What's going on everyone! Let me just give you a little background. I've been driving a '92 Mazda MX-3 for the past 7 years (love that car!). But the BP engine I swapped in it last September blew on me and I needed another car ASAP. I got my hands on a 2003.5 MSP, Yellow. So let me give you the run down.
I the body has 65K miles and the previous owner had said the dealer replaced the engine because it had a hairline crack in the (i forgot if he said head or block) and the new engine has around 19K-20K miles (turbo was also replaced). Everything on the car is mechanically stock with the exception of an Injen CAI. The body is in pretty great shape except a spot of cancer on the hood (it's not a hole or rusting through, but it's bubbling from underneath) and some rust on the back of the trunk at the bottom of where the license plate goes. I've only driven the car for a day, and this is my first turbo car (or driving a car with turbo for that matter).
So there are two things I noticed off the bat. When I'm driving and I punch the accelerator at higher RPM's and I let go of the gas (it could be just letting it go to slow down or while shifting) I hear a sound, which I can only describe as a car trying to gain traction in the snow, like a sloshing sound. It doesn't affect performance as far as I can tell, but it does sound odd. Is this normal, and if not, what could it be? (excuse me for the newbie turbo questions).
Also, when I start the car, the idle is fine, after it warms up, idles fine (I believe around 700RPM). So it's like every 2-3 minutes or so, the idle is steady, and then for like 3-4 seconds, the idle drops and picks up 3 consecutive times, after which it stays back at 700, and this repeats every 2-3 minutes as I said. What could be causing this? This can't be normal right??? Before the guy dropped off the car (I'm talking about the same day of the transaction) he had the alternator replaced, so maybe I have to run the car so the computer sets in???(dunno)
Other than that, the driver side door is sagging a little (it doesn't line up with the body perfectly). I tried tightening the hinge bolts on the door, but it's the same, so maybe I have to tighten the hinge bolts on the frame, but that means removing the fender (yikes!).
So I just wanted to know from the community if you guys know about these issues I'm talking about. Was the price fair for the car based on mileage and condition, how common is rust on these bodies and any thing else I should know, words of wisdom??? I hope this car lasts me as long as my MX-3, if not longer.
Also, the guy threw in an intercooler into the deal (nice!) so I hope I get that installed in the near future.
I the body has 65K miles and the previous owner had said the dealer replaced the engine because it had a hairline crack in the (i forgot if he said head or block) and the new engine has around 19K-20K miles (turbo was also replaced). Everything on the car is mechanically stock with the exception of an Injen CAI. The body is in pretty great shape except a spot of cancer on the hood (it's not a hole or rusting through, but it's bubbling from underneath) and some rust on the back of the trunk at the bottom of where the license plate goes. I've only driven the car for a day, and this is my first turbo car (or driving a car with turbo for that matter).
So there are two things I noticed off the bat. When I'm driving and I punch the accelerator at higher RPM's and I let go of the gas (it could be just letting it go to slow down or while shifting) I hear a sound, which I can only describe as a car trying to gain traction in the snow, like a sloshing sound. It doesn't affect performance as far as I can tell, but it does sound odd. Is this normal, and if not, what could it be? (excuse me for the newbie turbo questions).
Also, when I start the car, the idle is fine, after it warms up, idles fine (I believe around 700RPM). So it's like every 2-3 minutes or so, the idle is steady, and then for like 3-4 seconds, the idle drops and picks up 3 consecutive times, after which it stays back at 700, and this repeats every 2-3 minutes as I said. What could be causing this? This can't be normal right??? Before the guy dropped off the car (I'm talking about the same day of the transaction) he had the alternator replaced, so maybe I have to run the car so the computer sets in???(dunno)
Other than that, the driver side door is sagging a little (it doesn't line up with the body perfectly). I tried tightening the hinge bolts on the door, but it's the same, so maybe I have to tighten the hinge bolts on the frame, but that means removing the fender (yikes!).
So I just wanted to know from the community if you guys know about these issues I'm talking about. Was the price fair for the car based on mileage and condition, how common is rust on these bodies and any thing else I should know, words of wisdom??? I hope this car lasts me as long as my MX-3, if not longer.
Also, the guy threw in an intercooler into the deal (nice!) so I hope I get that installed in the near future.
Last edited: