turbo died

[serape]

did you notice any differences in your clutch or the car's performance?
My gas mileage has dropped 3-4 mpg, the "turbo lag" is much more noticible, and the clutch does not engage at the same point.

quote:Originally posted by Gary C

as far as the new clutch assembly is concerned i have over 8000 miles on my warrantied replacement without a problem.
My odometer just cracked 10,000 miles the other day and I had my 'recall' done before there was even a recall with only 2,000 miles on the odometer. SO far, so good.

[Gary C]

a little bit lighter engagment, as far as turbo lag, i really can't comment as i was only broken in for a bit before the problem started at around 1400miles or so and went easy on her. sorry i can't really answer that part.
mpg wise i've stayed the same, hitting around 30-32mpg on the highway (going easy on her) and around 27 city, and when romping on it, the mileage drops CONSIDERABLY.. heh.

[Dalite]

quote:Originally posted by Gary C

a little bit lighter engagment, as far as turbo lag, i really can't comment as i was only broken in for a bit before the problem started at around 1400miles or so and went easy on her. sorry i can't really answer that part.
mpg wise i've stayed the same, hitting around 30-32mpg on the highway (going easy on her) and around 27 city, and when romping on it, the mileage drops CONSIDERABLY.. heh.

Wow, that is out of character mileage for a PT Cruiser. I "spiked" to 32 MPG on my '02 PT, the first tank of gas after putting on a FIPK.

However, the PCM retaliated by retuning and lowering the efficiency, thus getting the mileage back to the average of around 22; even when the entire tank was used on the highway.

And believe me, I wasn't babying it on that first tank after putting the FIPK on. I was "wringing it out" every chance I had, just to hear the sound of the air going into the FIPK.

That is an indication and testimony to what the 2.4L engine is capable of, when the PCU is confused enough to allow performance and efficient operation simultaneously.

On the GT, it is very hard to maintain highway speed and get more than 10 inches of vacuum. I haven't figured Gas Mileage on the turbo yet, but the odometer hasn't gone over 300 miles per tank, so I know it is somewhat less than the '02 was getting. If I could get 14 to 16 inches of vacuum at 65 MPH, I think I could come close to getting 25 to 30 on the highway....

I haven't resorted to traveling on roads that had a 55 mph max speed limit, where I could run closer to the 50 mph mark, and I haven't tried driving with my right shoe off - or barefoot. Even then, it is hard for me to imagine getting that kind of gas mileage out of my 5 speed GT.

Please share your secret with us. I don't doubt your word, but can't imagine getting that kind of efficiency on mine, driving in uncontrolled situations...

As far as the clutch, mine feels like every one else has reported; a little lighter on the shift and engagement.

I had the "creeping" problem around 800 miles (if my memory is correct) and it lasted less than 100 miles. I had some problem on the 2nd to 3rd shift after that, and the clutch recall seemed to relieve that.

I wonder how much momentum is lost using the "dual mass flywheel" to transfer power from engine to transaxle.

I feel that a certain amount of power and efficient operation potential is given up by the ABS controller trying to maintain absolute control, any time the car is in motion and not under direct power (ie - Coasting).

I hope there is a firmware flash upgrade announced soon to solve this problem.

On the 32 mpg issue, maybe we can start a new thread on driving techniques to obtain best gas mileage. I know of a few tactics that I could share, and I admit that I haven't been very guilty of trying to achieve maximum gas mileage since getting the GT.

[Gary C]

actually what i have found results in best mileage (for the cuiser anyway) is driving at a varying rate of speed, ranging from right at the 65 mph speed limit to 5 under to sustaining 70-72mph.
How i drive, as i accelerate briskly, but not full throttle, more like 1/2 to 3/4 throttle to the speed limit, then clutch in a coast.
I have a somewhat finiky driving style, that i picked up driving a friends hybrid car on a bet that I couldn't make a tank of gas go over 550 miles. Sure enough I was able to average 53mpg with mixed city/highway use, when he averages right around 44-47mpg. Also the fact that I have been fairly active in the super low consumption vehicles that the local high school builds as the shop i work for does a lot of parts supply for them, and with talking to the instructor of the class, as well as other groups involved, I've been able to borrow their quick short bursts then coast theory and apply it to my driving when I'm just putting around town and not in the mood to put the foot through the floor board.. in a manner of speaking.
Coasting up hills, but acclerating to a somewhat higher speed than the posted limit on a downhill leading to an uphill and then clutching in saves on the fuel consumption as your not luging the car uphill, you're merely helping it accelerate downhill and letting it coast uphill, where upon you crest and resume a short quick burst of acceleration to bring you back up to the limit. Yet another thing which *decidely* helps is that I stay out of boost on the highway, and my commute is typically 87 miles each direction, at a constant speed limit of 65 for 60 miles of the commute, then it changes over to 55 once i cross the IL state line.
there is a bit more to it, but that's the jist of it. Every tank (save for the ones when I have been at the drag strip, or just romping on the car, like it was meant to be driven) for the past ~8000 miles has been ranging from 28-32 miles per gallon for pure highway driving, where with city/highway driving I'm typically right at the 26/27 mark. Admittedly, it's NOT the fun way to drive the GT, but when I've put over 10,000 miles on the cruiser in the past ~2 months, and that's abnormally low mileage for me. On average in a typical month I'll rack up ~5-8000 miles.[8)]soo it does take some effort to maintain the mileage and drive with that style, but it does put more money into my pocket book, which means more money for go fast mods (ironically enough).

[DTs_PTGT]

The best mileage I've gotten on my GT was during the breakin period. I went on an all highway trip and kept the cruise control at 55MPH the whole way (thought I was going to get rear-ended numerous times!). That got me 25 - 27 MPH. Since then (post break-in period ) I've struggled to get 20MPH doing mixed city / highway and short distance (<10 miles) driving.

[serape]

Finally got my PT back! I was told that they had to adjust the cam and that there was a timing misalignment! I wonder now if these guys knew what they were doing when they replace the flywheel and Clutch plate! The car acts like it did before the recall! Can having a timing misalignment and cam adjustment be that easy to miss???? Oh, the PCM was updated for erroneous trouble codes...

[Dalite]

Cam timing problems should be as easy to miss as a demolition derby in the middle of a funeral procession.

The backfiring and bucking act could have caused it to jump timing, or could be a result of it jumping timing. I would guess that the drivability problems you had were a result of it having jumped timing.

I will check with my dealer again about PCM updates. They reported none available when I checked Monday of this week.

[Dalite]

Gary C,

That is impressive gas mileage, and I can see from your explanation how you are able to attain it.

I started using a Vacuum Gauge in the mid 70s, and really started to pay attention when the gas prices skyrocketed in the late 70s. (.40 to .99 a gallon - not a big deal now).

I found that driving barefoot or with right shoe off I could "feather" the accelerator once I reached my driving speed. I had an old Rambler American 3 speed with electric overdrive and electric kickdown. It was a blast to drive, and using the vacuum gauge I could tell when I was in the good numbers. The Vacuum gauge gives a good indication of what is working as far as gas mileage.

I will be playing more with the GT, and watching the boost gauge closer. Your figures (and tecniques) are encouraging.

[serape]

Gary, I was wondering about your coasting until I checked your Bio...I was trying to figure out how I could do it in AZ...without getting killed or pulled over...the 143 mi to Flagstaff has some uphill climbs of 5-10 mi (3000 to 4000 ft.) and a WonderFul down hill of 5-6 miles...unfortunately those cars in the "fast" lane freak out at 70 or 75...my GT starts rolling around 80 and gains. Too many "slopokes" to dodge. I'm going to try the uphill coasting even on the steep climbs...who knows? If I can improve my mpg that way anyone can! I come from a looooonnnnng line of repressed stock car drivers with extra heavy lead feet. I've tried using the cruise control...it works just fine. I'd rather drive tho....