Well whats been going on with my 95 talon esi is pretty out of the ordinary to me. I'm usually busy with my 92 awd laser so when my non turbo acts up I dont really know a whole lot about it. I had some work done a while back. The head gasket was replaced along with an o2 sensor. That's fine and dandy, but ever since that day I picked it up it has ran funky. Idled like it had some outrageous cams, but it's all stock. This seems to come and go randomly. It used to happen at every start up, but then I changed the o2 sensor again and it seemed to go away. Well that's cool, but I've noticed it happening randomly every now and then. No where near as often as it used to, but still makes me scratch my head. Then onto the next subject. My engine loves the taste of oil. Eats it pretty good. Drives me up the wall with that smell. I can be standing next to the car...no smoke, but the smell just ruins your appatite. If the car idles for a while like letting it warm up in the mornings before I take off I will get about a block down the road and the smoke is just everywhere behind the car. Then it will go away after a little more driving. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Possibly oil just hanging out somewhere then burning off once I hit the gas? Who knows, but maybe both these symptoms are related to eachother? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm in a bind at the moment and getting this car fixed and running properly is my top priority. Pretty much a broke college student, but I refuse to get rid of my talon and buy a honda civic or something else. In all honesty i'd rather just fix mine. The plan if there's nothing really to fix all of this would be an engine rebuild, but for some reason I think there mite be something wierd with that headgasket installation.

Originally posted by dj_lethrow
Pretty much a broke college student, but I refuse to get rid of my talon and buy a honda civic or something else. In all honesty i'd rather just fix mine.

Well you've got the right mentality about it and you've came to the right place :thumbsup.

First things first, I would check the timing on the motor. If the shop replaced the headgasket, they would have had to time the motor again upon assembly.

As for the burning oil and smoking, I'm not too sure, but I'll take a stab at it and say the perhaps that your piston rings are shot. How many miles are on the car? Also, have you noticed a decrease in performance/driveability before this headgasket repair?

Thats about all I can help with for now. I'm sure some others will chime in and help you out.


http://www.dsmregistry.com/detail.php?carid=1185

Originally posted by xcasbonx

Originally posted by dj_lethrow Pretty much a broke college student, but I refuse to get rid of my talon and buy a honda civic or something else. In all honesty i'd rather just fix mine.

Well you've got the right mentality about it and you've came to the right place :thumbsup. First things first, I would check the timing on the motor. If the shop replaced the headgasket, they would have had to time the motor again upon assembly. As for the burning oil and smoking, I'm not too sure, but I'll take a stab at it and say the perhaps that your piston rings are shot. How many miles are on the car? Also, have you noticed a decrease in performance/driveability before this headgasket repair? Thats about all I can help with for now. I'm sure some others will chime in and help you out. http://www.dsmregistry.com/detail.php?carid=1185

There's about 136,xxx miles on it. I wouldn't dought that it's probably time for a rebuild. I dont really know about the performance. Ever since I saw the smoking thing I haven't rodded on it at all. Maybe took it to 4500rpms a couple of times, but that's really about it. Trying to baby the crap out of it before I have to do something to it. I guess while we are on the subject does anyone know of some really good prices for rebuild stuff? I remember looking a while back and howell automotive I believe they sell a kit pretty cheap then so does ImportPerformanceProducts. Trying to do it all on a pretty tight budget, but yet I still want to do things right. I'll have all the stuff machined like the crank and have the block honed or even bored out if it needs it.

Could be valve stem seals, too. What's the compression like? Does it smoke a little at idle, then a larger puff once you hit the gas, then disppear until the next time you sit at idle for a little while?

Originally posted by DarkOne
Could be valve stem seals, too. What's the compression like? Does it smoke a little at idle, then a larger puff once you hit the gas, then disppear until the next time you sit at idle for a little while?

Compression I dont know just yet. It's soo cold outside to do anything at the moment. I thought he replaced the valve stem seals when he did the headgasket, but he may not have also. Sometimes I can see a little at idle then hit the gas some more. Drive it and even more then I dont see any behind me after driving a little. Exactly just happens once it idles for a while. Once I do a compression test how do I know if it's the valve stem seals or rings? Leak down test?

If you have oil in the engine bay degrease the shit out of it drive it around and look for fresh oil.
Save the cheerleader save the world.
ummmmm find the oil fix the problem.

Originally posted by goalie40
If you have oil in the engine bay degrease the shit out of it drive it around and look for fresh oil. Save the cheerleader save the world. ummmmm find the oil fix the problem.

No signs of any oil hanging around. Still leaning towards rebuilding it while I can. So I guess it's just a hunt now for places with good deals.

where are you located? Im about to drop a built block into my ride and I'll have a spare complete block with less then 80K miles on it.

no down time is a wonderful thing.

Originally posted by Malenko
where are you located? Im about to drop a built block into my ride and I'll have a spare complete block with less then 80K miles on it. no down time is a wonderful thing.

I live in North Dakota. Your offer is very appealing, but I'll have my laser to drive while it's all taken apart. Luckly a friend is letting me put my car in his garage for how ever long it takes then we can work on it when ever. Heated garage when it's cold as balls outside it's definetly a plus. Priced out all the machine work so I should be about to do the rebuild for around $800 give or take.

One question though. I read through something yesterday about not getting the headgasket to seal correctly due to a headbolt that isn't long enough? Just curious about that whole situation. If need be i'll just break down and buy arp headstuds and a mls headgasket probably. If they make a mls headgasket for the 420a? I have no idea, but I do have one on my laser.

I've decided to rebuild it, but I have a few questions.

1. Timing tension adjuster or get the mechanical version kit?

2. Dumb question, but where do the thrust washers go along with the 4 o-rings in this kit I'm buying?

3. Lash adjuster do I need it?

Yes, I know number 2question is pretty dumb, but I just dont know.