1992 Eagle Talon TSi from North America - Comments

Three weeks after purchasing car, replaced front right and left ball joints,

brakes,

and turbo ($2,000.00 brand new)

All together cost me $3,000.00 (and that was a good deal)

Three months after owning car, timing belt jumped and blew my engine.

Purchased a new engine for $1,800.00

Had it installed for $800.00

Figured I might as well change clutch while accesable $200.00.

Currently (four months later) Water pump went. Took it to a Dodge dealership, cost $800.00.

Then the alternator belt kept snapping. I went through 5 in one month. $120.00.

ABS went last week.

Need to replace the alternator and transmission, which I've known for half a year, but don't want to acknowledge.

The electric windows and mirrors rarely work.

Also, there is an idle surge problem which no one is able to determine the source of.

When the car is running, it's superb.

However, it is completely unreliable.

You need to learn more about cars because you are getting ripped-off left and right. First, check the brakes and ball joints before you buy the car. Second, you don't need to replace the whole motor if you break a timing belt. I just broke mine and all I had to do was replace the eight bent valves (total cost $250 in parts). Third, if your water pump went out 4 months after installing a new engine I would go back to the person who installed the engine (with a new water pump from Auto Zone cost $35) and demand that he install the water pump for free because after charging you $800 he was dumb enough to install an old water pump that was about to go on a brand new $1,800 motor! And, never never never go to the dealer, $800 to install water pump is a joke. And as far as the alt. belt situation I find it hard to believe you went through 5 in one month. That's every 6 days! All I can say is the person installing them should have figured out by the second belt he was installing too tight. Anyway, the Talon is not a bad car so, next time you decide to do a review (especially a bad one) make sure you know what you are talking about.

Regarding your idle surge problem. Check for air leaking into the intake (usually called a vacuum leak). Air leaking through a hole 1/16 inch in diameter will cause the idle speed to increase about 100 RPM. As the amount of air leaking into the engine intake increases, the idle speed will increase. At some point the idle speed will begin to surge up and down. The leak could be caused by something as simple as the throttle plate not closing completely at idle. This can be caused by a mis-adjusted throttle stop screw or plain old junk in the throttle body. Take the large hose off the intake and check to see if the plate is closed at idle.

New clutch- $400

Clutch install- $500

Newer turbo- $200

Turbo install- done myself

Clutch slave cylinder- $60

Cylinder install- done myself

New belts- $50

Belts install- don't ask

1992 Eagle Talon TSi AWD- Priceless.

And yes, this too can happen to yours in just a few months time.