POPULAR?] - The 95 ECU has EEPROM which makes it easy to program. Specifically, this ECU is compatible with DSM-Link a very powerful software program that allows you to tune your engine to your liking. - [107. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO "BREAK IN" A TURBO?] - There is really no break in period for a turbo, however it is recommended to idle your car a bit before boosting to allow oil to get to the bearing, premature boosting may cause a turbo failure. - [108. WHAT IS THE STOCK BOOST ON A 1G DSM?] - 11.1 PSI is the stock boost used on a 1G DSM. - [109. WHAT IS THE STOCK BOOST ON A 2G DSM?] - The stock PSI for a 2G DSM is 10PSI, though some claim theirs was lower stock. - [110. WHAT KIND OF PAINT DO I NEED TO PAINT INTERIOR TRIM PIECES?] - There is no special paint really needed as long as you primer the surface first. Here is some more tips: - try to avoid gloss paints as they do not bond as well - use clearcoat for added chip/scratch protection - use a little bit of car wax to help prevent fading - if painted before try to get the top layer of paint off before repainting either using sandpaper or a paint thinner - [111. IS IT LEGAL TO CONVERT A ECLIPSE TO A TALON OR TALON TO ECLIPSE?] - Check your local laws, as far as I know it isn't. The simple fact there are body kits out there that can make your vehicle look radically different from stock I wouldn't see a problem with switching to a different car look. - [112. WILL 2G ECLIPSE/TALON RIMS FIT A 1G ECLIPSE/TALON?] - Yes, they will. - [113. SHIFTER POPS OUT OF GEAR (SPECIFICALLY 5TH) WHATS WRONG?] - This can be caused by a loose retaining bolt inside the transmission, this is a serious problem. If this problem is not fixed it could result in a blown tranmission, if you have this problem in a 1G DSM stop driving your car until it is fixed. - [114. MY RPMS JUMPED WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON IS THIS NORMAL?] - Yes, this is because the engine has to work harder with the air conditioner on. You can expect a 100 to 300 RPM increase with your air conditioning unit on. - [115. DO TURBOS REALLY NEED COOL-DOWN TIME?] - Some people swear they need it others say they don't. The reason you should have your turbo cool down is if it cools down too quickly it can cause wear to the bearings in some cases oil can actually cake to the bearings causing them to seize up. I have heard at least two cases of this around here. - [116. HOW DO YOU TOW AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE?] - There are two ways to tow a AWD vehicle: - all four tires are lifted on a ramp - all fours sit on the ground and are pulled You CANNOT tow a AWD vehicle with only half the vehicle on the ground and the other half in the air or visa versa. - [117. MY BELTS SQUEEK/CHATTER/ ANNOY ME IS THERE A FIX?] - This can be caused by a bad belt, overtightened belt, or sometimes a bad bearing in a pulley. In either cases it can be temperarily silenced by using belt dressing. In bearing situations you will probably still be able to hear the bearing but it won't be as bad. - [118. IS THERE A FILTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF A DSM?] - Yes, but they are in automatics only. No need to worry if you have a 5spd transmission. - [119. WILL PAINTING THE INTERCOOLER AFFECT PERFORMANCE?] - Yes it will hurt performance and is not recommended. - [120. HELP A LIGHT JUST WENT ON THAT LOOKS LIKE A CAGE WHAT IS IT?] - This means you have a low coolant level, fill it up immediately. If you still don't understand this gauge it looks like the washington monument. _____ | | | | ----- - [121. WHAT IS THE MAX PSI A 14B TURBO (STOCK 1G DSM) CAN PUSH?] - With supporting mods, the 14b turbo can push up to 18PSI on street gas, on racing gas you can push up to 21psi. - [122. WHAT IS THE MAX PSI A T25 TURBO (STOCK 2G DSM) CAN PUSH?] - I have heard of some being able to push up to 17PSI off the t25, but the general recommendation for street gas is 15 or 16. - [123. I WANT A NEW INTERCOOLER BUT CANT AFFORD A FRONT MOUNT, ANY ALTERNATIVES?] - You can get the supra side mount that can flow more than two stock DSM intercoolers could. Or as a front mount you can get a conquest or starion front mount intercooler. Check ebay for deals on these. - [124. I'M BUYING A DSM WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?] - When buying a DSM, You should do a checkup on the vehicle, follow these steps and you should be set on getting a good DSM. - Any external damage? chips? scratches? oxidation? - engine leaks? tranmission leaks? xfer leaks? - while driving...any strange noises? grinding gears? stiff or soft clutch? squeeky brakes? brakes work? smooth ride? - a/c work? heater work? lights work? brights work? brake lights? turn signal lights? - oil level good? tranmission fluid good? coolant level good? - take off intake..does the turbo have any shaft play? If the person doesn't allow you to test drive it FORGET it, if they question some of your actions (i.e. checking the oil) forget it. - [125. SHOULD I USE A 2.5" or 3" EXHAUST?] - If you plan on going beyond the 400HP mark you may want to look into a 3" exhaust, otherwise a 2.5 should be plenty for most. - [126. CAN I CONVERT A DSM FROM FWD TO AWD?] - Yes, but the amount of money and effort required would be more of a money pit than it would to sell the FWD DSM and buy a AWD DSM. - [127. IS IT TRUE THAT SOME 1G ECLIPSE GS's CAME WITH TURBOS?] - Yes some of the eclipse's that are badged GS can possibly contain the turbocharged 4g63 engine. 2Gs however are not turbo'd from the factory. - [128. 3RD GEAR GRINDS IS THERE A FIX?] - There are two possible solutions to this: - use synchromesh or a product similiar in your transmission to smoothen out shifting. - You can also try to rev match and slide it into gear, this has worked for me and other DSMers as well. - [129. THERE IS OIL ON TOP OF MY VALVE COVER WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?] - This could come from a bad oil cap, or possibly a crack in the valve cover. If it is dripping from the oil cap then I would look into getting a replacement. - [130. I HAVE SILVER TRANSMISSION FLUID WHATS WRONG?] - This is a sign of transmission failure, this is a sign that the transmission is grinding severely. The only fix would be to get the transmission rebuilt or a new transmission. - [131. CAN A 2G TRANSMISSION FIT A 1G?] - With customization anything is possible, but the 2G transmission is not a direct fit to a 1G, the mount points are completely different. - [132. MY IDLE IS LOW MY CAR SPUTTERS, WHATS WRONG?] - This can be caused by a number of things, here are some suggestions: - if your BOV is venting, try recirculating it - switch spark plugs/wires - a injector could be clogged or stuck open - vacuum leak, check hosing on the vehicle everywhere, this includes your intercooler piping/hosing - [133. I WANT TO UPGRADE MY INTERCOOLER SHOULD I PICK A SIDE-MOUNT OR A FRONT MOUNT?] - It really depends on your horsepower goals, if you are not going over 400HP, I personally suggest a side mount they are generally cheaper and will get you to your goal. If, however, you want to go over 400 I definitely suggest a front mount intercooler. - [134. IS THERE SUCH THING AS A JDM EAGLE TALON?] - No, Eagle Talons were never marketed to Japan in any way, shape, or form. - [135. IS THERE ANY BENEFIT TO A JDM 4G63 MOTOR?] - Yes, in very few cases you can get a JDM motor with larger injectors, and sometimes a 16G Turbo. Also, the JDM Motors can come with the cyclone intake that improves low-end performance by about 10HP. Otherwise, the motor itself is identical to the american version. - [136. IS THERE A JDM TRANSMISSION?] - Technically no, it is the Galant VR4 transmission that offers a FWD/AWD switch this allows you to change between FWD and AWD on your vehicle. The problem is that this particular tranmission is rare and most of the time when you order one online it ends up being the wrong part. - [137. MY 1G BOV IS STARTING TO LEAK AT HIGH BOOSTS WHAT CAN I DO?] - At this point your car is probably pushing beyond the 15PSI limit of the 1G BOV, you can upgrade to a aftermarket BOV or alternatively you can crush your 1G BOV by taking the unit off and crushing it using a clamp, this prevents the BOV from opening too early. This does make the BOV slightly less effective, but it prevents it from leaking. - [138. WHAT IS A 13G TURBO?] - The 13g turbo is a turbocharger that comes stock on automatic 1g turbo DSMs. This is slightly smaller than the 14b, which would explain why the automatics have lower HP ratings. - [139. BRAKE LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING WHATS WRONG?] - This can be caused by low brake fluid, brake pads are almost gone, or it could indicate a ABS malfunction. - [140. MY VEHICLE IS BLOWING SMOKE WHATS WRONG?] - White - if consistant indicates warped head/head gasket causing coolant to enter the combustion chambers. Blue - indicates failed oil rings, valve seal, turbo oil seal Black/Grey - There are many causes of this including but not limited to, bad air/fuel mix, fouled spark plugs, clogged air filter, wires, coil, etc. - [141. CLUTCH PEDAL IS STIFF AND THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING WHATS WRONG?] - This can be caused by a leak in the hydraulic system. Try bleeding the clutch and see if this fixes the situation. - [142. HOW MUCH TORQUE CAN A STOCK CLUTCH HANDLE?] - 250 ft-lbs of torque - [143. MY VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING WHAT IS WRONG?] - There are a few things that could be the cause: 1. Check coolant level 2. Water Pump might be faulty 3. Thermostat may be faulty 4. Radiator Cap not maintaining pressure 5. Coolant Fans not functioning - [144. WHAT REFRIGERANT DOES MY 2ND GEN DSM TAKE?] - R-134A coolant. - [145. MY VEHICLE IS MISFIRING WHAT IS WRONG?] - There are many possible problems for this: 1. faulty spark plugs 2. faulty spark wires 3. damaged/worn lash adjuster or valves sticking - [146. WHY DO I NEED A AFTERMARKET BOOST GAUGE?] - Because it simply is inaccurate, the 1st gen at least has numbers on it but the 2nd gen has no numbers on it. Unless you plan on keeping your car stock, a upgraded boost gauge is a must. - [147. HELP! I LOST MY ONLY KEY TO MY DSM WHAT DO I DO?!?] - If you have lost your only key to your DSM, you must go to the manufacturer and they will make a key for you. It is expensive but it is better than having to change all the locks right? - [148. WHAT DO I NEED TO BEAT A SUBARU IMPREZA WRX?] - This is only meant as basic guidance, this assumes the WRX is bone stock, in order to beat a WRX I believe you need: - 3" turbo-back exhuast - MBC, boost up to 15 - upper intercooler piping, 1g BOV - intake These mods alone should allow you to at least run with a WRX. - [149. WHAT DO I NEED TO BEAT A SUBARU IMPREZA STI?] - STIs require more work than a WRX to beat: - a upgraded turbo, 16G preferable - Manual boost controller - upper intercooler piping, 1g BOV/aftermarket BOV - intake - 3" turboback exhaust - fuel supporting components, pump and injectors This should allow you to beat a STI with little effort. - [150. WHICH ECU SWAPS WITH WHAT CAR?] - 1989 - 1990 are interchangable 1991 - 1994 are interchangable 1995 - 1996 are interchangable 1997 - 1998 are interchangable If you own a FWD DSM you MUST swap with a ECU in a FWD vehicle. Same with AWD. Also, if your vehicle is manual you must switch with a manual ECU, same with automatic. Of course, the engines must be the same in both cars. - [151. WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF THE FUEL TANK ON A DSM?] - 1st generation Laser, Eclipse, Talon have 16 gallon tanks 2nd generation Talon, Eclipse have 17 gallon tanks - [152. WHAT IS THE COOLANT CAPACITY OF A DSM?] - 1st Generation Motors > 1.8L Motor - 6.2L 2.0L Motor - 7.2L 2.0LT Motor - 7.2L 2nd Generation Motors > 2.0L Motor - 7.0L 2.0LT Motor - 7.0L 2.4NT Motor - 7.0L - [153. WHAT ARE THE STOCK INJECTOR SIZES ON DSMS?] - 450cc for manual turbocharged 1ST/2ND GEN DSMs 380cc for auto turbocharged 1ST GEN DSMs 390cc for auto turbocharged 2ND GEN DSMs - [154. IS IT POSSIBLE TO CONVERT A AWD DSM TO RWD?] - Yes its possible, but it would require more money that it is worth. If you want to get RWD I suggest getting another car. Quite frankly, I don't understand why one would give up traction of AWD for RWD. Thats just me. - [155. WHAT IS THE NORMAL VACUUM READING FOR A DSM?] - 15 to 20psi..and it should be constant reading no flucuation. If it does then you may have a vacuum leak or the boost gauge may not be hooked up correctly. - [156. I WANT TO ORDER ITEM FOR MY DSM OFF OF EBAY ANY SUGGESTIONS?] - yes, watch for the user's feedback..the person should have at least 98% positive feedback and about 150 or more transactions done to be on the safe side. Also, on body kits note the shipping prices, this is where you can get screwed on prices. - [157. I WANT TO INSTALL A 97-99 ECLIPSE BODY KIT ON A TALON CAN I DO IT?] - Yes you can, but it will require the following to be converted on your talon: * 97-99 eclipse headlights * eclipse tail light conversion Once this is complete you should have no problems with putting a 97-99 eclipse body kit on your vehicle. - [158. ARE THERE ANY REAR KITS FOR EAGLE TALONS?] - Yes, there is a 1/4th of a kit that hooks to the existing back bumper of your talon. Other than that, as of current writing there is no available kit for the Talon rear. - [159. I WANT TO CHANGE THE COLOR OF MY SEATS CAN I USE SPRAY PAINT?] - NO! This will NOT work. You will need to use a dye of some sort, SEM for example. Some have used Dupli-color Vinyl/Fabric Dye which has worked fairly well. VHT also seems to get good results. Follow the directions CAREFULLY or you could run the risk of ruining your seats. - [160. CAN I DROP A 4G63 INTO MY N/T ECLIPSE?] - In theory, yes. It is a very expensive operation that includes replacing: motor mounts, transmission, engine, ECU, exhaust, turbo, cooling components for the 4g63, this would add up to approx. 4 or 5K in costs. It would be cheaper to a) upgrade your 420a, or b) sell your n/t DSM and get a turbocharged model. - [161. WILL MODDING MY CAR VOID MY WARRANTY? ] - Unless the aftermarket part directly caused the problem you are having, no it should not affect your warranty. Of course, if your aftermarket part fails don't expect mitsubishi to do anything about it. - [162. DO ALL TURBO CARS HAVE BLOW-OFF VALVES?] - No, either because the manufacturer feels the vehicle doesn't need it, they have an alternative to a BOV, or simply the architecture of the motor does not require such a device. - [163. WHAT IS THE PROPER METHOD TO STOP A MANUAL DSM?] - Some like to engine brake, I am highly suggesting against this. This simply burns up your clutch faster, what you should do is slip into neutral and use your brakes. $50 brake pads are nothing compared to a $400 clutch job. - [164. WHAT IS REV MATCHING?] - Rev matching is a process of predicting the RPM range when switching gears. For example, going 50 in 5th gear will generate roughly 5,000 RPMs in 2nd, if you are downshifting to second, you REV up to 5K and slip in the clutch in 2nd and the car jerks less than if you put it into 2nd gear and just let the clutch out. This is a method that helps improve the longetivity of your transmission and drive train. - [165. I AM PICKING UP A MOTOR AT A JUNKYARD ANY SUGGESTIONS?] - Get a compression test done on the motor to see if it is good, usually junk yards will have some sort of limited warranty, like 90 days. This will ensure you don't waste your money and your time putting it into your car and not have it work. - [166. I GOT A JDM MOTOR HOW CAN I TELL IF I HAVE A 16G TURBO OR LARGER INJECTORS?] - The larger injectors have a yellow top to them, these ones usually come with a big 16g turbo too. Sometimes JDM motors come with 16Gs that have the standard blue injectors, you would have to verify the turbo in this case. - [167. HOW CAN I TELL A 16G FROM A 14B TURBO?] - The main difference between the two is that the fins on a 16G are dual, while on a 14B they are single. - [168. WHAT IS WATER INJECTION?] - The process of saturating the intercooler with water to help prevent detonation, in some cases even improve performance of your vehicle. - [169. HOW CAN I TELL I HAVE A FAILING TURBO?] - Shaft play is a very common method of checking for failure in your turbo. This means you remove the intake pipe, feel around the fins on the turbine..if they move you have shaft play, if they don't you are good. Another sign are grinding noises (caused by the fin hitting the turbo housing). - [170. CAN A STOCK CLUTCH HOLD AGAINST TURBO UPGRADES?] - Sorta, if the vehicle isn't raced constantly and you are a good clutch user then the clutch should hold out for at least a little while. Otherwise, no a upgraded clutch is HIGHLY recommended BEFORE a turbo upgrade. - [171. HOW DO I DRAIN MY RADIATOR?] - When the vehicle is COLD, there is a plug on the bottom of the radiator, you simply unplug this and it will drain the liquid from it. Also, on the bottom of the overflow there is a plug to drain it as well. - [172. WHAT FLUIDS DO I NEED FOR MY TRANSFER CASE AND REAR DIFF?] - 75-90 gear lube is the standard, but it is recommended to use something like BG Syncroshift or Penzoil Syncromesh. - [173. HELP I CANT GET BOLT OUT WHAT SHOULD I DO?] - You can try to use PB Blaster which has yielded good results for most, or you can try to use standard WD-40. - [174. MY GAS MILEAGE IS REALLY CRAPPY IS THERE ANY SOLUTION?] - You may want to look into the following components that could be affecting your gas mileage: - fuel filter - o2 sensors - fuel injector cleaners, I recommend Lucus Additives for this - on turbo upgrades turning down the boost MAY help - venting your BOV may or may not hurt your gas mileage, user variable - [175. ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON SPARK PLUG WIRES FOR TURBO CARS?] - MSD and Accel both come highly recommended from DSM owners. I personally have used Accel and they work fine. - [176. WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED SPARK PLUGS FOR TURBO CARS?] - NGK BPR6ES .28 gap for near STOCK vehicles NGK BPR7ES .28 gap for upgraded vehicles - [177. WHAT DO I NEED TO REPLACE AT THE 60K MAINTANCE PERIOD?] - My recommendations are: - Spark Plugs/Wires - Air Filter - Timing Belt/Balance Shaft Belt Since you are close to the water pump when installing the timing belt it is recommended you replace it as well. - [178. ARE THE HATCHES INTERCHANGEABLE ON DSMs?] - You can take a 2G eclipse hatch on one car and put it on the other, they are universal. However, it is uncertain weither or not a eclipse hatch will fit on a talon. 1Gs should be interchangeable as well. - [179. DO 92-94 7-BOLT MOTORS SUFFER FROM CRANKWALK?] - Yes, but it is more rare than 2nd generation 7-bolts. - [180. WHAT IS THE LEMON LAW?] - Lemon law varies from state to state and is there to protect you from buying a defective car. If the vehicle is picked up at a auto retailer and you find defects you can take it back in amount of days and get your money back. For me it is 30 days, but your state may vary. It may or may not cover private sales however. - [181. IS A BLOW-OFF VALVE LOUDER IF THERE IS MORE BOOST?] - Yes, in theory. Eventually though it will just sound about the same and it won't be noticeable. - [182. IS THE 420A MOTOR IN 2G N/T REALLY A NEON MOTOR?] - For the most part yes, but baseline neons are single overhead cams..the 420a in a DSM is similiar to that of a Neon R/T, the exhaust and intake manifolds are switched. - [183. CAN A 3000GT TT MOTOR FIT IN A DSM?] - With heavy modifications and lots of money I guess it could be possible, but it wouldn't be worth it. The motor is too big to fit into the engine compartment on a DSM. - [184. WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED SPARK PLUGS/WIRES FOR NT DSMs?] - NGK BKR5E spark plugs are recommended, as well as MSD and Accel are recommended spark plug wires. - [185. I HAVE A SHORT SHIFTER FOR MY 2ND GEN BUT ITS NOT SHORTER?] - Short shifters are NOT designed to make the shifter smaller but it is supposed to reduce the throw into gears making it quicker and easier to hit each gear as you are shifting. There are some that do shrink the size of the shifter but if it doesn't reduce the throw it really isn't a short shifter. - [186. HOW ACCURATE ARE TURBO TIMER 1/4 ESTIMATIONS?] - As you may know some of the new turbo timers come with a 1/4 estimation, while it can give you a general idea it is still not a 100% accurate as compared to a run at the local track. - [187. WHAT TYPE OF ALTEZZAS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DSMs?] - 2nd Gen. Eclipse - Carbon Fiber Style JDM Style (Chrome) JDM Style (Black) Euro Style (Larger brake light units) 2nd Gen. Talon - NONE AVAILABLE 1st Gen. Eclipse - Carbon Fiber Style Generation-2 Eurotec Altezzas (chrome) Eurotec Altezzas (black) - [188. WHAT IS THE WEIGHT OF THE 2G ECLIPSE?] - Please note this applies to 1995 models, the 97+ models might be heavier or a little bit lighter..this should be taken as a estimate only. RS w/auto - 2817lbs RS w/manual - 2754lbs GS w/auto - 2906lbs GS w/manual - 2842lbs GST w/auto - 2998lbs GST w/manual - 2921lbs GSX w/auto - 3234lbs GSX w/manual - 3157lbs GS Spyder w/auto - 2943lbs GS Spyder w/manual - 2888lbs GST Spyder w/auto - 3142lbs GST Spyder w/manual - 3053lbs - [189. WHAT IS THE WEIGHT OF THE 1ST GEN ECLIPSE?] - These weights are based on the 1991 model so other models might be heavier/lighter. Take these as estimates only. GS w/1.8L manual - 2524lbs GS w/2.0L manual - 2572 GST w/ manual - 2745 GSX w/ manual - 3095 - [190. IM UPGRADING MY EXHAUST WHAT SIZE SHOULD I GO WITH 2.5 or 3?] - I recommend 3 for those of you planning on going past 300HP and 2.5 if you plan on keeping the vehicle relatively stock (no turbo upgrades). - [191. MY 2G 'CRANKWALKED' WHAT DO I DO?] - If you truely did experience crankwalk it is recommended you replace the entire motor with a 6-bolt (motor from a 90 to early 92 eclipse). If you rebuild the engine that crankwalked then you will most likely end up suffering from crankwalk again down the line. - [192. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A 1ST GEN ECLIPSE GS TO BE TURBO?] - Yes, the Eclipse GS can come turbo or non-turbo, GST is abbrev. for GS Turbo. The labeling on the back will say one of the following "GS" with smaller "Turbo" lettering underneath the GS "GS" with smaller "16V DOHC" lettering underneath the GS - [193. HOW CAN I TELL IF MY DSM IS TURBO'D OR NON-TURBO'D?] - 1. 'Premium Unleaded Fuel Only' warning on gauges, indicates turbo model 2. 'Unleaded Fuel Only' warning on gauge, indicates non-turbo model 3. turbo found following the intake, MAY indicate a turbo model possible to be a non-turbo that was turbo'd. 4. GST/GSX Badging on eclipses, indicates turbo model 5. TSi/TSi AWD Badging on talons, indicates turbo model 6. '16V DOHC Turbo' on side skirts, indicates turbo model 7. '16V DOHC' on side skirts, indicates non-turbo model 8. rear differential on the back end, indicates AWD turbo model 9. a boost gauge on the left hand side of gauges, turbo model 10. no boost gauge, non-turbo model 11. orange sticker on driver side door jam indicating warning of a LSD, this indicates a AWD turbo vehicle 12. Motor says "DOHC 2000" with "Mitsubishi" on the spark plug cover, indicating a turbo model 13. Motor says "DOHC 2.0L 16 Valve" indicating non-turbo 14. Intake is on the right side, which would be a non-turbo model 15. Intake is on the left side, which is a turbo model - [194. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RS AND GS ECLIPSE?] - Cosmetic differences mainly, RS: GS: - usually manual seats, windows - pwr seats, windows - low spoiler/no spoiler - low spoiler/no spoiler - no sunroof - sunroof option - cloth seats - 16 inch rims/17in optional - front brakes - better audio - 16 inch rims - leather seats optional - [195. I DONT HAVE A SPARK PLUG COVER DO I NEED ONE?] - no, not really..much like the timing belt cover it is more cosmetic than anything. However it is recommended you have one of you clean your engine on a regular basis, if you do at least put a towel or plastic bag over it to ensure water does go where it doesn't belong. - [196. ARE 1999 ECLIPSES PRONE TO CRANKWALK?] - yes, just about as much as any previous 2nd gen year. - [197. IS IT BETTER TO HAVE A LIGHT SHIFT KNOB OR HEAVY?] - preference really, some say it is easier to get it into gear with a heavier shift knob, but others prefer a lightweight since you can move it faster since it is lighter. - [198. MY AWD VEHICLE HAS ALL 4s SPINNING OFF THE LINE WHATS WRONG?] - AWD does mean much LESS traction loss than FWD/RWD but AWD vehicles are NOT perfect. There are a few reasons you may be experiencing traction loss in your AWD DSM: - your vehicle did not come with the rear LSD, which can help - tires are bald - the location you are racing has wet ground or loose dirt - upgrades have given sufficent power to spin all 4 tires, in this case it might be worth it to upgrade to a front wheel LSD. - [199. I HAVE A BOOST LEAK, IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE?] - Yes, but the vehicle will have a tendency to run richer this means your spark plugs CAN foul out earlier than normal. Otherwise it is fairly safe to drive with a boost leak you just lose performance. - [200. CAN I USE A SRT-4 FRONT MOUNT INTERCOOLER?] - It requires customized piping, but yes you can use it. The intercooler is good for up to 350 whp in a DSM. - [201. CAN I USE A SUPRA SIDE MOUNT INTERCOOLER?] - yes, but it requires custom work and leaves the intercooler very close to the passenger side tire. The supra intercooler is good for up to 400hp. - [202. HOW DOES THE AWD DSM SYSTEM DISTRUBUTE POWER?] - 50% to the rear, 50% to the front. Contrast to what others say it is NOT 60/40. - [203. MY WINDOWS ARE POWERED I WANT MANUAL CAN I SWITCH THEM?] - The easiest way to do this is to buy a pair of doors with manuals on them, you will most likely find them on non-turbo versions than turbo versions. - [204. HOW MUCH DRIVETRAIN IS LOST IN FWD/AWD DSMs?] - Please note that these are approx. FWD M/T - ~17% FWD A/T - ~22% AWD M/T - ~22% AWD A/T - ~25% - [205. MY TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE GAUGE IS GOING EXTRA FAST WHATS WRONG?] - This is a indication that the bulb in your turn signal is burned out, if it is doing it when turning left it is the driver side, if it is doing it on right then it is the passenger. - [206. WHAT ANTIFREEZE SHOULD BE USED IN A DSM?] - Prestone seems to be the most common brand, realize also that color does indicate performance and the recommendation is the green colored anti-freeze. 60/40 mix is recommended. - [207. HOW DO YOU RESET THE ECU?] - simply unplug your negative terminal on the battery for 15 or so minutes and the computer will be reset. - [208. DO DSMS COME WITH AUTHENTIC LEATHER?] - Yes, but it is cheap leather that comes from malnurished cow. - [209. IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT 1999 ECLIPSES COMPARED TO 95-98?] - The 1999s came with optional black leather, white faced gauges, and a GS Sports package that included OZ Rally Edition Rims, Turbo Spoiler, Chrome Tip Exhaust. - [210. ONE OF MY RADIATOR FANS AREN'T RUNNING IS THIS NORMAL?] - Only one should run, unless you have the air conditioner on in which case both should be running. - [211. WHAT IS THE NORMAL IDLE RANGE FOR A DSM?] - the normal range should be about 800 to 1200RPMs, if higher you may have a vacuum/boost leak, especially if it is studdering. - [212. ARE TALON/ECLIPSE 2G PARTS INTERCHANGEABLE?] - Other than visable appearance changes the vehicles are IDENTICAL in suspension, engine, and accessories. So yes, they are. - [213. ARE 1G INTERCOOLERS BIGGER THAN 2G INTERCOOLERS?] - The core on the 1st generation DSM is larger than the 2g, but the inlet and outlet on the 2g is larger. Neither warrants a change between the two, they both offer about the same performance. - [214. I BOUGHT THE BLITZ DD BOV IT HAS A FILTER ATTACHMENT WHY?] - The filter (also called a silencer) can prevent dirt and grime from getting inside the blow off valve, but it can also silence the BOV to make it a little less loud. The BOV doesn't hold as much boost with the filter on. - [215. I AM UPGRADING MY FUEL PUMP SHOULD I GO WITH 190LPH OR 255LPH?] - This all depends on your goals, if you are looking to push over 400HP then you should go with the 255LPH..otherwise a 190LPH is easier to install and is also quieter. - [216. I PLAN ON USING JACKSTANDS WHERE DO I NEED TO PLACE THEM?] - The recommended spot is where you use the regular jack at, alternatively you can use the actual frame of the car and you shouldn't have any problems. - [217. DO I NEED A UPGRADED INTERCOOLER ON A STOCK TURBO?] - No, especially if it is a 2g T25 turbo. If you get enough supporting mods for the 14b turbo on the 1gs then you can get a upgraded intercooler and get benefits on it. - [218. IS IT POSSIBLE TO USE RADIATOR HOSE FOR INTERCOOLER PIPING?] - Yes, many people have tried it and with success. Weither it will last as well or perform as well as hard piping remains to be seen. - [219. I WANT TO PAINT MY CALIPERS, ANY SUGGESTIONS?] - First off, calipers will require hi-temp paint since the brake and rotor do get considerably hot in operation and you don't want the paint to chip off now do ya? I recommend getting the caliper kit from your local wallyworld for 15 or so dollars. Also, make sure you MASK off the rotor, you can't paint the rotor..because the next time you jump in the car and use your brakes they won't work too well. - [220. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SUN ROOF AND A MOON ROOF?] - Well by definition a moon roof is simply a permanent window on the roof of a vehicle. While on the other side, the sun roof is a panel on the roof of the vehicle that can be slid back or raised. - [221. I WANT TO BRIGHTEN MY HEADLIGHTS ANY SUGGESTIONS? ] - The most common bulb upgrade for this is the sylvania silverstars which can be found at virtually any automotive store and are relatively cheap compared to other brands. Alternatively, PIAA Xtreme Whites are more expensive and are slightly lighter than silverstars. - [222. I HAVE A BRAND NEW MOTOR, CAN I USE SYNTHETIC?] - No absolutely NOT. this can cause the rings not to seal well and you will have problems down the road. use REGULAR 10W-30 motor oil for the first 1,000 miles or so. - [223. CAN A EVOLUTION III MOTOR FIT A 2G VEHICLE?] - Yes, it will fit right in. The improved pistons will give you better torque and will help with your turbo spool, but other than that the motor isn't much stronger than a 2G stock motor. - [224. I LOWERED MY CAR, ANY SUGGESTIONS?] - yes, be careful...lowering your car puts the body of the vehicle at risk, manly the front bumper. Make sure you angle out of turns as much as possible to prevent scrapping or bumping of the front bumper. Failing to do so will result in damage to the body of the vehicle..so be smart. Lowering your vehicle can cause tire wear problems as well, the camber may need to be adjusted. - [225. I HAVE RAISED MY BOOST to [x] AMOUNT BUT I DO NOT FEEL A POWER INCREASE WHAT IS WRONG?] - The base timing may be set incorrectly, though the ECU can adjust this it DOES have its limitations. Check your timing. - [226. WHAT IS THE TANK CAPACITY OF A DSM?] - All 1st Generation DSMs have a capacity of 16 gallons, the 2nd generation DSMs are equipped with 17 gallon tanks. - [227. WHAT IS THE COMPRESSION RATINGS FOR DSMS?]- 1G 1.8L - 9.0 1G 2.0L N/T - 9.0 1G 2.0L T - 7.8 2G 2.0L N/T - 9.6 2G 2.0L T - 8.5 Spyder 2G 2.4L NT - 9.5 GALANT VR4 - 7.8 - [228. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ SECTION 2 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= T E C H D O C U M E N T S =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SECTION 2 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ARTICLE #1 -------------------- CLEANING YOUR CAR -------------------- MY RECOMMENDED SUPPY LIST: - Stoner's Invisible Glass (glass cleaner) - Eagle All Wheel Cleaner (rim cleaner) - Meguiar's Gold Class Car Liquid/Paste (wax) - Wash Mit (wash cloth) - Microtowel (drying cloth) - Tuff Stuff (carpet cleaner) This seemingly brainless activity seems to be done wrong by lots of people, here I will teach you exactly how your car should be washed. This cleaning guide is for those who have paint that is settled to the car, this is NOT designed for freshly painted vehicles: #1.Choose a Cleaner..do NOT use dish wash detergent, this is probably one of the biggest mistakes people make. While it does wash your car it also strips the vehicle from any wax on the surface, as a result your paint is much more likely to fade and chip. My personal choice is Meguiar's Deep Crystal Carwash, which you can purchase for about $4 at your local automotive shop. For the most part any car soap will do, just make sure it says it is safe for clearcoat and wax. #2 Choose a washing device..100% cotton towels, wash mit, or sponge are all common choices. I prefer a soft wash mit that is clear coat safe and will not scratch the surface. #3 Choose a drying device..again 100% cotton towels, microtowel (really soft that you can pick up from a local Walmart), dry blade, etc. I prefer to use a microtowel because it is incredibly soft and can take a lot of moisture in you can get the entire car done with just one of these puppies. #4 Choose Wheel Cleaner..make sure it is safe for your surface of rim, I personally prefer Eagle Brand Rim Cleaners, they seem to work the best out of all the ones I have tried. Also, you might want to pick up a Rim Cleaner brush, they help get dirt out better and easier than going through the entire rim with a towel. #5 Choose Glass Cleaner..you can go generic and use something like Windex, or you can use automotive glass cleaner like Stoners Invisible Glass. I prefer Stoner's Invisible glass to all others, it is a form cleaner and is easy to clean with. Not only that, buying it one can lasts awhile. #6 Choose a Wax..now there are SOOO many products out there to choose from, but out of all the over-the-shelf waxes you can get I recommend Meguiars Gold Class Wax, it makes your vehicle shine and leaves a nice coat of protection that actually lasts. If your vehicle has scratches that take away color from your vehicle, you might want to look into getting Turtle Wax Color Cure which should be formulated for the color of your car so it hides them better. You can also try NXT wax from meguiars which is supposed to give a great shine, but the protection doesn't last as long. You might want to look into getting a applicator pad for the wax as well. #7 Choose a interior carpet cleaner..while optional, it is highly recommended to get a foam carpet cleaner. Tuff Stuff is only about $4 and it works wonders on carpets. If your carpets are clean and don't have stains on them you don't need to get a interior cleaner. THE DIRECTIONS: - before starting make sure you have got your vehicle wet, I recommend using a hose without an attachment and run the water acrossed the vehicle from the top down. - if you have rim cleaner, now is the time to spray it on your rims make sure you do not allow it to dry because it will leave a nice perm. stain on your rims. - pour and mix your car wash formula in a bucket and use the hose to get a nice foamy mix. - now rinse off the rim cleaner, your rims should look cleaner. - Use your cleaning device, soak it and begin to rub vehicle down, start from the bottom and work your way up, I recommend you get the areas where the sun doesn't hit FIRST, then get the sunny parts. The reason for this is because you don't want to wash off a sunny area, then by the time you are done have it be dried and dirty again. - next, rinse off the vehicle, again do NOT use a attachment..these can be rough on your paint..plus letting the water run makes the water dry faster than normal. - Once completed, use your drying device..if you have a t-blade (dry blade) then go ahead and use this on all areas of the vehicle you can get it. Then use a 100% cotton towel to go back over any spots you missed. - Now use a seperate towel to clean off your rims with. - Your vehicle should be nice and clean, now its time to wax it, depending on what kind of wax you have (paste/liquid) use a applicator pad OR 100% cotton towel and put some of the wax on it. Rub it into the vehicle surface one section at a time and allow to dry to a haze. Then using another cloth buff it out. This should take approx. 15 to 30 minutes depending on how fast you are. Do NOT use too much wax as it will leave you with a powder/dusty coat on your vehicle after you are done because you put too much on. - Your glass might be clean, but if it is not use your glass cleaner and spray your windows..rub off with a towel or Newspaper. Newspaper tends to not streak like paper towels do, just make sure you crumple it up before hand. - Now we go into the interior, take out anything you don't want to get vaccumed up. Once done, vacuum the interior..then using your carpet cleaner product go ahead and use it and scrub away at your carpets. Once this is done and dry go over AGAIN with your vaccum to clean up anything that you may have loosened with the cleaner. - Now you can either use your glass cleaner, or a vinyl cleaner to clean off the interior dash of your car. It is preferred to use a vinyl cleaner it is less likely to dry out and cause premature cracking like some harsher cleaners can. - That's it, your vehicle should be nice and clean! ARTICLE #2 -------------------------- PAINTING YOUR INTERIOR -------------------------- Painting the interior requires time, I would give it at least a week depending on what you decide on painting. For the ENTIRE interior it will take a good week to make it look good. Supplies needed - sandpaper (optional) - primer, paint, and clearcoat - stands (optional) - plastic adhension promoter (optional) - use 400 grit sandpaper to prep the surface to be painted, this is completely optional, in fact you lose the pattern of the plastic if you do sandpaper. So this step is completely optional. - clean the plastic pieces with some mild soap and water, or you can do what I did and use windex, it works good and dries fast. - Allow time for the pieces to dry - once the piece has dried, use your plastic adhension promoter here, do a couple of light coats, allow to dry. (skip this step if you don't have any plastic promoter) - then use primer, again, using light coats waiting about 3 minutes in between each coat. I recommend 2 or 3 coats total. - use your paint, put on about 3 or 4 coats, wait 15 minutes inbetween coats. - now use clearcoat, put about 4 or 5 light coats, wait 10 minutes in between coats. Repeat these steps on each plastic piece you do. ARTICLE #3 -------------------------- COMPRESSION CHART -------------------------- This is the compression chart for what your DSM should be running at in the event you do a compression test. Source: http://www.geocities.com/dsmgrrrl/FAQs/compression.htm 1ST GENERATION DSM MOTOR STANDARD COMPRESSION SERVICE LIMIT 1.8L NT 185PSI 131PSI 2.0L NT 192PSI 145PSI 2.0L T 164PSI 121PSI 2ND GENERATION DSM MOTOR STANDARD COMPRESSION SERVICE LIMIT 2.0L NT 170 - 225PSI 100PSI 2.0L T 178PSI 133PSI 2.4L NT SYPDR 192PSI 146PSI GALANT VR4 MOTOR STANDARD COMPRESSION SERVICE LIMIT 2.0L T 164PSI 114PSI ARTICLE #4 -------------------------- TURBO CHART -------------------------- Garrett T25 - Stock 2nd Gen Turbo, offers great spool up, but loses power in the 5K range. Mitsubishi 13G - Stock 1st Gen Turbo Automatic vehicles, the turbo in the 1st gen autos are slightly smaller than that of the TD04. Mitsubishi TD04 - Stock 1st Gen Turbo, larger than the 2nd gen T25..with proper upgrades this turbo has made it into the 12s. Garrett T28 - Upgrade for 2nd generation DSM, direct bolt-on. The power is about as strong as a 16G Turbo but with a quicker spool and easier installation. Roughly 300 - 380HP. T3/T4 Turbo - generic term. T3/T4 can be a number of different combinations, including turbine wheel, housing, compressor housing etc. T3/T4s require external wastegates and a aftermarket exhaust manifold. Garrett BigT28 - updated T28 with a stage 2 turbine wheel, and a big 16g compressor. 20G Turbo - uses a TD06 compressor housing and 20g compressor wheel, good for up to about 450HP. Small 16G - 16G is one of the most popular updates to DSMs, a small 16G has a standard compressor wheel. The 16G is a direct bolt-on update for 1st gen DSMs. Big 16G - The same as a Small 16G with the exception the compressor is larger..leading to improved performance. 16G Killer - basically a 16G only in ball-bearing form. This means the turbo spool is much more effective and quick. ARTICLE #5 ------------------------------------- CLEANING YOUR INTERCOOLER ------------------------------------- Overtime your intercooler can become caked with dead bugs, bent fins and it can become dirty inside. This decreases overall performance of your vehicle. To clean your intercooler: - Remove your front bumper (makes life easier) - remove the intercooler from the vehicle - put a baggie or something to stuff one opening on the ic. - using gasoline, poor it into the intercooler, stop and swish the gasoline around - dump it, repeat this procedure until the liquid that is coming out is clear and not black - put the intercooler back on ARTICLE #6 ------------------------------------- THE BODY KIT LIST ------------------------------------- This is a simple list of all available body kits for the mitsubishi eclipse, please realize some of these kits do go under different names. + 1ST GEN DSM KITS + + 2ND GEN DSM KITS + Combat Body Kit Aero Xtreme Drift Body Kit NX Widebody BMX Blitz BX SW20 Bomex Raptor Bomex 2 Xenon Buddy Club Buddy Club 2 CI Combat Cyber Kaminari Octane R34 Shogun Sinsei Street Figher Type 039 Type 271 Banshee Rudora TRD Wings West Aggressor Quwhees R33 Stillen ARTICLE #7 ------------------------------------- N/T UPGRADE PATHS ------------------------------------- Non-turbos are often abandon in terms of upgrade paths. This is the better upgrades you can do to your vehicle WITHOUT going to turbo: - Cat-back exhaust - Hi-Flow Cat or Straight Pipe - Air Intake - Headers - Bore Out Throttle Body - Port Intake Manifold - Camshaft/Camgears - Underdrive Pulleys - Air/Fuel Controller - Timing Controller ARTICLE #8 ------------------------------------- RETAIL PRICE OF 95 ECLIPSES ------------------------------------- -= BASE PRICES =- RS, 5SPD $14,359 RS, AUTO $15,059 GS, 5SPD $16,329 GS, AUTO $17,019 GST,5SPD $19,999 GST,AUTO $20,829 GSX,5SPD $22,929 GSX,AUTO $23,739 -=OPTIONS=- Air conditioning, RS $891 ABS, RS $716 Cruise control, GS $213 A/C, cassette player, cargo cover (preferred package), RS $1,148 a/c, power windows/locks, cassette player, rear wiper, GS $1,582 Alarm w/ keyless entry $332 leather, pwr seats, GST $789 cassette player, RS $221 infinity 8spkr am/fm cassette w/EQ, GS $660 CD Player, RS/GS $599 6 dsk CD changer $899 pwr sunroof $731 cargo cover, RS $77 cargo net, RS $26 floormats $49 mud guards $123 alloy wheels, GS/RS $337 wheel locks, RS/GS $32 ARTICLE #9 ------------------------------------- DSM COMPONENT WEIGHT ------------------------------------- This is a list of how much certain components on your DSM may way, it can give you an idea of what you can remove to improve performance at least a little bit. Full A/C System - 1G approx. 35lbs Full A/C System - 2G approx. 42lbs Driver Side Fan - 1G approx. 6lbs Stock metal radiator fan - 1G approx. 6lbs Stock plastic radiator fan - 1G approx. 6lbs Complete AWD Transmission - 1G approx. 125lbs Complete FWD Transmission - 1G approx. 80 to 90lbs 7-bolt Flywheel - 1G/2G 7bolt motors approx. 19lbs Stock Battery - 2G approx. 42lbs Crankshaft - 1G 6bolt Motor approx. 35.5lbs Cruise Control - 1G approx. 6lbs AWD Catback w/Muffler - 2G approx. 37lbs AWD Muffler - 2G approx. 19.5lbs Front Bumper - 1G approx. 35lbs Rear Bumper - 1G approx. 32lbs Fog Lights approx. 5lbs OEM Hood - 1G approx. 44lbs OEM Hood - 2G approx. 42lbs License Plate w/Bracket - 1G approx. 1.5lbs Sunroof assembly - 2G approx. 32lbs OEM Seats - Frnt Fabric 1G Seat Assbl. approx. 30lbs OEM Seats - 1G Rear Seats w/ Speakers approx. 18lbs OEM Seats - 1G Rear Seats Leather approx. 40lbs OEM Seats - 1G Drvr Seat leather approx. 50lbs OEM Seats - 2G Cloth All Seats, no pwr approx. 43lbs Front Floor Mats (each) approx. 3lbs Spare Tire w/Jack approx. 35lbs Gas Per Gallon approx. 6lbs ARTICLE #10 ------------------------------------ TIRE PATTERN WEAR FAQ ------------------------------------ Wear on the outside + inside of tire: indicates hard cornering, underinflation, lack of rotation. Wear in the center: indicates heavy acceleration, or overinflation. Cracked tread: underinflation or excessive speed wear on one side: excessive camber bald spots: unbalanced wheel or defective tire Scalloped wear: lack of rotation, or worn suspension components ARTICLE #11 ------------------------------------ 2G TARGETS OF DEVELOPMENT ------------------------------------ This was the targets of development from mitsubishi when the 2nd generation DSM came out. 1. Organic and aerodynamic, styling 2. Wide and low proportions, styling 3. Quick Acceleration/Response 4. Outstatnding straight ahead stability/linear steering response 5. Rich array of features at low prices 6. Low fuel consumption and low repair cost (HA! YEAH RIGHT!)