hello everyone, my name is jimbo ... short for jimboner (just kidding).

anyway, for months i've been looking for a car budgeting 2 for any vehicle that was great for tuning. a told a couple friends my interest and i was hinted a few days ago about someone selling a 99 eclipse gsx.

he was asking an insanely low amount for a vehicle that's worth more (states so on kelly blue book). so i didnt hesitate to buy it.
so, im very happy to say, i am a proud owner of a white mitsubishi eclipse gsx.


i have big plans for this vehicle and i hope i can start soon ... sadly, i've dont know where to start.
well, the car was sold as is for 2800. the obvious problems with it were ...
valve cover leak (he said it was easy to seal up/replace)
120,000 miles on car/stock turbo engine (the k&n filters look really old)
dent/scratch on driver side door
glossy paint starting to chip
feul door wont open
trunk wont open unless forced open
to open the hood, the wire broke off ( the wire is sticking out of the front grille, so all i gotta do is pull it ... but is this replaceable?)
steering wheel shakes alot
radio doesnt work (by the way ... the radio is asking a code ... anyone know what it is?)
the center consol where the shifter is ... isnt centered/aligned with the hole in the middle of the consol (the stick is too far forward and to the left)
and im sure theres a few more problems with it because the car was INCREDIBLY cheap.

well, my question is ... where should i start? is it worth taking this vehicle to a dealer and having them complete what im asking for? or would it be the same to go to a nearby shop and have it done there? and buying this car at a price like that ... was my purchase worth it?

 

umm the whole steering wheel shaking thing, is a bad sign. if i were you i wouldnt drive it around to much until i got the front end looked at

 

The radio code you can get from the Stealership.
Youll find that the plastic panels will be easy to realign, theyre held on primarily with clips and screws... one or more is prolly off center.
lol, good luck with the trunk, both my 2 and 3g have that issue...
The hood latch is of course replaceable (anything is, really... depending on funds.)
Lastly, the steering wheel shaking... some is normal... but when does it do it? At idle? While moving? More info needed...

 

when idle. it tends to go away when im driving around, but gets worse at 40 - 50 mph+
and it isnt the plastic panels ... i dont know much about automotive termonology, but its the stick that isnt centered ... i'll try to get some pictures soon.
and for the trunk ... that isnt avoidable isnt it. any tricks of the trade i can do so it easily opens?

 

Well, as per the trunk, what do you mean by having to force it open?
The steering shaking could be a bad ball joint (among other things)... its fairly common on 2gs, check the TSB up on the top and it will explain more. It could also be a hub assembly that would cause it... Does it feel sorta like youre running over those "wake up strips" on the interstate?

 

wow, 2800. thats worth it just in parts. Good find. The shaking is probably a suspension issue. Mine used to do it but only at low rpms. and at lower speeds. that was it. But i had a control arm that was rusted. Not sure what yours is.

I would do the general maintanancestuff on it as well like changing out all the fluids.You might want to change the timing belt as well. It will cost about $300 for that but if it breaks before replacing it, itcould cost 2k. So might as well do it to be safe.

Oh and i wouldnt go to the dealership, they will rape you with labor. Id say just buy the parts and do it yourself. Trust me your gonna end up learning to fix alot of stuff yourself with this car....after all, it is a DSM

 

The shaking could be a bent rim.. The trunk you could try replacing the shocks in there... Mine pops and about half the time it wont pop all the way... But mayb the shocks on it are wore out on yours..

 

thanks for the advice everyone. im definatly gonna get these issued attended to before something really bad happens. and although this is a stock turbo engine .... should i attend to any maintanence with the turbo?



the trunk ... well its kinda wierd. the shocks dont work at all. i tried to wd40 it and it still wont pull up. but this is my routine ... i pull the lever near the driver's seat door and the trunk opens just a crack. then i head the to back of the car and i pull it up as hard as i can so it opens up all the way. kinda like a jam that wont go away.

 

i wouldnt worry about the turbo. If it breaks then it just means you get to upgrade . But there really isnt maintenace you can do to a turbo.